Board books are great–they make books much more accessible to toddlers. They can enjoy “reading” a book even when they are in the search, destroy and taste zone! Recognizing that publishing a picture book in board book format gives a title two bites of the apple, books stores are now chock full of books that aren’t really for toddlers in terms of their content — but they are sturdy! We’ve written about this before.
But now we’re seeing books that aren’t even really for preschoolers in board book form. Earlier in the year there was Star Wars Spaceships.
Now there’s Star Wars Heroes….I LOVE Star Wars…but not for kids in the knowing and naming stage of toddlerhood. Somehow we’ve lost track of the developmental stage here–where they do not have the reasoning to make the distinction between real and make believe. So take a look at these images and ask yourself are these important images to know and name?
Maybe these books are really intended for Urban Outfitters and the teen/adult market–that’s fine. I just hope they’re not in any toddlers stocking this holiday.
Apparently 5 & 6 year old boys are all passing through Very Serious Star Wars Phases lately. So maybe these are for their younger siblings who are following along? Doesn’t seem to be a big enough market in Geek Parents, though who knows.
Frankly, Yoda looks no more bizarre than an ostrich to me, and Chewbacca more friendly than a wolf 🙂
The surge in Star Wars is from the new Clone Wars cartoons…but as you point out those are for the 5 & up crowd. Even if your big brother or sister are into it–I still don’t think your younger siblings need to have these images in their heads. Talk about nightmares! The world is so new and so amazing…there are so many other wonderfully enticing and age appropriate images to share.