Yotsuba to!
Yotsuba&!

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Ok, so here we are with little Yotsuba.
If you're looking for an easy-going manga, this is perfect for you.
Not many dialogues, easy to read, and really funny.

And the best thing of it is that shows you that even the sounds of the cicadas is enjoyable(tsuku tsukuboushi x]).
The "motto" of this manga is "Enjoy everything", and that's exactly what Yotsuba does and shares with us.

It's like being as Yotsuba, 5 years old again.
And she's one of a kind. I would like to have a daughter like her xD.
She is always laughing, and when she gets scared she is really cute. She also learns things ... really fast but misunderstoods them most of the time, and that's what it makes she so funny, that, and that sometimes she says things that you would never believe a child would say.

The other characters are mostly for Yotsuba's support, but they are unique too, and very different from each other.

The art is really simple, but cute and clean. Like Azumanga Daioh, from the same creator.

So, I recommend you this manga if you want to read something happy and lively.

Enjoy life and enjoy Yotsuba& :]

This ongoing manga is basically a story about the life of 5 year old Yotsuba and her day to day experience. For those who have seen or read Azumanga Daioh I'd expect you'll immediately be able to make the connection between the similar story plots and artwork, and you'd be right to make this connection because its made by the same mangaka, Kiyohiko Azuma. Like Azumanga Daioh there is no real "plot progression" (it lost points for story), but thats not really a bad thing if you like this style. Unlike Azumanga Daioh, where stories are told in short panel strips, Yotsubato! is complete chapters, ... and occasionally several chapters for one story.

Story: As I already said there isn't much of a "story," but each experience she has is cute. Many of the stories are extremely humorous. If you're looking for drama or action this definitely IS NOT the story for you. Most gags are based on Yotsuba's lack of understanding because she's just a little girl or her overactive imagination. There is a small plot somewhere; "She was adopted from somewhere far to the "left." Thats pretty much it...

Art: The art is simple, but perfect for this type or writing in my opinion. Its not a master piece, but it doesn't need to be. As longing as you get the cuteness across its fine.

Characters: While Yotsuba is in my bias oppinion is the most interesting character; there are many other humorous persons in the story, such as; her dad, her dad's friends, and neighboring girls. Unlike Azumanga Daioh!, where there isn't really a main character, Yotsuba is definitely the central character of this story.

Enjoyment: If you like cute stores like this I'm possitive you'd love this. Most stories are 100% enjoyment.

Overall: I don't know why I'm giving it an 8, it would be a 10 in my book~
Its not "perfect," but as far as the genre goes its pretty close. Its one of those espically cute, ironic manga that most people, even not interested in this genre would love.

This is probably one of the funnyist manga's I have ever read. For one, Yotsuba is a good character that really makes the story come alive. Along with this, the other characters add to the story and makes Yotsuba's adventures even better to read. No matter how many times I read it, I loved it each and every time. What this manga does is unlocks the inner child within you and makes you remember all the fun and stupid things you did when you were little. The art, don't make me get started on that! It was in one word, captivating. Even without color, the ... pictures still come alive and you can still imagine what they would be like in real life.The only bad point or flaw would be that there isn't much deep meaning to it. It is mostly meant to laugh, but it dosent get you to think as much, which to me, is important for an anime. That brought the story down a bit, but overall, this is a fun manga to read. I would totally tell all my friends about this too!!!

that shit CLASSIC. abolute BANGER. best thing i've ever READ that isn't NICHIJOU. my FAVORITE thing because its AWESOME and really COOL and the characters are FUNNY and the dumb kid with the green hair is STUPID and a DUMBASS but is super FUNNY and her dad is COOL and he has a friend who is COOL and TALL. and another friend who is a DICK but is AWESOME and the neighbors are GREAT and COOL and AWESOME i wont spoil the PLOT because there IS NONE they just HANG OUT and do COOL STUFF and FUN STUFF and the kid is STUPID and does ... STUPID stuff and LAUGH

"Yotsuba enjoys everything"

It's probably something that you can just tell about a pure innocent child
and just how heartwarming it is to be there with Yotsuba in all of her enjoyable moments in a journey to discover new things with that beautifull perspective of a little kid without any care in the world and make you realise how fun every meaningless thing in your daily life would be!
Every chapter of Yotsubato! is a fun read and it has even high value of rereading.
The comedy is not the kind to make you burst into laughter but it will make you keep a smile on your face and ... make you chuckle from time to time throughout the series.

