General Han Solo and two Jedi Knights from Star Wars will make a special appearance at Aina Haina Public Library this Saturday, May 1 from

10 a.m. till noon to encourage children to read and help promote the Library's Free Comic Book Day 2010 celebration.

The fully-costumed General Han Solo and one of the Jedi Knights are from Rebel Legion Hawaii, a branch force of the international costuming fan site rebellegion.com. The other Jedi Knight is from Oahu FanForce, Hawaii's official chapter of FanForce, the international Star Wars fan community, a division of TheForce.net.

Library patrons are invited to bring their cameras for a photo opportunity with the Star Wars' costumed characters, and pick up a special free comic book in front of the Circulation Desk from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To receive a comic book just show your valid Hawaii State Public Library System card.

Free Comic Book Day is celebrated throughout the world on the first Saturday in May and participating libraries and comic book shops have given away millions of free comic books over the past eight years.

Other selected Oahu and Maui public libraries are participating in this year's Free Comic Book Day celebration. Each participating HSPLS library will offer a variety of comic books for all ages, while supplies last. Readers can choose from among popular series such as "Archie," "G.I. Joe," "Iron Man," "Toy Story," and "Shrek." Mahalo nui loa to the Friends of the Library of Hawaii, Jelly's the Original and Collector Maniacs for sponsoring this year's program.

For a listing of other participating public libraries and information about another special event featuring Star Wars Stormtroopers and other characters in costume representing the Pacific Outpost of the 501st Legion ("Vader's Fist"), please visit www.librarieshawaii.org or call librarians Mary Ann Collignon (Kapolei Public Library) at 693-7050 or Hillary W. Chang (McCully-Moiliili Public Library) at 973-1099.