“We’ve only just begun.” —Captain Kathryn Janeway, – Star Trek: Prodigy
Some of my most cherished childhood memories are of sharing Star Trek: Deep Space Nine fandom with my Mom. It was just for the two of us. We were utterly immersed in our mutual love of DS9, choosing our favourite characters to fangirl over, sharing our inside Trek jokes, quoting our favourite lines to each other, and eagerly awaiting the next episode. It was a bonding experience.
When my editor approached me about reviewing the latest Star Trek books for children, “My First” books of space and colours, my first reaction was excitement. Here was a great way to fan the flames of our shared Trek fandom, which had been lit with the advent of Star Trek: Prodigy, and then died down to embers over the long hiatus of that beloved kids’ show. The “My First” books would be a way to restart those conversations!
My concern was that the board books, beautiful and intelligently written as they are, might prove a bit too young for my kids. My eldest is in first grade and my youngest is in kindergarten; perhaps they might find the books a bit too simplistic for their learning levels.
Introducing Star Trek To My Kids
I am thrilled to share that this was not the case. The “My First” books are some of the most beautiful board books for kids, and I’ve been reading board books to my children since they were in the womb.
The text was complex enough to challenge them, the photos and artwork were vivid enough to spark their imaginations, and the famous Star Trek lines I have loved from childhood were skillfully woven into the text in a way that made it easy to introduce those lines to my children.
Learning About Space Together
B, my eldest, is going through a space phase, and the space book provided an accessible source of information for him. It facilitated several informative conversations, mostly taking place at bedtime, as anyone with kids knows is the best time for philosophical conversations! Inspired by the book, we talked about the nature of space, the orbits of the planets, our place on planet Earth, and space exploration.
Any old space book could have done that, but “My First Book of Space” connected real-life space photos and facts with pictures of the many starships of Trek. In so doing, the book helps nurture the hope that Star Trek is all about: that someday we will be exploring the solar system, and beyond, and that today’s kids will be tomorrow’s astronauts. What better incentive to work hard in school than the dream of becoming someone who makes an important space discovery?
The artwork of the space stations and Starbases started B and me on a conversation about the ISS and the people who work on it. We had an enthralling conversation about the astronaut Dr Jessica Meir, who grew up not very far from us, and who went from rural Maine, where we live, to space! She showed my children that a Star Trek future is possible, even for country people.
Infinite Diversity of Colors
My littlest, M, preferred “My First Book of Colors.” So much of Star Trek is a bit too mature for my kids right now, so I loved the chance to share some of the lighter side of Trek with them through the colours book. I hope this will whet their interest in watching many hours of Trek with me when they are older, just as I watched many hours of Trek with my Mom!
They’re too young to follow the storyline of The Next Generation: “Encounter at Farpoint,” but I can introduce them to the fascinating space jellyfish through the book. I was utterly fascinated by the wormhole when I was a kid. DS9 is a bit too dark and gritty for their age, but I can introduce them to the magic of the wormhole, and they can feel the same wonder that I did, through the board book.
The story of the Gorn is too scary for them right now, but they can enjoy the artwork of the lizard person, and hear from me the story of the brave captain who spared the Gorn captain’s life. The pictures of the tribbles brought us all to laughter as we remembered watching “The Trouble With Tribbles” together. And the artwork of the mysterious green hand that seized the Enterprise reminded us that Star Trek can be goofy and fun, too!
Important Star Trek Conversations With Kids
The pictures of the Orion and Andorian ambassadors sparks an important conversation about the different colours all beings come in, and how we are all people with important ideas to share. The artwork of Armus began an important conversation about Bad Guys, how they can be any colour, and how it is their actions that make them good or bad.
The artwork of the Starfleet officers in their red, yellow, and red uniforms began a conversation about identifying what people do for work through their uniforms. The artwork of the quantum singularity and the nebula prompted discussions about the many mysteries of space, the colors we may not know exist, and the phenomena that are out in space, waiting for us to discover.
Final Thoughts and Ratings
“Star Trek: My First Books” of space and colours may have been designed for a younger audience than my children, aged seven and six, but there was plenty for them to enjoy in the books. I love to think that their memories of their introduction to Star Trek will be memories of sitting curled up in Mommy’s lap, with Mommy’s arms around them, reading these beautiful books and having important conversations about space and people and things that matter most in the universe.
I love that there is something in Star Trek for everyone, from the littlest to the eldest. To every Trekkie who would like to share their fandom with their children, I give the “My First” books my highest recommendation. Five out of five tribbles!
