Goodnight Darth Vader
DETAILS: Publisher: Chronicle Books Publication Date: July 22, 2014 Format: Hardcover Length: 64 pg. Read Date: February 8, 205
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….
Episode Eight P.M.: BEDTIME
Lord Darth Vader rules the Galaxy, while attempting to rule his twin children, Luke and Leia Skywalker. He has commanded them to go to bed, but they have other ideas….
What’s Goodnight Darth Vader About?
This is a book in the style of Goodnight Moon featuring Darth Vader and his twins (in a very non-canonical way) while he’s trying to get them to sleep, with looks at individuals from throughout the Empire (or former Empire) as they settle in for the night.
Let’s Talk about the Art for a Minute
Brown has this great style that both gets the detail necessary for the droids, aliens, ships, and all that. At the same time, he keeps it playful and appealing for people of all ages to look at.
You can see plenty of examples of this on his website.
Who Is This Book For?
I really don’t know who the audience for this book is—I know it’s sold for kids, it seems to be intended for kids, but I think this is a better fit for Star Wars fans than for the toddler (or younger) set.
Sure, it’s not like a toddler gets the references (or understands most of the words in) Good Night New Orleans (to stay on-theme) or just about any other book I’ve talked about in Grandpappy’s Corner. So it’s not a big deal if a reader doesn’t get the Ackbar joke or know who Dexter is. So, sure, read it to your kid. But to appreciate this truly? You need to be a fan of the series.
So, what did I think about Goodnight Darth Vader?
I had a blast with it—I liked the art, the humor, the take on the Goodnight Moon style of book, and so on.
I’ve seen the covers for some of the other books along these lines that Brown has put out, but I haven’t read them—I only read this one because someone gave it to the Grandcritter. I’m going to take steps to get my hands on the others now.
The art, the strange creatures, the smiling kids—that’ll keep the young readers/read-to involved. The characters and jokes will help the fan enjoy this—even after multiple, multiple readings.
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