Customer Reviews

Star Wars Episode I: Watch Out, Jar Jar! (A Random House Star Wars Storybook with Foil Stickers)

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The plot is stronger than Dick and Jane, not quite at the Dr. Seuss level. But my 4-year-old loves the thing. He wants to read it - what more can one ask for a first reader than self-motivation? Good illustrations, basic vocabulary, frequent repetition, and not scary.

"Watch Out, Jar Jar" is an entertaining read but it has issues. As a picture book, the original illustrations are very attractive. The problem lies in the text and plot. While the book is intended for primary children (grades K-2), the vocabulary usually runs on a fourth grade level. Most primary students can not read and identify words such as 'stampede,' 'interrupted' 'humming' and 'platoon.' Because of this issue, the book is best as a read-aloud. Beyond this, there is no plot. While it loosely follows "The Phantom Menace," the reader must already know the story to make the connection. An interesting side note is that the book features two scenes that are a part of the Episode I story, but never made it into the film. One page, for example, shows when the Bongo (Gungan submarine) went over the Nubian waterfall. An author doesn't get a license to create poor literature just because a book is intended for young readers. Rather than create pop junk on the fly, the creators missed the opportunity to add to the cherished canon of children's Star Wars books.

I purchased this book yesterday, and while it certainly conforms to the category of 'Preschool', it is not a good book for your young son or daughter.

Plot: There is little or no plot. Jar Jar, akin to the film he is derived from, simply engages in a series of unrelated mishaps. This, ironically, might be taken as a Spoiler for the film, but it's not. Your child may find them entertaining, but if you want them to learn anything you are out of luck.

Language: The vocabulary is fine for the age group, and is (I would like to think) readable by a child that is just learning, but Jar Jar remains incoherent. It all depends on your taste; I prefer books for my toddler that have strong grammar, and _good English_ (or whichever language you prefer).

Moral: As with Plot, it's hard to find a moral or lesson in this book. If you just want to entertain your child with a recognizable character, this book won't hurt. If you want your child to learn anything besides how to interchange syllables in common words, look elsewhere.