“27: A History of the 27 Club through the Lives of Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse”
Author: Howard Sounes
Hardcover: 360 pages
Publisher: Da Capo Press

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Named one of Publisher Weekly’s Top 10 Music Titles for Fall 2013 “27 A History of the 27 Club through the Lives of Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse” written by Howard Sounes is a book that takes a look at music’s “27 Club” and the artists who comprise it. Told over the course of 360 pages Sounes looks not only at the artists lives but also at their deaths and from there attempts to compare the artists in an effort to find similarities in these 6 subjects.

When I received my copy of “27” I thought to myself why hadn’t someone thought of writing about this sooner? This so called “27 Club” isn’t just made up of meteoric artist who only experienced a flash of success. Instead the members of this club include influential musicians who during their careers impacted millions of listeners and helped shape their respective genre’s for years to come. The thing I enjoyed most about how Howard Sounes approached this rather speculative topic is fairly interesting. The book is broken in to two parts with the beginning chapters being devoted to the life of each musician and the chapters toward the end of the book relating the deaths of these individuals. It was kind of nice as having followed the careers of both Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse I was able to sort of jump around a little bit as a portion of the material here has been widely documented and I think I am still recovering from the media coverage of both these events even though they were some time ago now.

Those looking for definitive answers on what ultimately ties these musicians together in death might not be too surprised with the information contained in this book nor will the reader find a lot of new or undocumented information on the subjects as I don’t feel that was the authors intention with this book. Instead for the first time the information about these six people is available all in one place combined with one person’s perspective on the events which are surprisingly similar. Combine that with 16 pages eerily fitting black and white photography and “27 A History of the 27 Club through the Lives of Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse” makes for an ok read.

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Author: Weta Workshop, Daniel Falconer
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Harper Design
Release Date: December 13, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Peter Jackson is my hero, period. I love his vision for “The Lord of The Rings”. The films are amazing and I always wanted more. When he stepped back into that world with “The Hobbit”, I was excited for another film but then that one film turned into another trilogy. Last year, I was thrilled to have received “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Chronicles: Art & Design”, which was easily one of my favorite books of the year. Then earlier this year I received “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Chronicles II – Creatures and Characters”, which was a fantastic companion to the film. Both of these really captured the making of  “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and I was dying to see what they had planned for “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”. Well I was left 100% satisfied, this book is a must own!

“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Chronicles: Art & Design” takes a really deep look into the second film in Peter Jackson’s second trilogy from the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The film follows Biblo’s and the dwards travels to reclaim the lost realm of Erebor from the Dragon Smaug. Like the first book in this series, it dives into the design and development of the environments in the film, as well as the different cultures, creatures, and artifacts that are found in the film.  Be prepared to be wowed since there are over one thousand stunning images, that’s 1,000 images, consisting of conceptual art, photographs, all wrapped around amazing commentary from the film’s cast and crew.

This book was overseen by Weta Workshop’s senior concept designer Daniel Falconer. You can tell that it is a real labor of love for the team since it is not a cop out of a art book, there is a lot of detail and love that went into this book and if you are a fan of these films you will be eating up every single word and gorgeous image provided. I thought that they couldn’t get any better after “Creatures & Characters” but I was wrong since this one outdoes them all. Also as a super cool bonus, only available with this book, there is a special fold-out replica of the portrait of the Master of Lake-town, played by Stephen Fry in the film. If you want more keep an eye out for “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Chronicles – Cloaks & Dagge​rs” which drops on July 8, 2014.

Age Range: 3 – 5 years
Grade Level: Preschool – Kindergarten
Board book: 10 pages
Publisher: Disney Press
Release Date: January 7, 2014

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

I have an 18-month old daughter and I love her being able to have fun and yet still learn. “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” is such an amazing TV to get the best of both world in that department. This new book “Animal ABCs” is such a blast, it not only teaches the ABCs but also relates then to animals. My daughter is such a sponge right now and she literally has not put this book down. I see this being her favorite for quite a while! Highly Recommend!

