Sturgeon Bay Library Celebrates ‘Star Wars’ Reads Day

A long time ago in a movie theater far, far away seven-year-old Beth Lokken saw Star Wars for the first time…and became a lifelong fan.

“I had never seen anything like it before,” recalls Lokken, the children and youth services librarian at Sturgeon Bay Library. “It was big and splashy and techy. My little brain was overloaded.”

Fast-forward thirty-six years, five more films, and hundreds of adult novels, young adult novels, and children’s books published by an array of authors and publishers under the blessing of Lucasfilm – you’ve got an epic event for young and old at your local library.

Oct. 5 at 2:30 pm, the Sturgeon Bay Library will celebrate Star Wars – the timeless storyline, the characters, the costumes, the trivia, and more – during the 2nd annual Star Wars Reads Day, a national daylong event highlighting the literature inspired by the franchise.

“The movies are big, important,” explains Lokken, “but the books have all the backstory – what happens to Luke afterwards, the Clone Wars, Yoda as a young Jedi Master.”

Lokken will be on hand to offer recommendations for further reading and challenge attendees on their Star Wars trivia.

“It’s such a classic story,” she says, noting that the core story of the Star Wars franchise is an archetypal form that dates back to the beginning of storytelling.

“We have the apprentice who learns from a master, surpasses master, and faces horror – he’s usually from humble origins, heroines are in danger, and an anti-hero shows up,” she explains. “It’s fundamentally compelling.”

The franchise now reaches three generations and Lokken hopes to see each one represented at the event, sanctioned by Lucasfilms.

“Last year, all these publishers and Lucasfilm said, ‘Let’s celebrate the Star Wars thing,” said Lokken. “I was like, ‘I’m so on it!’”

She created light sabers using foam pool noodles and duct tape, gave away Stars Wars bookmarks and posters, helped attendees make Star Wars-themed crafts, and read The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger.

“This is for everyone,” she says, “the more fans, the more interesting the event.”

She also encourages fans to show up in their Star Wars gear, bring Star Wars-themed treats, and prepare to challenge her trivia.

For more information about Star Wars Reads Day visit starwars.com/reads/.

The Sturgeon Bay Library is located at 107 S 4th Avenue. For more information call 920.743.6578.