You should read Yotsubato:

if You simply like kids and adore their cuteness. (Yotsuba chan is the bestest cutie ever)
if you are looking for some simple and lighthearted work for a change of pace after reading some heavy work.
if you want to feel nostalgic and remember every dumb thing you did in your early years.
if You are an edgy teenager seeking for meaning in your life.
if You broke up with your partner and now think that there isn't any other thing worthy out there for you to live for it.
if You are exhausted from a long day of hard work and just want to spend a little time without your usuall worries.
if You are not ready for having a child or even if you dont like to have one and think they are just pain in the neck.
And even if you are a parent and don't know how to deal with your child.

OK then
let's talk a bit about the characters: (It's the most important aspect of every slice of life story after all)

Yotsuba herself is an energetic and curious  little girl with normal childish behavior.
Perhaps the most appreciated thing about this manga is how the author knows what are the most funny things about little kids and how he portrays it in the most funny way,
for example how much hearing strange and unexpected things from kids mouth is funny or them being pretty simple and believe everything they are told.
Ah god, i just can't simply express the level of Yotsuba's cuteness with words alone, it's just awsome !!
Then we have Yotsuba's father, Koiwai san, a pretty ideal father with really funny moments beside yotsuba
and there are his two friends
Jumbo and Yanda, The big guy and the bully dude.
And then there are next door trio sisters with their mom and their friends.
They are all simple but fun peaple with specific personalities and make Yotsuba's adventures even more fun and wholesome.

And lastly about the art
It's not a very detailed and over the top work in that regard, but still a pretty decent one.
Something that should be appreciated about the artwork is the facial expressions of characters, they are masterfully done.

For conclusion, i believe anyone would enjoy Yotsubato! if they approach it with the proper mindset and no unreasonable expectation
It's just the peacefull, funny and lighthearted everyday life of Yotsuba and others.

As for rating
Well there can be excuses to give it lower than full mark if you look at it objectively
For one you could say the lack of proper relationship development between side characters and the story just going around Yotsuba is a flaw
But i don't see such matters as much of a problem, cause it doesn't have any contrast with the main goal of the work
And it is damn successful in that regard alone
So me as a person who rates mainly based on enjoyment can't give it lower than 10 full mark. (i would be happy to even rate it higher !)

As a side note, i recommend reading yotsuba not very fast and try to save some for future
I know its prety hard to control yourself and not read this pure beauty in a single day
but believe me when i say that you would most likely regret doing it if you do otherwise.

Thanks for reading this excuse of a review(or one may call it love letter) and sorry for any potential writing mistakes.

Have a nice day/night !

Yotsuba&! is the story about Yotsuba Koiwai, a five-year-old girl who stays at home with her dad. She has no mom and is too young to go to school yet. Yotsuba is a cute girl with green (yes green) hair that’s done in four pigtails, giving her the appearance of a four-leaf clover (“yotsuba no kurōbā” in Japanese), and thus her name. 4channers may recognize her as the website’s unofficial mascot.

The manga is by Kiyohiko Azuma who also created Azumanga Daioh. The similarities between these two are very apparent, and the style of humor is the same, so if you liked Azumanga Daioh, then you ... don’t want to miss reading Yotsuba&!.

Similar to Azumanga Daioh, you’ll meet lots of new characters as the series progresses, mostly Yotsuba’s friends and neighbors, and they are all almost as odd as she is. XD My two favorite characters are Mr. Koiwai and Fuka Ayase. Mr. Koiwai is Yotsuba’s father. I aspire to be like him when I have my own daughter. He’s kind and is always there to take care of Yotsuba, but at the same time he makes sure she behaves properly (not so easy for a five-year-old). Fuka Ayase is 16-years-old and the middle sister of the Ayase family, who lives next-door to Yotsuba. Fuka is creative and smart, and she is the vice-president at school, but she also gets flustered really easily.

Yotsuba&! is a slice-of-life series, through and through. When I thought about slice-of-life, I used to think about Azumanga Daioh or Lucky Star, but none of them capture the little joys and perks in life as well as Yotsuba&! does.

