Star Wars Reads Day

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away....

Admiral Sackbar Puppet Instructions

Rebel children leave their home base and
head to their neighborhood library. Wookies, Vaders,

Leias, Skywalkers & Storm Troopers descended

on the children’s department to uncover

awesome new Star Wars books and movies.

During this invasion, rebel spies steal
secret plans to make the ultimate in

Star Wars crafts… Origami Yoda,

Princess Labelmaker and

Chewbacca the Fortune Wookie.

Rebel children then race home aboard

their parents starships.  Armed with their new

Star Wars swag, they read and dream about 

Jedi’s defending the people and restoring 

freedom to the galaxy...

The third annual Star Wars Reads Day is October 11^th and our youth services staff is geeking out at the opportunity to share all of our library’s Star Wars literary awesomeness.  Lego Star Wars, Angry Birds Star Wars, Origami Star Wars, graphic novel Star Wars, board book Star Wars, etc… we have it all. For the third annual Star Wars Reads Day, I have decided to recycle an easy and relatively passive origami program.  Our youth services department is usually staffed a little sparse on Saturdays so we need a low key program idea. 

We ran a drop-in Star Wars origami program in the library gallery last year and it was a hit with staff, parents, and kids.  Tom Angleberger, author of the infamous Oragami Yoda books, has a playlist on the Abram Books’ YouTube site. These 5-10 minute videos feature Tom explaining how to construct all of his Star Wars origami characters.

The library’s large television was rolled into the gallery along with several crafting tables.  We hooked up a laptop to the TV and played the Origami Yoda playlist on repeat.  Plain white and colored printer paper was cut into fourths or halves (Tom will tell you what colors and sizes are needed in the videos). 

A free printable Fortune Wookie cootie catcher template can be found on the Origami Yoda website.   

This year, we are also giving away Star Wars swag (stickers, buttons, etc.) to children who visit the children’s reference desk with their favorite Star Wars book.  That’s it!  This is easy-peasy program that will please the mini Jedi's, Padwans, and Rebels. May the Force be with you this Star Wars Reads Day! What will your library/school be doing to celebrate?