Yotsuba&!: v. 3 [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

The energetic Yotsuba Koiwai continue in the third volume of Kiyohiko Azuma's new manga series, involving a precocious Yotsuba, she with four pigtails, her father, their next door neighbours, the Ayases, and Jumbo, the hyperthyroid friend of her father's.

Giving each other souvenirs or gifts is something so Japanese, called "okaeshi" or return favours, and it can be endless. Since Asagi, the eldest and prettiest Ayase sister gave Yotsuba a souvenir from Okinawa (see last issue), Yotsuba is bent on giving her something in return. Yotsuba finds something and then, thanks to Asagi and her friend Torako, enjoys fireworks the two bought. Torako learns of Yotsuba's mischief when she sets a lighted firework on her car!

In previous volumes, Asagi's shown to have somewhat of an attitude, but that may just have been the way her mother treated her. We see a childhood flashback of Asagi showing her mom a four-leaf clover, only to be told to find her a five-leaf one, as those bring money, but alas... So how does Ms. Ayase justifying telling Asagi, "You were such a sweet little girl. I wonder how you turned out to be such a bad seed."

Accompanying Fuka Ayase to the florist's reveals what Jumbo does for a living, which is helping his father run his shop. Giants running florists is nothing new-see Hightower in the first Police Academy. However, Yotsuba sees a bus from Fuka's bike and learns that kids ride for free. When Fuka turns around, Yotsuba's gone, she freaks out until she sees Yotsuba get off from a bus! Mischievous kid!

It's just things Yotsuba says that are simply funny. When introduced to Jumbo's father, Yotsuba cries out, "Whoa! Even Jumbo has a dad. I have one too!" Whaddya mean "even Jumbo?" one wants to say in exasperation. Jumbo's father, who is so taken by Yotsuba, that he gives her a whole bunch of flowers, those are still pretty but ready to go.

That leads to Yotsuba becoming the flower cupid, as she hands out flowers to people in the city, charming them with a German folk outfit, complete with kerchief, black vest, and angel wings on her back, with a basket of roses in her left hand. When her father remarks she looks like the little match girl, she asks brightly, "Oh, you mean someone who sets fires in her house?"

We also meet Mr. Ayase for the first time. He is charmed by her politeness and when he to come everyday if she likes, Yotsuba blurts out innocently, "I do come everyday!" And she does her own fireworks dance, which amuses Mr. Ayase, who gives Ena, his youngest daughter, permission to go to the fireworks show.

The funniest involves a trip to the Ajisai Animal Park. After reading a book of animals with her father, she has a hankering to go see the animals. However, Yotsuba being Yotsuba, some funny things occur. In trying to feed a baby goat, another goat is quicker to the punch, which leads to Yotsuba punching the goat! The highlight of the visit is an elephant, whose size amazes Yotsuba. However, her father apparently can't tell an Asian elephant from an African one.

And finally, a trip to the fair with Jumbo, Yotsuba's father, Ena, the Ayase's youngest daughter, and Ena's friend Miura, yields the obligatory yukata (summer kimono) wearing, yoyo-fishing, trying to catch baby turtles, eating snacks, and topped off by the fireworks festival, the main reason for going there. One page has the fireworks spirals in drawn in colour. Yotsuba gives off more than one enchanted smile there, shouting out "boom" with Ena and Miura, and once, "you can even feel the sound."

That's what I feel when I read this series. I feel the sound and imagine how Yotsuba sounds when she speaks, and the atmosphere she creates when around others. The enchantment, fun, and comedy continues.

"Yotsuba&!" Volume 3 continues the adventures of everybodys favorite green haired rascal.

Like the previous volumes, each chapter deals with Yotsuba engaging everyday activities and we,the readers,are treated to her happiness.

The first chapter,"Souvenirs" concludes the last chapter from volume 2 where Asagi returns from Okinawa with gifts for her family and of course,Yotsuba.She decides to return the favor with a "souvenir" of her own(which sparks a memory from Asagi's childhood which is touched upon later on).We're also introduced to a new character,Torako,Asagi's cigarate smoking friend.

"Asagi" has Yotsuba waiting for another souvenir from the long haired lady next door.Yotsuba's reaction when she discovers Asagi didn't pick her up anything is dead on to what a real kid would do in the same situation.Later,the girls set off fireworks(including one on top of Torako's Car!)

We learn something new about Jumbo in "Flowers" as Yotsuba takes a trip to the Florist with Fuka and returns with flowers...ALOT of flowers for just 10 yen(read to find out how).

"The Bon Festival" has Yotsuba dressed as The Flower Cupid,a perfect way for Koiwai(Yotsuba's Dad) to get rid of the flowers from the previous chapter.In her adorable outfit,Yotsuba is told to go around the neighborhood and give away the remaining flowers.During her tour,she encounters a number of people, including a Female Police Officer(the scene in question has a nice reference to the Water Gun from volume 2).

"The Elephant",my favorite chapter in this book,has Yotsuba's first trip to the Zoo.There are plenty of Animal moments with Yotsuba(Her punching out a Goat is one of the highlights of this volume) and also quite one with her and her Dad.

By far the most shocking moment occurs in "The Fireworks Show?"...We FINALLY meet Ena,Fuka and Asagi's Father(the one Asagi never remembers and thinks is dead).Jumbo also tries to use Yotsuba to ask Asagi to go to the Fireworks Show with him...which leads into the last chapter:"The Fireworks Show!"

While this is really just a repeat of the "Asagi" chapter it does have some new material,like a frustrated Jumbo asking Miura,Ena's short haired friend, if she's a boy or girl and scenes in which the girls take advantage of Jumbo's crush on Asagi to buy food and play the games at the show.

Once again,we have solid artwork from Kiyohiko Azuma,whose character designs are one of the main highlights of each volume.While the plots are fun in this collection,they weren't as crazy as the first two volumes(which isn't a bad thing)they were more relaxed.If this volume had any weak points it would be we didn't receive any new details on Yotsuba's Mom or her life overseas and also there weren't any Translation Notes(some more facts on The Bon Festival would have been helpful).

Funny,cute and sweet.A highly recommended title.

Yotsuba volume #3 still manages to delight with its simple vignettes chronicling the day to day adventures of precocious Yotsuba and her daily adventures experiencing life in sub-urban Japan. Volume #3 is interesting for its portrayal of unique aspects of day-to-day life in Japan such as the prominence of the Summer time fireworks festival along with the importance of bringing back 'souvenirs' to family and friends upon return from a journey somewhere.

While the stories may seem lighter then air I still manage to remain highly impressed with Azuma's ability to strongly convey emotion and action through expressive facial artistry. Worth checking out for this factor alone, IMO.