In the manga you’ll follow Yotsuba to the bike store, the zoo, and much much more, all while seeing what life is like through the perspective of an eccentric five-year-old. It is funny reading Yotsuba's unusual but completely innocent remarks about things such as global warming and cicadas. Yotsuba will say and do the darndest things, and despite her bratty side which appears from time to time, you can’t help but adore her.

"Today is always the most enjoyable day."

Comedy always was and will always be a double-edged sword. Either you burst out laughing, laying waste to the nearest furniture in the meantime, you get what you came for or you only manage to grin faintly at best... the summoned feelings can differ significantly between two otherwise similar persons. You don't need to be an expert to find out about this swing of feelings when searching for something fun to read/watch.
But one comedy genre stays out of this top-or-flop cycle, since it deals with themes we all are quite aware of or had been in the past and ... where we will almost always inner agree; the adventures of being a child.

The starting quote, basically being the leifmotif of the manga in question here, sums up a certain child's life perfectly. You surely recognized by now: this child is named Yotsuba and the manga deals with her everyday adventures.

Seeing our today's world through the eyes of a kid... what can there be to it, you may ask? No, do not think of an ordinary farmer's girl or one living in a wealthy mansion.

Think differently!
Direct your thoughts into the mind of a young girl coming to town for her first time. How will you process all the impressions you perceive? Are you actually overwhelmed? Does curiosity seize you completely? Close your eyes for a short moment and try it... Imagine...

...
......
.........
............
...............
............
.........
......
...

So, what have you seen? Maybe a great shopping mall, an awesome articulated bus, wide streets or huge crowds of all kind of humans? Have you deeply inhaled this air of novelty into you?
Now, you are prepared to attend Yotsuba on her efforts to understand and enjoy her upcoming life.

Following are some thoughts I have to direct to her:
*
Yotsuba, what a crazy and inquisitive five-year-old child you are. You do not need many dialogues to demonstrate your outgoing character, you gain new friends in no time, you face your goals head-on.
Even with tiny things which adults tend to overlook; you will find a possibility to make the most out of them.
*
But what I admire most about you, Yotsuba, is your sheer ability to make every new experience an adventure, thus sharing some kind of life consultation with us. You show us how to not hold back in front of unknown places and conquer new life areas with lots of curiosity to receive an everlasting memory. Seriously, many people of today's society could learn a lesson from you and your pureness. Or, to put it into your father's words: "Kids really can jump into things without holding back."
*
Yotsuba, in addition to your adorable nature, you are really fortunate to have such a supporting folk around you. Be it an adrenalin pushed dance with your daddy, your visits next-door (you sure don't get bored of them) or you curious talk with a random shop clerk, you will definitely remember them for their unexpected helpfulness in guiding you through a world of infinite potential. "We really live in amazing times", Torako says, and it definitely seems so for you; every day is another amazing one.
*

I'm not overdoing it by giving her this much credit. She really deserves all the given attention. Now, beside her memorable character, let me mention another point which distinguishes Yotsuba's life from other children based comedies: While other works may work with forced and somewhat cheesy punchlines at a chapter's end, this comedy always keeps its human nature and won't exaggerate (it doesn't have any need to in the first place), which will let you smile and enjoy her life even more.

You know, smiling and laughing have a much deeper meaning in life than you probably would have thought. Are you actually aware of why Japanese people have such a high life expectancy? It's partly because they laugh a lot, not only to jokes, but also to issues where other cultures would rather look away or might feel offended. I've recently watched an interview with three Japanese centenarians stating exactly this matter of laughing as their main reason why they live on. No wonder they became this way, since they can enjoy such splendid comedy manga their whole life along without any problems like ceasing replenishment of fresh works.

In addition, if they had grandchildren like Yotsuba, what other things would there be to wish for? For myself, I'm able to admit without a doubt that having a child like Yotsuba would greatly increase the value of my life. Seriously!

Yotsuba... so why is this manga actually called Yotsubato? The "to" after her name means "and" in English. "Yotsuba and..."; It has been Yotsuba and me for a long time now, and I hope that in the near future, we can proudly say: "Yotsuba and you".

There are slice of life mangas that focus on building and showing the relationships between the main characters, in this case a parent - child relationship, as with titles such as Usagi Drop or Taiyou no Ie. Then there is Yotsubato!, a manga which main premise lies in narrating and displaying the daily life of the child and the different interactions with her surroundings, all represented hilariously.

