Young Jedi knights leaped at the chance to perfect their lightsaber skills in a workshop hosted by the La Grange Public Library just before the new Star Wars movie release Dec. 18.
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“Registration filled up right away,” said Patti Eaton, assistant head of the youth services department. “We went with 20 spots.”
Based on a recommendation from a La Grange Park librarian, Eaton said she hired two instructors from E.D.G.E. Theater in Chicago for a workshop Saturday to teach stage fighting techniques.
Participants crafted lightsabers out of foam pool noodles, Eaton said, before learning the proper combat stance and how to wield the Force.
Anticipating a great deal of interest in the release of “Star Wars: the Force Awakens,” the library also hosted a Star Wars party following the workshop, with crafts, trivia games and costumed characters, Eaton said.
Children and their parents could learn to fold origami Star Wars characters, as well as make simpler crafts, gluing pieces to make R2D2 or Yoda, she said.
In the children’s department, Eaton said there’s never a lull in requests for Star Wars materials.
“We have them in picture books, easy readers, chapter books and graphic novels, as well as video games and Legos,” she said. “It’s amazing how a 3-year-old knows all about Star Wars even without seeing the movie.”
Twitter: @janemichaels22