Official Premise: Join Mickey, Minnie and the rest of the gang from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse as they explore the jungle to discover all the animals of the alphabet, from Alligator to Zebra. This awesome lenticular novelty format makes learning the alphabet fun, as preschoolers can tilt the book to see a letter of the alphabet transform into a beautiful full-color photo of an animal.

What I like about this book is that it has some weight to it, it is not a flimsy book. It is high quality and looks to holds up again the little one. I also love the lenticular images since it is one animal looking one way and another the other way. I stood back and watched by daughter realize that and it really blew her mind. I can’t wait to see the next installment in this series “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Colors All Around”, which streets February 18, 2014. I will be first in line for sure…if I can pry this book from my daughters hands.

Age Range: 3 – 5 years
Grade Level: Preschool – Kindergarten
Series: Book and Magnetic Play Set
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Disney Press
Release Date: September 3, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Since the beginning of this year, “Sofia the First” has taken over the world of young girls (and boys as well). The show premiered and has been such a huge hit. My 18 month old daughter absolutely loves this show so much. She dances to all the music and even tries to sing-a-long. This book and magnetic playset is such a blast and is the second one that I am reviewing this month after “Frozen”, which is another of our favorites. This is highly recommended if you enjoy this series.

“Ready To Be a Princess” follows Sofia, Amber, and their friends as they prepare for a glittering royal ball, a Royal Prep talent show, a grand tea party, and more. This fun magnetic play set includes two storybooks to enjoy. There are six play scenes includes along with fifty two magnets. This set well represents the show and is very colorful and high quality. I look forward to future adaption for this book in the future…may I hint a “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” and “Doc McStuffins” as well.

Age Range: 3 – 5 years
Grade Level: Preschool – Kindergarten
Series: Book and Magnetic Play Set
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Disney Press
Release Date: October 1, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

One of the coolest things of having an 18 month old kid is that I am able to play with things that I haven’t been able to since I was a kid. I grew up in the 80’s and I used to LOVE playing with Colorforms! All you 80’s babies out there know that I am talking about! When I saw this book, I had a flash back of being a kid and playing with those. On top of that, “Frozen” is no question my favorite film to date of 2013 and our family cannot get enough of this film. The characters, the colors, the music, the design…it is absolutely perfect. As is this book, which is a not only a book but also a magnetic play set and a dress-up book as well.

Inside this book you literally get transported into the wonderful the magical world from Walt Disney Animation Studio’s “Frozen”. Included inside this great handy plastic carrying case are two storybooks, two magnetic dolls, six play scenes, and over 60 magnets. The play scenes are really sharp and quite colorful. The magnets are spot and represent the film very well. There is a ton of fun to have with this set and is also a great way to get kids imaginations going. Seeing my daughter play with this set, I knew that she was having a real blast and she is still technically too young for this. I can only imagine how much she will enjoy as she gets older. Highly recommended, very reasonably priced and will make a great holiday gift this year! If your kids are fans of “Sofia the First”, there is also a great set for that show as well.

Author: Charles Solomon
Hardcover: 168 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Release Date: December 3, 2013

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

When a new Disney or Pixar movie comes out, I am usually more excited for the “Art of” book, then the film recently. I love the behind-the-scenes door into these films. “Frozen” is my hand down favorite film of 2013 to date, so maybe my expectations were a little high, but I was slightly disappointed with this book. It is quite different from recent companion books for “Tangled” and “Wreck-It Ralph” for sure. If you’ve seen this film then you will know how visually amazing it is, I didn’t really feel that scale when I did a flip through on this. The concept art included in this book consists of storyboards, character designs, location designs, props etc. I enjoyed all these quite a bit but I wish the overall presentation was just a little more welcoming. Still this book will have a prominent place on my table for months to come since I am in love with the film.

Official Premise: In Walt Disney Animation Studios upcoming film, Frozen, the fearless optimist Anna sets off on an epic journey—teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff—to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom. The Art of Frozen features concept art from the making of the film—including character studies and sculpts, color scripts, storyboards, and more—alongside interviews with the film’s artists about the making of this comedy-adventure.

One thing you should know though before picking this up is that if you haven’t seen the film do not read this yet since there are a few decent size spoilers given in the book. The artwork is well represented by Chronicle Books, but that is not a surprise since they usually deliver great books. The images are very high quality, so that is definitely a plus going for this book. It is also authored by Charles Solomon, who also did one of my favorites “The Art of Toy Story 3”. There is a solid preface from the Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios and Principal Creative Officer at Walt Disney Imagineering aka John Lasseter. He was also an executive producer on the film. The foreword is from the films directors Chris Buck (director of “Surf’s Up”) and Jennifer Lee (writer of “Wreck-It Ralph”) and worth checking out. Even though this may not be the best “Art of” book of the year, if you enjoyed the film then I would say that it is worth checking out still just keep expectation lower.

Author: Sharon Osbourne
Illustrator: Disney Storybook Art Team
Age Range: 3 – 5 years
Grade Level: Preschool – Kindergarten
Series: Jake and the Never Land Pirates
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Disney Press
Release Date: September 17, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

If you have young kids then you know about the marvel of “Jake and the Never Land Pirates”. This show can stop my daughter dead in her tracks (and she is fast). “Mama Hook Knows Best” features the character of Captain’s Hook mother voiced by Sharon Osbourne, who also in fact wrote this book. It is not Shakespeare for Osbourne but fans of the show will enjoy the expansion of this character. Mama Hook has been in two episodes already and even has her own spin-off short series, so expect much more from this character in this series!

Official Premise: Mama Hook reminisces about her great experiences sailing the Never Sea and the stories she told young James Hook when he was growing up. Written by Sharon Osbourne, the stories are reminiscent of familiar fables like “The Tortoise and the Hare,” set in Jake and the Never Land Pirates’ world of fun pirate playfulness and daring adventures.

From the minute, I gave this book to my 18 month old daughter she ran around the house screaming “Hook!”. In fact she not only loved the book but she also loved the audio CD version of the book, which is a nice bonus to include here. I have a feeling that we are going to be revisiting this book quite a bit over the next few months. The very talent Disney Storybook Art Team delivered this book full of great illustrations showing Mama Hook’s memories of when she sailed the Never Sea. Since the book is subtitled “A Pirate Parent’s Favorite Fables”, the stories included are exciting and also educational as well.  Overall, a must have a great gift for the upcoming holiday season!

Author: Paul Ruditis
Illustrator: Patrick Faricy
Series: Star Trek
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Gallery Books
Release Date: October 29, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Wow, what an amazing idea! That was what I was thinking when I first saw this book advertised. There are millions are “Star Trek” fans like myself that probably thinking the exact same thing. “A Very Klingon Khristmas” is a very clever and funny story and a must have for any fan of the franchise. This book is quite cheap (around $10) and I see this being a frequent cheap gift for many to give to their friends and family this holiday season.

Official Premise: This hilarious parody firmly plants Klingons at the center of the Christmas story—where they rightly should be—including everything from a Santa equipped with retractable claws, tribbles in the stockings of naughty Klingon boys and girls, and the spirited holiday warmth of a hot cup of mulled blood wine. Illustrated in a classic Norman Rockwell–inspired style, A Very Klingon Khristmas is the perfect holiday gift for every Star Trek fan!

The illustrations in “A Very Klingon Khristmas” are very eye-catching. They are very colorful and have that classic yet retro feel to them. You can tell that the author was a big “Trek” nerd himself since he aims to please all fans of the franchise here. Kudos also go to Gallery Books for delivering a fine release. The hardcover book is well presented and high quality. They could have cheaped out on this book knowing that “Star Trek” hardcore fans anyway but this delivers.

