Star Wars Reads Returns for October With Ahmed Best and Classroom Book Support

An October campaign already underway

Lucasfilm announced its 2026 Star Wars Reads campaign on October 1. The program continues throughout October, with Ahmed Best, known for playing Jar Jar Binks and Kelleran Beq, serving as ambassador. This IDS report covers that announcement on October 5.

StarWars.com describes activities for readers of different ages, including printable resources and suggested books and comics. Best will engage with students in the Greater New York area. The announcement also lists his participation in an October 9 Lucasfilm Publishing panel and signing at New York Comic Con.

These are publishing and literacy activities. Readers looking for film or television production news should treat the campaign as a separate announcement about access to Star Wars stories in print.

What the classroom support includes

First Book confirms that Disney Publishing is collaborating with the nonprofit to provide 500 eligible educators with a $100 certificate for books from the First Book Marketplace and a Star Wars Reads Educator Toolkit. The toolkit is also available free to all educators. Penguin Random House Children’s Books will contribute Star Wars books to First Book.

The certificates have eligibility requirements. An educator interested in the offer should use First Book’s program page to review the current application information. A campaign announcement alone does not establish that a particular applicant qualifies or that a certificate remains available.

For families and classroom readers, the useful starting point is a format and reading level that suits the reader. A picture book, comic, or reference volume can serve different purposes. Choosing a manageable book gives a shared reading session a clear focus, whether that means following a character, discussing a decision, or examining an illustration.

A local library can also be a place to ask about borrowing titles or requesting books. Any local activity should be checked directly with its organizer. The national announcement does not establish that a specific California library has scheduled a Star Wars Reads event.