• More More

Search

My Account Logout
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • other
  • NEWS + FEATURES
  • VIDEO
  • FILMS
  • SERIES
  • INTERACTIVE
  • COMMUNITY
  • DATABANK
  • DISNEY+
  • More More
My Account Logout
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • other

ALL OF YOUR STAR WARS FAVORITES NOW STREAMING ON DISNEY+

All

  • Andor
  • Behind the Scenes
  • Books + Comics
  • Characters + Histories
  • Collecting
  • Creativity
  • Disney Parks
  • Disney+
  • Events
  • Fans + Community
  • Films
  • Force For Change
  • Forces of Destiny
  • Galaxy of Adventures
  • Games + Apps
  • ILMxLAB
  • In Pop Culture
  • Interviews
  • LEGO Star Wars
  • Lucasfilm
  • Merchandise
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi
  • Opinions
  • Quizzes + Polls
  • Recipes
  • Rogue One
  • Solo
  • Star Wars Celebration
  • Star Wars Day
  • Star Wars Rebels
  • Star Wars Resistance
  • Television
  • The Bad Batch
  • The Book of Boba Fett
  • The Clone Wars
  • The Force Awakens
  • The High Republic
  • The Last Jedi
  • The Mandalorian
  • The Rise of Skywalker
  • The Star Wars Show
  • Visions
{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"Interviews", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/interviews"}

Empire at 40 | The Wonder of A Jedi You Will Be

October 1, 2020
October 1, 2020
Dan Brooks

Author Preeti Chhibber chats with StarWars.com about her charming new book that teaches children the ways of the Force and more.

On May 21, 1980, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back made its theatrical debut. To celebrate the classic film’s landmark 40th anniversary, StarWars.com presents “Empire at 40,” a special series of interviews, editorial features, and listicles.

The magic of a great children’s book never leaves us. They take us on journeys, they challenge us, they even teach us about life. And the same can be said of the Star Wars films. A Jedi You Will Be by author Preeti Chhibber and artist Mike Deas, coming October 6, is a beautifully illustrated, engaging release for young readers that blends the power of picture books and the lessons of Star Wars. In A Jedi You Will Be, part of the year-long celebration of the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the reader has followed Luke Skywalker to Dagobah for his Jedi training; Yoda notices the reader and instructs them, as well. It’s completely delightful, and to mark the kickoff of Star Wars Reads month, StarWars.com caught up with Chhibber to talk about adapting one of the saga’s most mystical and educational sequences into a book for our own younglings.

StarWars.com: What I think is really great about A Jedi You Will Be is that it feels like a genuine children's book any of us might've grown up with, going from warm to spooky to inspiring, regardless of the Star Wars connection. Was that something you were trying to accomplish?

Preeti Chhibber: Definitely -- I absolutely adore picture books and part of what makes it such a compelling medium is that there's drama in the economy of its text and page count. So I wanted to get that across, for sure. And Mike Deas' illustrations are no small part of that, he's done such an incredible job pulling those emotions into the images.

An excerpt from "A Jedi You Will Be"

StarWars.com: At the same time, it has this really smart conceit that the reader followed Luke to Dagobah, so kids will get to see Luke's training while Yoda instructs them, as well. What can you tell us about coming up with that angle and then the challenges of telling your story that way?

Preeti Chhibber: When [Disney Lucasfilm Press editor] Caitlin Kennedy approached me about the project, I think they already knew they wanted it to be from Yoda's perspective and discussing Luke's training. The challenges with having Yoda speak directly to the reader were bringing some of the more esoteric parts to a level that's appropriate for very young kids -- "Do. Or do not. There is no try," can sound quite harsh to a child. So just bring about that idea, adding on the "Do it, you can," to illustrate that it's about learning and growing and committing to the action, for example.

An excerpt from "A Jedi You Will Be"

StarWars.com: The art has this beautiful watercolor, almost dreamlike quality. It really adds to the experience and again gives it this classic children's book feel.

Preeti Chhibber: I am obsessed with Mike's artwork. I think it is truly some of the best Star Wars work I've ever seen. His Yoda might be my favorite Yoda, now. He's just so cute and comforting. The colors are these gorgeous pastels that are inviting and, again, have this sense of comfort about them.

An excerpt from "A Jedi You Will Be"

StarWars.com: There are lots of great new creatures and training scenes added. How did those come to be?

Preeti Chhibber: Mike actually answered this on Twitter! My notes in the manuscript were very much, "A creature goes here, something reptilian," or maybe, "This one might look like a quokka?" and then Mike came back with these really fun and interesting aliens.

An excerpt from "A Jedi You Will Be"

StarWars.com: Finally, what do you hope children will take away from the book?

Preeti Chhibber: What I've always loved about the Force is that it's there and connects us all and that's what I hope gets across to kids reading the book. Their impact matters, and they should be thoughtful about it.

A Jedi, You Will Be

A Jedi You Will Be arrives October 6 and is available for pre-order now.

Celebrate Star Wars Reads, a month-long celebration of reading and Star Wars, all October!

Dan Brooks is Lucasfilm’s senior content strategist of online, the editor of StarWars.com, and a writer. He loves Star Wars, ELO, and the New York Rangers, Jets, and Yankees. Follow him on Twitter @dan_brooks where he rants about all these things.

Site tags: #StarWarsBlog, #ESB40

Interviews Empire at 40 A Jedi You Will Be

Related Stories

  • {:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"Interviews", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/interviews"}

    D-Squad Is Back! R2-D2’s All-Star Team Returns in New Marvel Miniseries

    June 1, 2023

    June 1, 2023

    Jun 1

  • {:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"}

    The Empire Lands on Endor in Marvel’s Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - The Empire #1 — Exclusive Preview

    May 31, 2023

    May 31, 2023

    May 31

  • {:title=>"Lucasfilm", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/lucasfilm"} {:title=>"Interviews", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/interviews"}

    Jedi at 40 | Into the Rancor Pit with Dennis Muren and Phil Tippett

    May 25, 2023

    May 25, 2023

    May 25

  • {:title=>"Visions", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/visions"} {:title=>"Disney+", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/disney+"}

    Meet the Visionaries: Magdalena Osinska on the Personal Story of “I Am Your Mother”

    May 19, 2023

    May 19, 2023

    May 19

  • {:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"}

    The Clone Wars Ignite in Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade — Exclusive First Excerpt

    May 18, 2023

    May 18, 2023

    May 18

  • {:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"}

    Iden Versio Finds Her Target in Marvel’s Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #34 — Exclusive Preview

    May 9, 2023

    May 9, 2023

    May 9

  • {:title=>"Disney+", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/disney+"} {:title=>"Interviews", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/interviews"}

    How Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Tells Tales for Younglings of All Ages

    May 4, 2023

    May 4, 2023

    May 4

  • {:title=>"Visions", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/visions"} {:title=>"Disney+", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/disney+"}

    With Star Wars: Visions Volume 2, Creators from Around the World Visit the Galaxy Far, Far Away

    May 4, 2023

    May 4, 2023

    May 4

  • More From Star Wars:
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • SWKids
    • Terms of Use
    • Additional Content Information
    • Privacy Policy
    • Children's Online Privacy Policy
    • Your California Privacy Rights
    • Star Wars at shopDisney
    • Star Wars Helpdesk
    • Interest-Based Ads
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

    TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved