Comments on: Baby & Me Book 2

By: Viz Chibis: Baby & Me 11, Crimson Hero 9, Honey & Clover 4 » Comics Worth Reading

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 04:48:58 +0000

[...] I last read this series, the cast has apparently been expanded to include a ton of kids, all of whom play baseball in this [...]

By: More Manga Drops » Comics Worth Reading

More Manga Drops » Comics Worth Reading — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 02:03:51 +0000

[...] Baby & Me — Cute characters, but too many of them too quickly (with all the siblings of the family down the street), and not enough depth. Ended with book 3. [...]

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 23:42:21 +0000

Good reminder, Lyle. I don’t have the patience for short chapters any more — so I didn’t think about that reading experience.

And yeah, very cute without feeling manipulated.

By: Lyle

Lyle — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 18:51:59 +0000

Minimizing that interaction may provide some variety to the creator and/or reader, but it’s still early enough in the series that I don’t feel the need for that yet.

I found that to be an interesting comment since, reading the title in Shojo Beat, I felt differently. I suspect that says something about how a series reads differently depending on how much you read at once.

I’m really enjoying this series because it’s heartwarming and cute without feeling like the creator is trying to keep all my “Awwww” buttons pressed.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 10:28:51 +0000

Great points. I hadn’t thought about the learning not just to behave, but to behave in a way appropriate to his society. Takuya’s 11, I think. And yes, there are lots of potential hooks for different audience types.

By: JennyN

JennyN — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 00:49:26 +0000

One of the things I’m finding most interesting and enlightening about the series is that we follow Minoru’s acculturation as he learns how to be Japanese: bowing when he greets people, using polite language, finding his way in social interactions with the other kids in his kindergarten group. (And yes, praying at the shrine…and peeking to see if he’s doing it correctly!)

Ragawa’s honesty in her treatment of Takuya’s feelings about Minoru is also refreshing. No matter how cute young children are, they can also be whiny, stubborn, tantrum-throwing little monsters – and how many parents, no matter how devoted, haven’t felt at some time like just running off and abandoning the little horror in the street? Or at least yelling out their own frustration and anger at the top of their voice? But adults are supposed to know better (especially in manga) – whereas 13 (?)-year-old Takuya can be allowed to vent from time to time. I suspect that the real audience for this book isn’t teenage girls, but first-time parents…