The story of Yotsubato! is simple: Yousuke Koiwai, the parent, and Yotsuba, the 5-year-old child, move to a new neighbourhood, living next to them a family composed of three girls and their parents. The author proceeds to narrate different ... everyday life events of Yotsuba, who is a very curious girl and ignorant of her surroundings. This is displayed masterfully, in conjunction with the art style: it is presented in such manner that it makes these situations very hilarious, as well as very relatable to your own childhood or that of your own family.

One thing that I missed in the story is the fact that it hardly focuses on the characters background at all, neither on the relationship development of the other characters, beside that of Yotsuba. Little hints to the background stories and relationships are introduced slowly, which leaves the reader yearning to know and explore more about it. The mostly episodic nature of the manga makes it difficult to really convey a feeling of "continuity" to the manga, but this is nevertheless a small drawback, which at the same time enhances the narrative of it.

The characters in Yotsubato are well carved and presented. Yotsuba clearly represents childhood, which is displayed through infinite curiosity and energy, absurd lies to escape punishment, honest, direct thinking, childhood innocence, which makes it so relatable. Other element which further enhances her personality is the fact that she is clueless of most modern things, even infancy games.

The cast of characters in Yotsubato! is large, but varied. There is Youtsuba's father Yousuke, who works for an unknown job at home, his friend Jumbo the giant florist, Yasuda who Yotsuba dislikes. Then the family next door: Ena, the smart and conscious one; Fuuka, your average highschool girl, and the cool sister Asagi. Not to forget the stern grandma. As the story progresses, the author reveals how their personalities are, as well as introducing new characters.

The art style of Yotsubato! complements well with the narrative of the manga, as well as displaying through simplistic facial expressions of Yotsuba her emotional state and how the other characters are affected. The art is consistent with stunningly realistic backgrounds, as cars, houses, room designs, you name it, which really came as a surprise.

Youtsubato! was overall a very enjoyable experience, whose narrative was well presented, with hilarious gags, as well as being very relatable to the reader. The lack of character's background story, and relationship development of the side characters may be a drawback for some, but this is compensated with the heartwarming and hilarious moments the manga has to offer. There was literally no chapter in which I didn't laugh. Recommendable to anyone with an interest in slice of life or comedy genre.

Thank you for reading.

The best slice of life ever.

Before getting into it i'll admit this review is biased due to sentimentality, this is the first manga I read completely in Japanese (I suggest you make it your first as well as it is very understandable while still introducing a fair bit of vocab) so naturally I spent a lot more time on it than most manga, and associate it with good memories.

Still, there's a good reason よつばと！ doesn't have a single bad or even mixed review on MAL, and that's because it's damn great. Almost every single chapter is hilarious and memorable, Yotsuba herself is an adorable ... true to life portrayal of a dumb kid, the other characters are also well written and bounce off each other fantastically, and there's basically not a single thing wrong with it. It's the kind of manga only someone actually interested in people could write.

The art is cute and expressive, often there are pages with few to no words that just let the excellent panelling flow take the storytelling wheel. While the art is usually simple and efficient as befitting a comedy SoL the artist will flex and draw beautiful architecture and nature just because he can.

I could keep going but honestly よつばと！ doesn't need me to praise it. It's great, you already knew it was great, an entire website of degenerates even has Yotsuba as their mascot and one sacred cow because it's so great, go read it (In Japanese) if you haven't already.

yotsuba&! is a comedy. :) its written by the author of AZUMANGA DAIOH!. both of the mangas are great. yotsuba&, however, is not an anime. T T why do people not convert it into an anime? i have no idea.

anyways, i find everything about this manga very enjoyable. there is no profanity, but a little use of suggestive words here and there.....

if you enjoy comedy, then you will LOVE this manga. the main character, yotsuba, looks different in almost all of the beginning of the manga. {Vol. 1,2, & 3}. ... other than that, the art is fantastic.
i have no complaints about this manga, except for the fact that it is not an anime yet. T T T T T T

Yotsuba&! is a fun, funny, and fabulous manga that is sure to brighten up anyone's day.


Story 9/10
Yotsuba&! tells of the many adventures of 6-year old named Yotsuba(literally four-leaf in Japanese) and of the people around her. Although their isn't much of a story, the way it is told is Fun (or for Yotsuba SUPER FUN^_^), Funny, Crazy, Cool, and Heartwarming. The only story right now is that Yotsuba moved into a new neighborhood from somewhere "waaaaaaay over there". Of course, the way it is told makes it so that you don't really need a plot or anything like that. Just "enjoy everything" like Yotsuba.


Art ... 10/10
The Art for this manga was SPECTACULAR. Everything, even without color, was drawn very beautifully and realistically. From the characters expressions to even the smallest details, are believable and enjoyable to look at. The covers for each volume are like paintings,they are precious, you never get tired of looking at them, and they are filled with life.


Character 9/10
Yotsuba, the main character,discovers new things and makes new friends everyday. She is a fascinating kid, with such a air of cuteness, curiousity, and child-like innocence (she is a child of course^_^) that you can't help but like her, and to wanna have fun with her.Whether she is visiting her neighbors, or discovering what a swing is, or being flower cupid and giving everyone flowers. She reminds us of how fun and magical it was to be 6-years old and to have those many adventures and discoveries rather than resorting to"grown-up things"(cigarettes, video games, computers, and such). And it is a wonderful part of our childhood that most of us end up forgetting about or putting aside, but Yotsuba has us remember those times and we awaken our inner child. And then we begin to enjoy life again.She is truely a wonderful character (heck, i like her enough to care for her as if she was a real person^_^).

The side characters such as her friends Ena, Fuuka, and Asagi are also fun and interesting. Yotsuba is the main spot-light most of the time, but it is nice to see the different interations and relationships these people have with Yotsuba and how they act outside of that. It's also interesting to slowly learn thier history, because Yotsuba doesn't have much of a history as this point besides the fact that use to live on a tropical island "waaaay waaaaay left.... and a little right"^_^. Although some would argue that these characters are not as important as Yotsuba, i think they are all important in some way as they add something to the story and they care and support yotsuba as friends and as a family.


Enjoyment-9/10
So far, i have enjoyed Yotsuba&! very very much. I never get tired of her or any of her friends or realitives. Each adventure has given me something to enjoy and learn about life and about Yotsuba and her friends. Yotsuba&! gives me more reasons to enjoy my life every time time i read a new volume. It is truely a wonderful endless adventure and one that will never leave me. I love you, Yotsuba^_^.


Overall-9/10
For anyone who wants a light, warm, fuzzy, slice of life/comedy manga, I would highly recommend Yotsuba&! Even if you dont read that sort of stuff, you will surely enjoy this story in one way or another. Just lie down, relax, pick up Yotsuba&!, and enjoy.(Once i read a few more volumes, my ratings will most likely change from 9 to 10)

Childhood sure has its perks. You get to create mischief without any lasting repercussions, will find amusement in the most trivial of endeavors, are gifted sweets from loved ones who seek to see your cheerful smile and a piggy back ride from those who tower over you. But most of all, every waking moment is a period of grand adventure as your mind is no different from a sponge soaking in the nuances of this world that is so new to a developing conscious being. Five year old Yotsuba Koiwai is the child that many of us have resembled at some point in our lives, ... and it is vicariously through her that we readers are able to recall a simpler time and place where life was a neverending joyful experience

It is the simplicity of Yotsubato that makes it such a successful manga, describing the day by day excursions of an adorably naive little girl who's strong sense of wonder creates a windfall of comedic and lighthearted moments. This type of premise may lack complexity in comparison to many other critically acclaimed manga out there, but what it lacks in a coherent linear story it makes up for in sheer realism & relatability, as everyone can sympathize with a little trouble maker whether its a past version of themselves or a family member. Yotsubato is a slice of life in its very truest sense.

The art style is not intricate by any sense of the imagination, and yet serves its purpose in creating a relaxing atmosphere where the characters are not meant to be taken seriously. Yotsuba has an incredible array of facial expressions in her arsenal depending on her mood, and they help to drive home the funniest moments in the manga. It is particularly my favorite when there are multiple panels side by side showing her gradually decaying demeanor. From shock, to discomfort, to a tearful bawl that while not funny to her, is absolutely hilarious to everyone else almost purely because of the way that she is drawn.

While the manga does largely revolve around Yotsuba's everyday adventures there are many other characters unique from one another who serve as perfect complements to her character. A doting guardian who tries his hardest to steer his child into the right direction, the next door neighbors in the Ayase family who serve as her second home where she constantly barges in to play with the youngest child and her sisters. Her fathers friend Jumbo who is akin to an uncle, and she even has a nemesis in family friend Yanda who teases her to no end. "NEVER, EVER COME BACK" she exclaims to a departing Yanda who steals her candy, bowl of ramen and ice cream all in one afternoon. Their numerous battles are but a short sample size of how well these characters interact with each other.

Each and every chapter without fail has been an absolute riot thus far. I've laughed, cried (from the laughter) and felt the pangs of post manga depression after completion of the latest volume as I lie eagerly in await to continue Yotsuba's journey. They say its important to relish a childhood that you'll never get a chance to repeat twice, and yet I feel as though I've been granted the opportunity to revisit my own through the prism of a little girl who serves as the embodiment of childhood itself.

This is a story about Koiwai Yotsuba, a fantastically energetic, curious, and friendly 5 year old who lives with her father. The theme of this manga is "Enjoy everything!" and Yotsuba certainly knows how to do it.

The innocence and wonder of this endearing manga really shine through. There's a pervasive feeling of peace and happiness, and I've found it impossible to come away without a smile and a good mood.

It's a slice-of-life, and it manages to be hilarious and sweet without being cloying. All of the characters are genuine and lovable.

The character design art is very similar to the author's other work, ... Azumanga Daioh, but the backgrounds and landscapes are detailed and artful.

I'd recommend this manga to anyone who needs a pick-me-up or just a relaxing, sweet, and funny story.

I gave this manga a 10 on everything because I don't see any flaws with it,for a Slice of Life manga it is quiet an outstanding work and honestly who needs a plot?This is SoL!

Yotsuba&! is the best manga I've read to date! along with Azumanga Daioh.Is funny,is cute and it never gets boring or irritating but of course once in a while you will need a break from reading.
For one the characters are absolutely amazing,Yotsuba is a little hyperactive 5-year old who isn't afraid of experiencing new adventures,the characters who revolve around her give her a chance to learn more about the world ... and it is impossible not to think about our own childhood reflected on this manga(the first time going fishing,riding a bike,learning new words etc.)

The art is cute and simple adequate for this kind of manga.

Enjoyment:my enjoyment rate is based on the first 5 points which are given for entertainment level the other 5 are based on the events of the story,art,character development etc. As you can see I gave all 10 points.
I never review anything but Yotsuba&! is amazing so here I am.

To be completely honest, the slice of life genre never really appealed to me. I didn't understand what was so riveting about watching people do ordinary things, things we do and see every day. I don't know what in the world made be pick up Yotsuba&!, because what could possibly satisfy me out of a slice of life?

...Lots, actually.

What I didn't realize is that what makes the slice of life genre come alive are the characters. It relies on the characters to make new, insightful, or hilarious observations of the mundane and turn ordinary situations into something unique, or at least look at them from ... a different perspective. Seeing as how our protagonist is a five year old girl, there's sure to be some very interesting observations and unique situations. Yotsuba is lively, energetic, quirky, and innocent, and she finds out more and more about the new world around her, bringing enjoyment (and sometimes exasperation) to her family, friends, neighbors, and all she encounters. Now, the reason I love Yotsuba could be that I love the way little kids behave and respond to the world, but that doesn't mean she's the only interesting character. Her dad is eccentric, Jumbo and Fuuka are funny, and everyone has chemistry when they're around one another. Their interactions are priceless.

All in all, this series is fantastic because the characters are. Even if you aren't a fan of slice of life, give this one a try. It's got to be nearly impossible not to love Yotsuba.

Ok, so, I don't know, I don't like any sort of slice of life at all because I never find them engaging enough; yet, Yotsuba to! is my favorite manga of all time, because it IS a slice of life, and it IS the exact meaning of enjoying every simple thing in the world.

I can't write a review for this manga because I don't find it reviewable in particular. Yotsuba is a simple 5yo girl who explores the world we already know and shows us how to enjoy everything. The point here is not that these are some new and semi-fantasy ways of enjoying the ... world, we already know these ways (most of the time) and that's why we enjoy every moment of this manga!

Exploring the world we know, in a way that we do know and even have been through when we were kids, this is what Yotsuba to! is, and this is why a 5yo girl makes even someone like me -who literally hates little kids- love and adore her for her simplicity.

