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Chosen for March by Jackie of 'The Book Foxes'
Manga has always been something I wished I liked better, but it’s a lot of sci fi plots and endless battles, neither of which appeals to me. That’s why I was glad to find something different in the manga graphic novels at my library-one of Ms. Kanata’s pet series about a kitten named Chi. The author had previous pet comics, but Chi began appearing in a weekly comic anthology in 2004 and have recently been gathered up in several volumes devoted solely to the little cat, titled <em>Chi’s Sweet Home</em>. I’ve read the first three volumes and really enjoyed them. They follow the adventures of a kitten(Chi) who is lost in a park and found by a little boy, Yohey, who takes her home to live with his family, the Yamadas. It’s a learning experience for not only the kitten, but the humans as well, since they are new to caring for a cat. Most of the stories are told from Chi’s viewpoint, learning about different foods, games, looking out the windows and living in her new home. There are also scary experiences like a trip to the vet and barking dogs on the sidewalk. The apartment building where they live has a no pets policy, which is strictly enforced by the building manager, a self-important elderly lady. There’s a sub-plot about the Yamadas convoluted attempts to avoid her and to keep Chi a secret. There’s also a big black cat in the neighborhood that is both intimidating and friendly to Chi. The drawing style is mostly realistic with slight exaggerations, such as Chi’s big round eyes. The panels operate almost like a TV program, with close-ups and action shots. The vantage point for many of the stories is close to the floor, a kitten’s eye view of giant cookies or toys.Chi behaves like a real cat, with true ears and tail movements. One of the things I liked best is the author’s habit of translating Chi’s meows into words, though there’s never any anthromophorizing of her. There’s a great sense of curiosity and much gentle humor in these books. I’m looking forward to reading any future volumes of Chi’s Sweet Home and hope that they follow her growing up. This series is suitable for any age and would most be appreciated by those that love animals.
Jackie has painted some of Chi's wild cousins, to see some them, please go to her gallery site at http://jkhsquonk.ebsqart.com .
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