The Star Wars Trilogy is now available on DVD, and all over the world, fans of all ages are experiencing the magic of the first three films that started it all -- A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

To celebrate, Random House has re-released a trilogy of "Step-Up" books, storybook versions of the movies perfect for kids. Each book has been written especially for children who have outgrown beginning readers. The words are harder, but not too hard. There's more text, but it's still in big print. There are plenty of illustrations, but it isn't a picture book. And best of all, the stories are based on some of the most exciting movies ever made.

Here's a sample of the Step-Up book version of Star Wars, written by author Larry Weinberg, based on the screenplay by George Lucas. You'll see how the exciting events of the movies are turned into words to read, and how the more difficult words are sounded out, to help younger readers learn how to say them.

Long ago and far, far away there was an evil empire. It ruled over the whole galaxy (GAL-ek-see). A few Rebel planets tried to break free of it. But the power of the Emperor was vast. And in command of his army was the mightiest warrior of them all.

Across the blackness of space a great warship chased its enemy. Darth Vader was in command. He did not speak as he watched. He did not have to. His troopers knew they must not fail to capture the Rebel ship.

Now the gap was closing. Vader lifted his hand. It was the signal to fire. Killer beams shot out at the smaller craft. The fleeing vessel zigged and zagged. It could not escape. One after another the laser bolts hit their target. The Rebel ship bounced and shook. Its guns could no longer fight back. It was helpless.

Vader dropped his hand. The firing stopped. His deep voice rumbled like thunder. "Soon the stolen plans for the Death Star will back in my hands. Then the Empire will destroy the Rebellion (ri-BELL-yun). Once and for all."

Inside the Rebel craft the captain led his men into the main passageway. "On the double! They'll be blasting their way in here any second. Where is Princess Leia?"

"Right here!" Leia came out of her cabin with a laser pitol in her hands.

"Quick!" said the captain. "Climb into the escape pod. It will take you down to Tatooine (tah-too-WEEN). My men will cover you until you get away."

"No! I'll stay here and fight!"

"You can't! You'll be killed. And the Rebel Alliance (uh-LIE-uns) is counting on you. You've got to take them the secret plans!"

"I have to send the plans off without me. The Imperials know I have them. If I stay here, I can stall them until the pod gets away. But I'll need a robot to take the plans to the Alliance. One of your best droids!"

"Use the R2-D2 unit," said the captain. "I saw it around here."

Suddenly an explosion rocked the ship. Clouds of smoke poured down the passageway. Through it came the Dark Lord's troops, firing their blasters. The captain raced back to his men. Princess Leia hurried off to find the droid.

Moments later someone else went looking for the R2-D2. It was See-Threepio, a robot shaped like a man. "Artoo!" he cried. "Oh, this is terrible! Artoo-Detoo, where are you? Do answer me!"

"Boing, boing, ping!"

It was Artoo squeaking. Threepio turned and saw the round little robot. He was standing in a darkened room. Was that a young woman bending over him? Threepio was too upset to tell. For now Vader's troops were rushing in with drawn blasters.

"Look!" cried a sergeant (SAR-jent). "There's the Rebel woman that Lord Vader wants us to capture. Don't kill her. Set for stun."

Before the troopers could fire, Leia blasted them. Two troopers fell. She started to run. The sergeant took aim. His blast caught her! She went down in a heap.

The soldiers lifted her up. They didn't even look at the droids. What for? They were only robots. Silently Artoo rolled away on his little wheels.

Threepio hurried after him. "Where are you going now?" he cried.

"Bleep. Grr-whirr. Ping... ping... ding."

"Mission? What mission? Wait! Why are going into that docking bay? Droids aren't allowed --"

The computer in Threepio's head was all in a whirl. He couldn't believe it. Artoo was rolling himself into a tiny space capsule!

"Hey!" he called. "Droids are not allowed in those. You'll be punished! Turned into scrap metal!"

"Brreep, poing, wurbul-urm."

"Don't you dare call me a ninny! And no! I am not going in there with you!"

Another explosion came from the other end of the ship. Then, from everywhere at once, there was cracking, snapping noises. It sounded as if the ship was coming apart! Threepio decided not to fuss about rules. He jumped into the pod.

One of Artoo's metal arms reached out to start the controls. With a roar the pod blasted free of the doomed Rebel ship.

Aboard Vader's ship, gunners took aim. But the officer in charge saw no reason to shoot down the little pod. "My scanner shows there are no life forms aboard. A short circuit (SUR-kit) must have sent it off by mistake."

The Dark Lord soon learned that he had a prisoner but no stolen plans. Then he heard about the escape pod. "Princess Leia must have hidden the plans inside it," he told one of his men. "Send a landing party to the planet. Bring me back those plans!"

"We shall, my lord."

"As for the princess -- she will serve us yet. I will use her to find and destroy the Rebels' hidden base."

"She will die before she tells you anything."

"We shall see," growled Vader.

What happens next? By now, you probably know the story of Star Wars. But by clicking on this link, you can open up a slideshow of some of the pictures in the book, along with some more samples of the words inside.