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Author: Hayao Miyazaki
Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Series: My Neighbor Totoro
Hardcover: 112 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; New edition
Release Date: October 1, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Damn! Has it really been 25 years? I remember watching “My Neighbor Totoro” when I was a kid and now I have been introducing it this year to my 17 month old daughter. In fact, I have a feel that she is going to love this picture book as well as she learns the film and grows up with it like I have. Viz Media is releasing this new edition to celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary and they have done a great job here for sure. If you do not already own this book, then this will be a great way to parents to introduce the film to their children and keep the fandom surrounding this film and Studio Ghibli overall going for another generation.

Official Premise: The companion book to the beloved animation classic My Neighbor Totoro, by legendary Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki. Featuring artwork taken directly from the movie, this updated edition will allow parents and children to relive Totoro’s magical adventures with scene-by-scene illustrations and character dialogue. Eleven-year-old Satsuki and her sassy little sister Mei have moved to the country to be closer to their ailing mother. While their father is working, the girls explore their sprawling old house and the forest and fields that surround it. Soon, Satsuki and Mei discover Totoro, a magical forest spirit who takes them on fantastic adventures through the trees and the clouds–and teaches them a lesson about trusting one another.

To be honest the title of the book says it all. We get the entire story of the film within some text and illustration. So you can get the jist of the film as it is perfect laid out. I feel like it is giant comic book but also like a visual journey of the film. The images in the book are basically screenshots from the film and they are presented in very high quality. My daughter already is able to say Totoro or “Torto” as she says it since we have plush dolls and various merchandise all over the house. So watching her sit quietly and flip through this book made me very happy and I am sure that this will be used quite a bit over the years. No brainer if you are a fan of the film and Studio Ghibli. I hope that Viz has future plans for more collaborations with their films.

A filmmaker himself, author Tony Lee Moral is best known for his books about the legendary film director Alfred Hitchcock. In 2002 he released “Hitchcock and the Making of ‘Marnie'” and followed it up a decade later with “The Making of Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds'” His next book is also about the master of suspense, “Alfred Hitchcock’s Movie Making Masterclass.”

With the growing popularity of Alfred Hitchcock, 33 years after his death, Mr. Moral has released a revised edition of his first book. He recently took the time to answer some questions about the influence and genius of Alfred Hitchcock.

Mike Smith: You’ve written three books on Alfred Hitchcock. What is it about him as a filmmaker that makes him your favorite subject?
Tony Lee Moral: Hitchcock for me is the definitive film maker, and his career and films span the history of cinema. His films have been a huge part of my life, ever since I saw my first Hitchcock film (I Confess) at the age of 10. I took part in the 1999 Alfred Hitchcock Centennial celebrations and have interviewed many scriptwriters, producers, actors who worked with Hitch. The more I watch his films, the more I become fascinated by the man behind the camera, as there is so much to learn from his life.

MS: Why do you think that, more than three decades after his passing, people are still interested in his films?
TLM: I think Hitchcock was a great storyteller and that will never go out of fashion. He was a master entertainer who put the audience first and always wanted to take them on a roller coaster ride. “Psycho” is probably the best example of that, as watching it is like a trip to the Horror-Fun House.

MS: Do you have a favorite Hitchcock film?
TLM: That is very difficult to choose, I’d say “Marnie” because of the characters and psychology. “Vertigo” is a very close second. And after that I’d choose “North by Northwest” or “The Birds.”

MS: As a filmmaker yourself, have you ever caught yourself intentionally cribbing a shot from Hitchcock’s work?
TLM: Absolutely, I’m very influenced by Hitchcock’s film grammar, from Long Shots to Big Close Ups for emotional impact. For my “Alfred Hitchcock’s Movie Making Masterclass” book, I really studied his use of film and my respect for him as a master film maker deepens. He was a true director who understood the medium of cinema and was a great teacher who influenced many other directors.