It's a 10 out of 10 because I don't know if I have ever loved and enjoyed a kid's life this much.

Yotsuba is a manga about parenting that is actually the only thing from Japan that makes me laugh. It's not easy to see simplicity and quality so close to each other. But what does an episodic series about an energetic girl and her friends' adventures have of special? In terms of story, the jokes are so ingenious and simple it makes you wonder how it is possible. Seriously, the number of visual jokes that are not overused and actually work several times is astonishing. No surprise I feel so good while reading it, it explodes of so much genuineness contained in it. That's because the ... pandering is so little and the depiction is, albeit fun, very mature. As a father, I feel extremely happy in see characters acting how I would act in such a situation, at least in most of them. Even though the events in Yotsuba are quite surreal, the way the father acts towards his child is so real, always being indirect and kidding in a way to soften the learning process. He's not afraid of being honest and acting more like a friend than just a guardian. That's something that makes all the difference in any parenting story. Not all parents are ideal or paranoid and for a manga focusing on comedy, I'm impressed on how realistic certain interactions are, certain reactions and decision-making. The characters are slowly introduced and their interactions are so genuine and straightforward it amazes me beyond belief. Yotsuba is a manga for everyone to read, it's inspirational, it raises your spirit, it can make you laugh a lot and even tear a bit depending on your level of relatability, even more if you're a parent.

Yotsuba = genuine af.

The paneling is so clean and limpid it makes it the easiest manga to read ever. So simple in structure, each panel mathematically separated on the pages and flowing so naturally, juicy. The character design is a bit generic, but Yotsuba is THE symbol of simplicity and cuteness. No one gets even close to her, not even Barakamon's trademark Naru. She's just that little kid you want to hug until the end of times and her faces are the best, diverse and not overly dramatic. It's just, genuine. That's the word.

Wanna get inspired? Wanna smile and feel joy because of some cartoonish little girl and her daily adventures? I can't think of anything to recommend besides this. It's the most genuine and actually good lighthearted manga I've read so far. The End.

This manga is just pure, wholesome fun. I've been reading it for years and always go back to it when I need a smile.

Story: (8/10)
The story is a slice of life. It has no overarching story besides following the life of a young girl named Yotsuba as she learns about the world. Even so, it is in no way boring or repetitive. Yotsuba, with her hyper personality, always seems to be finding an adventure, even in the most mundane tasks. The creator writes chapters about events as simple as making pancakes or going on an errand, yet the story is still made so entertaining by ... the characters' personalities.

Art: (8/10)
The art in the manga is very pleasing to the eye. Nothing too unconventional, but the backgrounds are detailed, the characters are expressive (which adds to their hilarity), and the panels flow together well.

Character: (9/10)
All of the characters are very lovable and unique. There's not a huge deal of character development, which to me isn't too surprising. As I stated above, they are not going on any huge adventures that would warrant any major character development--it only follows everyday events. But this fact really allows the characters' personalities to shine, as their commentary and reactions make up the bulk of what makes the story interesting. Not many would want to read about such basic events like a stormy day or going for a walk in the park if the characters were bland and didn't do anything original.

Enjoyment: (10/10)
Not much to say about this category except I enjoy every second of reading these books. They made me laugh more than anything else I've read.

Overall: (10/10)
I would recommend this series to anybody and everybody, manga readers or otherwise. Even if you don't normally enjoy slice of life stories, this one is extremely entertaining and funny for all ages.

Every time I read Yotsuba, it brightens my day and cures my depression; all the characters are lovely and seem like genuinely real people. Yotsuba's interactions with Yonda are some of my favorite moments so far, showing how determined and knucklhead-y Yotsuba can be x)

Somehow the author knows how to strike a perfect balance of cute, funny, and capturing daily life, all while making it less mundane; by shining a light on the more minute aspects.

And Yotsuba herself, how can you not love her???!

10/10
So happy I was recommended it and started reading this manga, I'm having an absolute blast reading it ... so I can recommend it to anyone questioning

This is the funniest manga I've ever read. From my younger brother (who is just 7 years old and is learning how to read) to my friends and even who are much older than me laugh while reading this manga.
I personally hate kids but somehow I really love, love Yotsuba-chan. She makes every corners of life lively. Even when I'm most depressed, reading this manga can make me happy again.