STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS THE OFFICIAL EPISODE GUIDE BOOK- SEASONS ONE AND TWO     Written by Jason Fry   Published in the UK by SUNBIRD      Reviewed by Scott Weller   Back in 1978 the idea of a weekly STAR WARS TV series was something that I could only dream about, and it was always predicted that such an event would never happen due to the kind of unlimited budget needed to bring that universe to life regularly just not being available, especially if it were to live action. Fortunately, George Lucas doesn’t do impossible-and, as in ALICE IN WONDERLAND, in that he’s normally able to do three impossible things before breakfast! - he would transplant the live action idea (which, in itself, is in a holding pattern limbo for the next few years) and would instead turn STAR WARS towards a new life as an animated event series, and casting a net out wide to catch some of the greatest talents possible in TV’s ever growing medium of art and story writing. The result, THE CLONE WARS, after only two seasons, has firmly caught the imaginations and enthusiasm of worldwide STAR WARS fans of all ages. With so many characters, droids, weapons, spaceships and environments within the weekly episodes – despite all the animated restrictions the show apparently had in its original launch (you’d never guess this when watching the episodes!) – the project of documenting them all for fans really needed a book, rather than a continuing website, to do it the visual justice it deserved, alongside the opportunity to create a guide using the finest images from the LUCASFILM animation archives. The result, for younger readers, is the excellent THE CLONE WARS OFFICIAL EPISODE GUIDE SEASONS 1 AND 2, published by SUNBIRD, and, unlike its US predecessor, covering both seasons (so far) of the hit series, and written by regular keeper of the animated archives Jason Fry, who presents everything you ever wanted to know about all 44 current adventures and the intriguing, action-packed pilot theatrical movie. Not only does this new book give us synopsis to each episode but it also provides us every opening moral tag line, character guides (of heroes (including a comprehensive guide to all the key Clone soldiers seen so far), villains, monsters and creatures of all shapes and sizes) and their key series moments, visual profiles, action scenes, memorable dialogue quotes, and so much more within its exciting 194 pages (as well as a lovely accompanying free poster of our main characters). With the TV series timeline not having any consistency, my only complaint about the book is that there is no section showing where each episode fits in the overall CLONE WARS history. Whilst there’s bound to be a major timeline related book at some point in the near future, a brief guide would have been fun to have included in the book, if not for completism. But that’s just a minor quibble when the rest of the book is so nicely realized.   AFICIONADO RATING: With its nice price-tag, this is the ultimate guide for the series (so far) and is a potent and exciting visual/information mix, put together in a lovely presentation, making it especially attractive for all the younger STAR WARS fans caught up in the CLONE WARS universe who want, and need, to know everything they can about it. I’m hoping that Fry will get to do a major league adult book on the series at some future point, too, going into even more depth (including behind the scenes info). 9 out of 10

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS BAD GUYS AND BOUNTY HUNTERS STICKER ACTIVITY BOOK   Published in the UK by SUNBIRD   Reviewed by Scott Weller   As the second season of the world popular THE CLONE WARS animated series kicked off, the galaxy remained in the throes of war and a new enemy force would arrive on the scene to complicate things further for the already hip deep in battle Jedi: Bounty Hunters! They’ll work for the highest bidder, they’re packed with state of the art firepower, and their relentlessness in achieving their missions knows no boundaries. From the hat wearing Durosian, the devilishly cunning and resourceful Cad Bane, to the diabolically evil Aurra Sing, to the vile Trandoshan reptile, Bossk, the Jedi certainly have their hands full on all fronts. And then comes the arrival of the Mandalorian shock troopers- a new army carefully being manipulated by the evil separatist leader, and ex-Jedi, Count Dooku. It seems that the Jedi are surrounded on all fronts-can they persevere?   Now, children of all ages can learn more about all these nefarious baddies, and how the Jedi fight them in epic battles, by partaking in numerous games, puzzles, observation test and mazes in the new BAD GUYS AND BOUTNY HUNTERS ACTIVITY BOOK from SUNBIRD. This new entry in the popular series is a fine continuance of the series and great fun for kids, carrying the same excellent production standards as previous books, beautifully full colour illustrated with great images of all your favourite CLONE WARS characters. Test your identification skills in KNOW YOUR ENEMY, help Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano navigate the word grid to find her stolen lightsaber, travel with the brave Obi-Wan and his loyal Clone trooper forces to Saleucami to track down the loathsome, cruel Jedi slayer, General Grievous, and unmask the traitor on the war ravaged Concordia e, creul Jedi slayer, General  great fun for kids, . And then, after all that excitement, have fun with the excellent character and logo stickers inside the books middle-50 of the best from THE CLONE WARS Season Two (and perhaps even the new Season Three, too!).   AFICIONADO RATING: Celebrate the villainy -Boo!! Hiss!!- of THE CLONE WARS with this exciting new skills book. 8 out of 10

