Watch Out, Jar Jar!

Rating:
Summary: Incoherent English for Pre-Schoolers?
Review: I purchased this book yesterday, and while it certainly conforms to the category of 'Preschool', it is not a good book for your young son or daughter.

Plot: There is little or no plot. Jar Jar, akin to the film he is derived from, simply engages in a series of unrelated mishaps. This, ironically, might be taken as a Spoiler for the film, but it's not. Your child may find them entertaining, but if you want them to learn anything you are out of luck.

Language: The vocabulary is fine for the age group, and is (I would like to think) readable by a child that is just learning, but Jar Jar remains incoherent. It all depends on your taste; I prefer books for my toddler that have strong grammar, and _good English_ (or whichever language you prefer).

Moral: As with Plot, it's hard to find a moral or lesson in this book. If you just want to entertain your child with a recognizable character, this book won't hurt. If you want your child to learn anything besides how to interchange syllables in common words, look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Good starter reader.
Review: The plot is stronger than Dick and Jane, not quite at the Dr. Seuss level. But my 4-year-old loves the thing. He wants to read it - what more can one ask for a first reader than self-motivation? Good illustrations, basic vocabulary, frequent repetition, and not scary.