Read, You Can: The Last Jedi

With The Last Jedi now available for home viewing, or coming soon depending on where you live, you may be looking for ways to expand on your enjoyment of the movie. Or perhaps you're looking for something to do between repeat viewings?

Here are several books for young readers that expand or enhance the story from the latest Star Wars film.

The Last Jedi Junior Novel - Author Michael Kogge (The Force Awakens Junior Novel, Poe Dameron: Flight Log) retells The Last Jedi for middle-grade readers, with deleted and extended scenes, as well as exclusive scenes you won't find anywhere else featuring Rey, Chewbacca, R2-D2, Finn, and more! This book also includes an 8-page full-color insert.

The Legends of Luke Skywalker - In The Last Jedi, the issue of Luke's status as a hero and legend has become a concern for the aging Jedi. This collection of tales (written by award-winning author Ken Liu) told by the crew aboard a cargo ship gives readers an idea of the kinds of stories floating around about Luke. But are the stories true, or merely tall tales passed from one corner of the galaxy to another? Readers will have to decide for themselves!


Colbalt Squadron - Author Elizabeth Wein offers this adventure starring sisters Rose and Paige Tico sets up their stories in The Last Jedi. Similar to previous middle-grade novels like Weapon of a Jedi and Moving Target, which both also featured art by Phil Noto, this story goes into the lives of the Resistance flight crew members. Like Before the Awakening did for The Force Awakens, Colbalt Squardon leads up to the events of The Last Jedi.

Bomber Command - covering similar ground to Cobalt Squadron, frequent Star Wars author Jason Fry creates the journal of Paige Tico, the ill-fated sister of Rose. This covers many aspects of The Last Jedi from the perspective of the Resistance fighter. Much like previous journals from Studio Fun (Rey's Survival Guide, Sabine: My Rebel Sketchbook) it is fully-illustrated with Paige's notes plus diagrams, sketches and fold-out sections.


Star Wars The Last Jedi The Visual Dictionary - Can never say enough good things about the Visual Dictionary books. In-depth details and photos of nearly every alien, droid, weapon, helmet, vehicle and more.

Star Wars The Last Jedi Incredible Cross-Sections - for the extremely detail-oriented fans, the Incredible Cross-Sections books show all the ins and outs of key vehicles and spaceships and more! Plus gorgeous large-size photos from the movie. Illustrated by the amazing Kemp Remillard (The Force Awakens Incredible Cross-Sections) with descriptions by the above-mentioned Jason Fry.

That's not every tie-in book but it's sure a great start to expanding on your enjoyment of The Last Jedi!

Read, You Must: Chewie and the Porgs

Viewers of The Last Jedi may be particularly curious of how the relationship between a hungry Chewbacca and the adorable bird-like porgs of Ahch-To translates into a kid-friendly picture book.

That’s certainly understandable because in the movie, Chewbacca takes an interest in the porgs, but it’s not to become friends!

Chewie and the Porgs (Disney-Lucasfilm Press) is the second in a new wave of beautifully illustrated picture books based upon the most recent Star Wars films. Following BB-8 On the Run, Chewie and the Porgs shows how they meet, how they help each other and become friends.

Where BB-8 On The Run offers a between-the-scenes look at what happens offscreen during The Force Awakens, Chewie and the Porgs is an alternate look at the first meeting between the wookiee and the small island creatures. 

It is similar but very different to how they become acquainted in The Last Jedi.

Author Kevin Shinick introduces young readers to the mysterious planet and it’s cute little inhabitants while the familiar wookiee searches for food. Luke Skywalker and Rey are barely seen as this is truly Chewie’s story.

Artist Fiona Hsieh captures the cuteness of it all with a colourful retro style similar to the recent Star Wars Golden Books series.

For those who desperately need to know if this story is officially part of the Star Wars timeline, referred to by fans as the canon, the answer is no. This story specifically states that “fishing season is over and all the fish are gone”, where in The Last Jedi, Luke clearly has caught a big fish while Rey and Chewbacca are on the island. That’s just one example.

If you can forget about the events of the movie for a few minutes, it’s very easy for kids and parents to enjoy this touching story about cooperation and friendship.

And it's SOOO cute!

Highly recommended.

(Publisher’s Recommendation Ages 5 – 8 years)