MS: What did you think of the film “Hitchcock?” Did you think Anthony Hopkins captured Mr. Hitchcock’s aura?
TLM: I liked it, but have only seen it once in the cinema, which isn’t a good sign. I thought it was light hearted and not mean spirited. I admire Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren as actors, but there were dramatic licenses taken in the film which I didn’t agree with. Overall, if it brought Hitchcock to a new, fresh young audience then that’s a good thing.

MS: What is your next project (either written or film)?
TLM: My next project, which I’m currently writing, is a book about Alfred Hitchcock’s reputation, especially since his death and the recent biographies that have followed it. It’s going to be very revealing and I’m really digging deep for this one, though it won’t be published for several years. I’m speaking to people who haven’t spoken out before about Hitchcock, and I’m hoping that this book will change the way we view Hitchcock and his movies in years to come.

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Written by: Tony Lee Moral
Hardcover: 283 pages
Release date: 2013
Rowman and Littlefield

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

It has been more than three decades since the great director Alfred Hitchcock died (April 29, 1980 to be precise). In that time his legend has grown to almost mythic status. Last year the master filmmaker was the subject of not one but two films: HBO’s “The Girl” and the feature film “Hitchcock,” which centered around the director, played by Anthony Hopkins, during the filming of “Psycho.” In 2002 author Tony Lee Moral released a book dealing with the director and his project after “The Birds,” the psychological thriller “Marnie.” This year Mr. Moral released a revised edition of the book and it is among the most in-depth and interesting “behind the scenes” books ever.

After the double-barreled success of “Psycho” and “The Birds,” Hitchcock set his sights on Winston Graham’s upcoming novel, “Marnie.” He envisioned it as a comeback vehicle for Grace Kelly, who had retired a few years earlier after marrying Prince Ranier of Monaco. However, the publicity surrounding Kelly’s comeback, plus the disapproval of the people of Monaco that their Princess would be playing such a character (Marnie is a thief) resulted in Kelly leaving the project.

In the fall of 1961, while watching “The Today Show” on television one morning, Hitchcock spotted a pretty blonde in a commercial for “Sego” and asked to meet with her. That actress was Tippi Hedren, who Hitchcock soon signed to a contract and cast in “The Birds.” Hitchcock often compared Hedren to Kelly in interviews and when Kelly became unavailable he offered the lead in “Marnie” to her. The rest is film history.

“Hitchcock and the Making of ‘Marnie'” is packed with the kind of inside information that film fans love. From the studios’ reservations about casting Sean Connery, who they were only familiar with from his appearances as James Bond to tidbits of Hitchcock’s directing shorthand (to add drama to a moment Hitchcock would tell his actors to give him “Dogs Feet” – – – Pawses (Pauses). It is inside info like this that gives the book life, so much so that you feel you are personally involved in the production.

An entertaining read from start to finish, I highly recommend “Hitchcock and the Making of ‘Marnie'” to any film fan curious in the art of motion picture making.

Photographs by: Norman Reedus
“The Sun’s Coming Up… Like A Big Bald Head”
Hardcover Limited Edition
Release Date: October 31, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love Norman Reedus right now? The guy already had a huge cult following from his work on “The Boondock Saints” films, then he went and did a little show called “The Walking Dead”. Now he is a fan favorite on the show and has a much larger worldwide following. What people might not know about Reedus is that besides just being an actor, he is also a director and a photographer.

When I interviewed Reedus (before his “The Walking Dead” fandom) back in 2010 and he went into detail on his work with with photography, paintings and sculptures. Shortly after that I went through his work, some of which is also included now in this book, and really enjoyed it. His work is very impressive and also quite unique but if you know Reedus then you see catch on to his vision throughout it. I have to admit, I am not an art critic. I do not have an artistic eye. But I would like to think that I have a pretty decent appreciation for photography and art.

