LEGO Star Wars: Yoda’s Secret Missions (Chapter Book #1)
By Ace Landers (Author) and Ameet Studio (Illustrator)
Age Range: 7 to 10 years
Grade Level: 2 to 5
Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (August 26, 2014)
ISBN-13: 978-0545657006
Book Description: Yoda, the ultimate Jedi Master, has 900 years’ worth of stories to tell! This humorous and action-packed book features all our favorite heroes and villains in three original stories! What happens when Obi-Wan, Yoda, and a new class of Padawans must battle Sith Lords in Podraces, fight bounty hunters in the Jedi Temple, and defeat stormtroopers in the swamps of Dagobah? Hilarious adventures will ensue!
What to Expect: Simple story lines, Humor, Trivia
Source: Review copy
If you have a youngling (or know of one in the family) who enjoys the LEGO Star Wars specials written by Michael Price, then they will definitely be fans of LEGO Star Wars: Yoda’s Secret Missions. The 64-page book informs independent readers about the Star Wars universe, entertains them with three original stories, and tests their Star Wars knowledge in the form of a Jedi Quiz. Yoda’s Secret Missions also acts as a great introductory book for children looking to jump into Star Wars for the first time. From an older fan’s perspective, I noticed some of the content about the Jedi derives from Star Wars Legends (originally known as the Expanded Universe). However, most young readers will enjoy the book for the general insight into Jedi, its colorful illustrations, and its overall good nature.
The book also contains three individual stories with prequel/Clone Wars era characters: “The Phantom Podracer,” “Home Swamp Home” and “Jedi Temple of Doom.” In “The Phantom Menace” a school trip goes awry on Tatooine as a small group of Jedi younglings enter a podrace. “Home Swamp Home” cleverly touches on Yoda’s humor and playful side as seen in The Empire Strikes Back. Finally, the “Jedi Temple of Doom” involves the addition of a new student and the chase that later ensues. Each story is broken up by sections, including The Jedi Order, Jedi Ranks, Lightsaber, among others. The tales don’t follow the events from the movies or animated television shows, but instead, branch out into wild and humorous adventures for which the LEGO franchise is recognized. Children will honestly eat up the stories and take delight in the amusing spin of the galaxy far, far away.
You can purchase the LEGO Star Wars: Yoda’s Secret Missions (Chapter Book #1) from the Scholastic Store.