I would describe this volume as very sweet. I especially liked the chapter in which Yotsuba goes next door to play with all of Eno's teddy bears, proceeds to convince her dad to buy her a teddy bear ("berry gair") of her own, names her Juralumin, and proceeds to carry her everywhere...even to a hot air balloon festival. That chapter was fun as well. It makes me want to attend a hot air balloon festival as well. However, I don't particularly want to get up in the middle of the night to get there as Yotsuba and others had to do. Haha!

This is such an endearing series. I'm looking forward to reading volume 10 which has now been placed on hold at my public library. ( )

So funny. ( )

I never, ever, want a Yotsuba book to end. If I could I would jump right into her world. ( )

Yotsuba, vol 9 is the quintessential volume that is probably the closest to distilling the 'essence' of this entire series. More specifically, the second half of this book, which covers the hot air balloon arc, with it's unabashed fun and wide vistas. Asagi fans would also rejoice, though Fuuka fans would probably have to wait for another volume. ( )

If you are looking at this review with a mind to buy or read the volume, you're probably familiar with the rest of the series, too. Rather than point out the usual things that come with a Yotsuba&! book (the fantastic pacing, the gorgeous backgrounds, superb facial expressions, and wonderful use of beat panels), I'll list a few things that we see in these 7 chapters in order to help jog the memory.

The main highlights of this book are when Yotsuba gets her very first stuffed animal, a teddy bear which she names Juralumin (which is how she interprets Ena's bear's name Julietta, apparently); there's a night out at a Yakiniku restaurant with Jumbo and Yanda; and finally a trip to a hot air balloon festival. Amidst this is a running theme of work/homework and coffee, which Mr Koiwai makes with his new coffee grinder.

But my favorite chapter is probably the first, "Yotsuba & Schedules". It's a quiet one, very slice of life, but also very appealing and cute. If you know or knew a child Yotsuba's age, you probably can't help but grin at what she does here, because it's how kids act...at least, I did, when it brought to mind my 5-year-old niece and nephew.

Sometimes it helps to know the earlier chapters to understand some of the humorous bits in a Yotsuba&! book. I think this one would be a very good introductory volume, if someone wants to try the series out but doesn't have the first one at hand. (Well, except that the relationships with the neighbors and also Jumbo and Yanda aren't really explained.) ( )