Yotsuba& is one of the freshest things to hit manga (and certainly comics in general) in years. It's episodic in nature, for the most part, showing little snippets from the life of Yotsuba, our green-haired and pure-of-heart heroine who can teach us, by being something of an alien, something about being human.

Things start out with the fun Yotsuba's father has with her by changing the rules of the game they are playing so that he always gets the win. I had to laugh because I remember how my Dad did similar things to us when we were young. *lol* Parent's don't lose. Things continue to be fun when Jumbo comes over and the two grownups act like kids over a badminton game.

Yotsuba&! is one of those atmospheric manga, like Aria, that you can read for relaxation. Each chapter is a self-contained story, so you don’t have to work too hard, and the biggest conflict in the book is Yotsuba taking off on her bike and getting grounded. It’s a great choice for escapist reading for kids or kids-at-heart.

Almost everything is a new experience for her, and her enthusiasm provides the appeal of the stories. Her wide-eyed innocence and seemingly inexhaustible energy makes for charming misunderstandings and comedy. She can be demanding — she can’t figure out a playground swing, for example, but once shown what it is, she gets on and yells, “Push me!” Often she stands, staring, when she doesn’t understand something, until someone takes pity on her and provides more information. Her naivete provides a new perspective on everyday items and events.