Manga Review: Yotsuba&!, Volume 14, by Kiyohiko Azuma

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: November 2018

Volumes: 14+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 13.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Everyone's favorite green-haired five-year-old is back! And this time, Yotsuba's expanding her horizons by taking a trip to the big city with her dad! The giant amusement park of Tokyo--with all its trains to ride, neighborhoods to explore, and fancy lunches to eat--promises heartwarmingly hilarious adventures in this long-awaited volume!

Review:

These releases are rather slow, but it means that each new volume ends up being a surprise. I'm not expecting them, so they're a delightful surprise when they get here. This was a nice big volume, too.

Yotsuba figures out how to make necklaces as the volume starts, and then she decides that she's a princess. It's very cute, as she dresses up and expects people to automatically know (and some do). We meet Yotsuba's aunt in this volume, as they meet downtown in Yotsuba's dad's fancy car, and go to a fancy buffet to eat. She also sees aliens in the park.

I love the pure, simple, childish humor in this series. When Yotsuba decides something, or thinks somethings real, or asks questions, the people around her just go along with it, for the most part. They humor her, they tease her without her realizing, they have fun with it; and sometimes, they teach her things.

It's very sweet and adorable, and just such a delight. I love this series. It was also nice to meet a new character, to see more of Yotsuba's family.

Manga Review: Yotsuba&!, Volume 13, by Kiyohiko Azuma

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: May 24, 2016

Volumes: 13+

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 12.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Fresh off the excitement of her camping trip, Yotsuba initiates a very productive session of sandbox play in which she instructs Fuuka how to properly run a bakery. But even more exciting is a visit from Grandma! Yotsuba learns how to value and enjoy cleaning, how not to be rude when hoping for souvenirs, and most important, how to cope when Grandma leaves. But don't worry, she'll be back someday!

Review:

There is never enough Yotsuba in the world. Never. I will never grow tired of it.

We start with Yotsuba coming from camping, with souvenirs for everyone. And then we meet Grandma. There’s lots of adorableness to be had here. There’s preparation and excitement, and then Grandma teaches Yotsuba all kinds of things. Like cleaning, as Grandma pesters her father about it all. Yotsuba tries very hard to be a good helper, and she’s so cute.

There’s also a learning moment, when Grandma has to leave. Yotsuba throws a fit, but Grandma and her dad stay strong, they don’t give in, and she’s forced to accept it. And say goodbye, and then be a kid again and move forward.

Every volume of this series is a delight and I love it all to pieces. I will always want more, but re-reads are also very fun.

Manga Review: Yotsuba&!, Volume 12, by Kiyohiko Azuma

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: 2013

Volumes: 13+

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 6. 13.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Oops! Your shoe! Your shoe! Your shoe came untied! But don't worry! Tora taught Yotsuba how to tie a bow like a butterfly! Now Yotsuba can tie Juralumin's ribbon aaaall by herself. Huh? Why are Yotsuba's hands blue? Well, see, there was this reeeally pretty blue paint...and Yotsuba thought Daddy would want his stuff to be reeeally pretty blue too... Are Yotsuba's hands gonna stay blue forever and ever?!!

Review:

My god, I just need infinite amounts of this series. It should be never ending. Why are there not already like a hundred volumes of this?

Yotsuba is the most adorable kid in the world and I hope I have a kid like her someday. She’s learning, she's getting older. She’s not in school yet, so she just explores and has fun all day every day. I love that she learns something new all the time, that she misspells and mispronounces words all the time, that she’s learning not to lie or make up stories. It’s realistic in that way to me. And I also like that, while her dad lets her do most of what she wants and have fun and go out with friends, she has rules, and she gets punished when she does something wrong. Her dad has rules for her, like he should, but he also clearly loves her and plays along with what she wants, lets her be herself.

This is the way to parent, you guys.

I’m so, so upset that I’m all caught up. It came way too fast, and it’s going to be a long time before another volume comes out. It sucks, and I will probably reread the previous volumes while I wait.

Manga Review: Yotsuba&!, Volume 6, by Kiyohiko Azuma

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: 2009

Volumes: 12+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 5. 7. 12.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Yotsuba’s getting a biiiiike, Yotsuba’s getting a biiiiiike!! Didja know the wheels of a bike go round and round and round and round and round and round and round and round and round and round and round and round and roun — oh, Yotsuba’s getting dizzy…whoooooa…

Review:

I wasn’t planning on reviewing another volume until I was all caught up, but I’m in a standstill until I get more, and just really needed to express my love for this series some more. I wasn’t completely bought in the first volume, but now I am.

I completely love and adore Yotsuba, as a series and a character. Yotsuba is adorable and so hilarious, and I love the way everyone goes along with her. She’s not in school yet, and so pretty much just hangs out with her father and her neighbors all day, getting into trouble and having fun. Her father has rules, and she does get in trouble when she breaks them (like how she got grounded when she rode her bike too far out of the neighborhood on her own), but for the most part he lets her do what she wants (like jumping on him). And then she’ll get play ideas in her head, like someone’s a bad guy or that a cardboard robot is real, and everyone will just go along with it. They want her to stay happy and oblivious, and I love it.

This is pretty much just a comedic series, with story for at least a chapter and long-running jokes, and some four panel strips. But it’s hilarious, and everything Yotsuba does is adorable, and just plain has me grinning at this point.

I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest of this series, and am so glad I decided to catch up on this one first.

Manga Review: Yotsuba&!, Volume 1, by Kiyohiko Azuma

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press (Previously ADV)

Release Date: 2009

Volumes: 12+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 2. 12.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Hello! This is Koiwai Yotsuba, Yotsuba Koiwai...um, YOTSUBA! Yotsuba moved with Daddy to a new house from our old house waaaaaaay over there! And moving's fun 'cos people wave! (Ohhhh!!) And Yotsuba met these nice people next door and made friends to play with (one of 'em acted like one of those bad strangers Daddy told Yotsuba not to go with, but it was okay in the end). I hope we get to play a lot. And eat ice cream! And-and-and...oh yeah! You should come play with Yotsuba too!

Review:

Years and years ago, I borrowed several volumes of this series from a friend. I vaguely remembered liking it, but most of it was blurry. And after finishing Azumanga Daioh and realizing it was the same author, I quickly added this to my list. Reading Barakamon just made me want to start this series sooner.

This series stars Yotsuba. She lives alone with her dad, and she’s a relatively naïve little girl. The two move to a new town, and she quickly makes friends with her neighbors--three sisters and their mother. Plus her father’s friend, Jumbo, comes around a lot.

Already, I’m finding this funny. Yotsuba is a little crazy and exaggerated, learning almost everything for the first time, like air conditioners and global warming. She’s naïve with people and what they tell her, and freaks out when she remembers stranger danger. She tries catching cicadas, then lets them all loose in the house. This is full of hilarity, awkward moments, Yotsuba being her crazy self and her father letting her.

I am so glad that I’ve finally started to pick this series up, and will be slowly continuing this series. It’s already at the top of my list, and I can’t wait to catch up.