Yotsuba&! Vol 1 by Kiyohiko Azuma

Yotsuba is an extremely energetic four year old who has just moved to a new town with her dad. As soon as they pull up to the new house, she immediately wanders off to explore. Her neighbor finds her in a park and tells her to come home with her, but Yotsuba remembers her stranger-danger training and runs off. Another time, Yotsuba goes over to the neighbor’s house and discovers A/C units, but Ena, the youngest daughter, tells Yotsuba the dangers of running it too much and contributing to “glowball warning.” Then, Yotsuba and her dad go shopping, and she discovers all kinds of things at the giant department store. They finish up with some ramen and a fierce competition to the top of the stairs at their town’s shrine.

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Yotsuba is smart for her age but also naive, as most four-year-olds are. She doesn’t totally have an understanding of manners yet, so she tends be incredibly blunt to the point of rudeness, especially when Fuuka is around. Her antics are fun and silly, and pretty spot on to a young child you probably know somewhere. For some readers, that familiarity is a draw to loving Yotsuba and continuing their reading. For others who may want some more escapism, this might hit too close to home. Yotsuba is full of life and energy, and the positive moral at the end of this volume - to always look for the good in every situation - will leave readers with some warm fuzzies.

Sara's Rating: 7/10
Suitability Level: Grades 3-8

Publisher: Yen Press
Publication Date: September 15, 2009
ISBN: 9780316073875 (Paperback)

​Tags: Rating: 7/10, Suitability: Elementary School, Suitability: Middle School, Manga, Humor, Family, Realistic Fiction, Yen Press