“The Sun’s Coming Up… Like A Big Bald Head” comes in a very sharp looking limited-edition collector’s volume hardcover book. The photographs by Norman Reedus are very artistic and takes on an “hauntingly intimate journey through the dark and sublime.” The journey through this book is definitely dark and quite out there but also very effective. Some of the images left me a little taken back and yet still couldn’t take my eyes of them. Some are very high quality and some are low quality, which is all done on purpose encompass his artistic goal.

This book is going to have a prominent place on our coffee table since I think it will be a great conversation piece for sure. In the back of the book there is a sort of index of all the images with a title for each and where they were taken. After looking through the book once I was immediately compelled to take a second deeper look and reference the back index for each photo. Overall a very strange yet interesting trip and I look forward to spreading the word. Highly recommend for any fan of photography and art…and of course fan of Norman Reedus.

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Age Range: 5 – 10 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten – 5
Series: Dk Essential Guides
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: DK CHILDREN
Release Date: October 1, 2013

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Boy, is Disney really pushing “Frozen” or what? “Frozen” journeys into theaters November 27, 2013, in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters and they are marketing it like it is going to be the next “Cinderella”. Listen, I am not complaining as I will be first in line next month! I love the love of this film and I just have a feel that it is going to win over audiences no question. As I walked around Target even this past weekend, there are is entire section of merchandise already dedicated to this film. So “The Essential Guide” is a great way to learn a little bit about the film, the characters, location and themes before you see it in theaters.

Official Premise: From the studio behind 2010’s Tangled and this year’s Wreck-It Ralph, Walt Disney Animation Studios presents Frozen, the coolest comedy-adventure ever to hit the big screen. When a prophecy traps a kingdom in eternal winter, Anna, a fearless optimist, teams up with extreme mountain man Kristoff and his sidekick reindeer, Sven, on an epic journey to find Anna’s sister, the Snow Queen Elsa, and put an end to her icy spell. Encountering mystical trolls, a funny snowman named Olaf, Everest-like extremes, and magic at every turn, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom from destruction.

This fact-filled guide gives you a sneak peak into the enchanting world of this film and also features some beautiful movie stills and fun and interesting facts! Obviously, this book is aimed at kids and includes some decent information but nothing that is going to interest anyone over the age of 10. Either way, my 17 month old daughter loved this book and already has dolls of both of the leading ladies as well as Olaf the Snowman. So she will be reviewing this book often I am sure.  If you adults are looking for something for yourself, Disney is also planning a gorgeous companion book for you called “The Art of Frozen”, which I am sure is going to be stunning, which comes out next month from Chronicle Books.

Author: George Lucas/LucasFilm Ltd
Hardcover: 736 pages
Publisher: Abrams
Release Date: October 29, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

One thing that “Star Wars” has is that it is extremely visual. For a film series that started back in the 70’s it was and still is revolutionary in terms of visual effects. When I heard about “Star Wars: Frames”, I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was speechless when I opened this book. The book consists of over a thousand images from all six of the films…and that is all. But that is enough to leave you speechless for hours while you look through each of these amazing frames hand picked from the “Star Wars” franchise. I should also mention that this complete set a freaking ton, I would say at least 25 pounds. It is split into two books the first is the original trilogy and the second one is the prequel trilogy. This book may have no words but it is outstanding and a must have for any “Star Wars” fan.

Official Premise: After George Lucas finished work on Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, he wanted to look back on the Star Wars saga with an entirely new point of view: isolating stills, or frames, from each of the six Star Wars films, focusing on them intensely as works of photography and design, and reproducing them in a book. For two years Lucas went through more than 150,000 frames per film, editing more than 1 million frames down to the 1,416 images that now comprise Star Wars: Frames, a testament to the hard work, craftsmanship, and dedication evident in every frame of every film. Star Wars: Frames brings together Lucas’s personal shot-by-shot selections into a lavishly designed two-volume hardcover set—one volume for the Original Trilogy and one volume for the Prequel Trilogy. For collectors and fans, Star Wars: Frames is the ultimate look on this grand project devoted to a cinematic phenomenon—and the ultimate Star Wars collector’s tome.