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS - LITTLE LIBRARY   Released in the UK by SUNBIRD   Reviewed by Scott Weller   In the thirty three years that the STAR WARS saga has endured, its creator George Lucas has unleashed from his imagination many memorable and iconic characters for the six film saga and its selected spin-offs. Now, from 2008 onwards, he and his LUCASFILM ANIMATION teams have seen in a new set of heroes and villain to fight alongside such enduringly popular STAR WARS stars as Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. And young readers can get a glimpse into the life histories and adventures of six of some of the CLONE WARS animated series (now at three seasons- and counting!)  very best and most distinguished figures-both friend and foe- inside the new LITTLE LIBRARY compendium books from  SUNBIRD, focusing on the heroic but vulnerable Anakin, his brave and loyal Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, the persuasive negotiator and lethal in battle swordsman Obi-Wan, the dangerous assassin and infiltrator Asajj Ventress, the cruel and despicable tactician and Jedi killer, General Grievous and the memorable new bounty hunter, the clever and adaptive, conscience free baddie for hire, Cad Bane. All of these characters- for good and for bad- have become legendary and noteworthy for their incident led, action packed adventures, which can be re-lived for the very young readers whenever and wherever they like in these handy sized volumes, which make them the perfect traveling companions during school breaks or on holidays. And each book is packed with incredible full colour scenes which highlight the series continually improving and ambitious high quality animation. Tiny fans will enjoy immersing themselves in the adventures whilst in between readings they can also put the books together in a jigsaw to form a unique CLONE WARS image. With the new season of THE CLONE WARS about to air on SKY MOVIES PREMIERE and HD, and with the release of the second year on DVD, now is the perfect time for families to re-discover and thoroughly enjoy the epic saga.   AFICIONADO RATING: The LITTLE LIBRARY books form a lovely collection, nicely produced and of the perfect size for tiny-tot STAR WARS fans. 8 out of 10

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS   BATTLES OF THE FORCE STICKER BOOK   Published in the UK by SUNBIRD   Reviewed by Scott Weller   For the last three TV seasons, thanks to the brilliant talents of the filmmakers and animators at LUCASFILM, we’ve been right up close on the front lines to witness some of the greatest battles on some of the most incredible planets and environments ever seen in the unique realms of the galaxies of the ever-evolving STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS saga. Now, with the new BATTLES OF THE FORCES sticker book from the UK’s SUNBIRD, it’s the welcome turn of readers young and old, boys and girls, to decide the fate of the galaxy for themselves with four superb visual scenarios spreads and stickers of all your favourite heroes, villains, droids and aliens, of all shapes and sizes. Choose who will be the victors and who will be the vanquished! Fancy General Grievous and his Battle Droids wining the day for a change? Or perhaps its time once again for our brave and resourceful Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padawan learner Ahsoka Tano to valiantly shine and win through another valued stake for the Galactic Republic? Only you can make that outcome, and a great time you’ll have in the process of creating it. With the beautifully realized, specially drawn character stickers located in the fantastic middle section of the book you can place the greatest characters of the STAR WARS universe hip deep in battle, retreat, on the ground or above the skies, alongside some of the weapons and technology that have become so iconic over the years. Put them in all kind of locations, too, from the cold snow landscape of the Talz homeland, to the bleak desert brown hues of the Geonosian Arena and its thousands of incoming Battle Droids, to the farthest reaches of deep space and the clash of space vehicles and blasters with the decisive battle of Ryloth and an adventure on Anakin Skywalker’s trusty old freighter, the Twilight, which has its own “special modifications…” Alongside these great templates you can also follow a visual spread of Obi-Wan’s brave attempts with his Clone Troopers to capture his sworn nemesis, the lethal cyborg General Grievous, and help find the missing piece stickers that the Republic and Jedi need to complete their incredible missions. With all that inside, there’s hours of non-stop fun to be had with the BATTLES OF THE FORCE STICKER BOOK.   AFICIONADO RATING: Another lovely, high quality book for THE CLONE WARS- my only complaint is that there could have been a few more stickers/pages included for the four spreads. Some characters like Yoda and Asajj Ventress are also sadly absent-perhaps being saved for a future volume and all new battle scenarios? 3.5 out of 5.