Review by Toryn Farr
POP-UP BOOKS
First, let me say that today's generation of pop-up books pale in comparison to the vintage variety. I have some old Star Wars Storybooks with pop-ups that actually do stuff. Pull this tab, slide this one, twist this one, and interesting things happen. Few of the books listed here do anything. They're pretty to look at, but for a kid, I think that would be boring. Give us some action!
Battle of
the Bounty Hunters (pop-up comic book) 
The story of IG-88 trying to take Carbonite Boy away from Boba Fett, this one is by far
the best of the Star Wars pop-up books; and at that price it should be! The art is good,
although the story is skimpy, but it's okay because you get to see Fett take out some
stormtroopers *and* a krayt dragon.
Jabba's Palace (pop-up book) - ISBN
0-316-53513-3
Told from the point of view of Jubnuk the Gamorrean guard who is eaten by the Rancor in
the last amazing pop-up page (with bad sound effects), this book was amusing if pricey.
Ten regular pages are followed by two with pop-ups, action, and sound. Note to editors:
Jedi Luke and Han in Carbonite cannot be in the same scene.
TIE Fighter:
A Pocket Manual
X-Wing: A
Pocket Manual
Who's Who
: A Pocket Guide
Star Wars
Collectibles: A Pocket Guide
These tiny hardbacks are so cute, they're difficult to resist. The X-Wing and TIE Fighter
books have well-executed pop-ups. I especially like the TIE Fighter book for its
unapologetic Imperial viewpoint: "The aging, outdated craft employed by the Rebels
are no match for the power of the TIE . . ."
The Mos Eisley Cantina (pop-up book) - ISBN
0-316-53511-7
Billed as a "Light and Sound Extravaganza," this book only has one page with any
pop-ups or music on it. A total rip-off.
The Death Star (pop-up book) - ISBN
0-316-93592-1
This book doesn't seem really aimed at kids, but what do I know? At least has a cool
explosion at the end.
The Millennium Falcon (pop-up book) - ISBN
0-316-93591-3
This one promises "3-D excitement on every page" but contains only pedestrian
artwork and a story about the hyperdrive failing at a critical moment . . .
again.
Heroes in Hiding, a Super Pop Up Book - ISBN
1-57082-568-8
Artoo and Threepio on Tatooine are looking for a place to hide from the stormtroopers.
This is really a lift-the-flap book, and even my two-year old thinks it's boring.
"GIMMICK" BOOKS
The Star
Wars Cookbook: Wookiee Cookies and other galactic recipes
This one is so silly, I just had to have it. I doubt I'll ever make the recipes, but just
reading the book gives me the giggles: Princess Leia Danish Do's, Boba Fett-uccini, Yoda
Soda, Obi-Wan Kebabs, and Tusken Raider Taters, to name a few. As a bonus, there are
stickers on the back page to label your food: Princess Leia with the caption "Use the
fork, Luke" and Darth Vader saying, "Give in to your dark cravings." The
intro and instructions are written to a middle-school child's level.
The Complete Star Wars Trilogy Scrapbook - ISBN
0-590-06653-6
Well, "complete" is of course ridiculous, but in its 64 pages this book manages
to cover quite a bit of fun stuff, with lots of great photos. Heck, I'd pay the $7.99 just
for the photo of Luke on page 61!
Han Solo's
Rescue Mission
Luke
Skywalker's Race Against Time
A pair of board books for preschoolers, but unlike others I talk about later, these
contain some gorgeous artwork and an attached Micro-Machines X-Ray Fleet Millennium Falcon
and X-Wing Starfighter, respectively. I got two of each and let my kid play with the toys.
Now I wish I'd bought another set just for me! Who cares if they talk about mynocks flying
through interstellar space, or space slugs in every asteroid? At $6.98, buy three!
Rebel Heroes and Galactic Villains (sticker book)-
ISBN 0-307-15733-4
The artwork in this book is some of the worst I've seen, but the reusable vinyl stickers
are fun. My kid likes it a lot, and I am a sucker for stickers myself.
A New Hope (Play-a-Sound) - ISBN
0-7853-2176
This is a *huge* book (12"x12") with okay artwork telling the story of the
movie. The best part, though, is the touch panel of 16 sounds, including Han saying,
"I've got a bad feeling about this," and Darth Vader's breathing.
The Millennium Falcon (Punch-Out Book) - ISBN
1-57082-640-4
"Make your own Falcon!" this book proclaims. I haven't wanted to punch out the
parts and make it, so I can't tell you if it looks all that great, but I can imagine a
12-year-old loving this, especially if he likes to build models or play with erector
sets.
Darth
Vader's Mission: The Search for the Secret Plans - ISBN 1-57082 611-0
R2-D2's Mission: A Little Hero's Journey - ISBN 1-57082-612-9
These are preschoolers' board books with a rubber Darth Vader or a rubber Artoo
"floating" in a cutout along the spine. They rehash the title stories from A New
Hope.
Luke's Fate (STEP Into Reading Grades 2-3) - ISBN
0-679-85855-5
Author Jim Thomas didn't do his homework -- Not only is Windy a *girl* in this story, but
also Luke tells Obi-Wan he'll go to Alderaan -- *before* he finds out his folks are toast.
This might be a good book to teach kids reading, but as a part of the Star Wars mythos it
bites.
(Toryn Farr knew everything
about Star Wars before it even came out thanks to Starlog Magazine. She's been trying to
keep her know-it-all reputation ever since.)