Each of these volumes consists of two 368 page hardcover books, which are enclosed in this gorgeous deluxe slipcase. What makes this very cool is that these frames are also George Lucas’ personal shot-by-shot frame selection from all six films. Guillermo del Toro gives a wonderful introduction for the original trilogy, which is very in-depth and we get inside the mind of one of my favorite directors and his real passion for “Star Wars”. For the prequel trilogy, J.W. Rinzler, who is the  author and editor for Lucas Licensing’s book division, gives an equally awesome (but slightly shorter) introduction. This book is retailing for $150 dollars but trust me it is worth every single dollar. This is going to be one of my prize pieces in my “Star Wars” collection.

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Author: LucasFilm Ltd
Series: Star Wars Art Series
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Abrams
Release Date: October 15, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

“Star Wars” is such a phenomenon and packs a presence like no other franchise. The “Star Wars Art” series has been quite amazing over the last few years, courtesy of Abrams. When it comes to concept art, you know that “Star Wars” is not going to disappoint. I couldn’t wait to open this book and I was literally blown away by hundreds of images of conceptual artwork from this franchise. I would call this book nothing short of spectacular. I read a lot of art of books for various films and this one is easily the best I have seen all year, no question. The detail is so in depth for these films and the images are absolutely gorgeous and delivered in very high quality. All six films are well represented here and you are literally transported to the amazing world that “Star Wars” has created and get an inside alternate look into that world.

Official Premise: From Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston to Doug Chiang, Ryan Church, Iain McCaig, Erik Tiemens, and the next generation of animation and video-game artists, Star Wars Art: Concept collects, for the first time ever, the very best Star Wars conceptual artwork. As curated by George Lucas, the artwork that helped bring the Star Wars Saga to life is revealed in all its glory, featuring pre-production drawings and paintings from the Original Trilogy, the Prequel Trilogy, the TV shows, and the video games, including an exclusive preview of artwork from the highly anticipated 1313. Spanning the years from 1975 to the present, Star Wars Art: Concept is a fascinating look at the process of conceptual design. From pen and paint and paper to the digital realm, the result is the creation of breathtaking iconic worlds, vehicles, and characters that successive generations have embraced and made their own.

I think that any “Star Wars” fan big or small, young or old is going to eat up every page and every inch of this book. Who wouldn’t want to see early designs for various characters, creatures, and droids. I spent hours looking over different variations of our favorite characters including R2-D2, C-3PO, Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, Boba Fett, Padme, Tusken Raiders and of course everyone’s favorite Jar Jar Binks. Besides, characters there is also tons more including various locations and vehicles. There are even some that never made it into the films at all, which is a real treat for any fan of the series. So besides all six films we also get an inside look into the animated TV shows ”Droids” and “Ewoks” and also various video games including “Force Unleashed” and many more.

There is a great preface from Ryan Church, who is the Concept Design Supervisor for both “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones” and “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”. There is a solid introduction from Doug Chiang, who was the design director for Lucasfilm on “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace” and “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones”. Erik Tiemens gives a very interesting afterword, who made the original art used to sculpt the Massassi frieze for “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”. He also wrote and drew the comic “The Artist of Naboo” for “Star Wars: Visionaries”. Lastly, Joe Johnston, who is the director of such films like ”Jurassic Park III”, “Jumanji”, and “Captain America: The First Avenger”. Joe gives a endearing foreward about his love for “Star Wars” and his work on Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, where he was responsible for the design of Boba Fett’s armor and equipment. Overall, a must have for any “Star Wars” fan!