Looking for child-friendly Manga recommendations

[Zontar]

So I have a 9 year old autistic cousin (didn't expect that to by the first line did you?) who is pretty illiterate for his age. And by "for his age" I mean "completely". Good news is the doc says it could be eased in by using the traditional method of association of letters with words, bad news is the books to do that with aren't capable of keeping his attention since they're below what a typical 9 year old reads or is interested in.

So I was planning on having my gift to him be a few manga that can be used to help, and worst case scenario gives his parents more reading material to tell him at bed time that isn't the same damned book our family's been using for 3 generations now (seriously, that book is older then my parents).

Unfortunately for me, my speciality when it comes to the medium tends to be with the older demographic. So that's why I'm asking for recommendations. Of note: please try and keep it to stuff that's in print in English. I know there are a lot of great for-children manga out there, I just don't know that many that are available on Amazon or Indigo.

 

[Queen Michael]

First of all, there's Yotsuba&! (and yes, that's the actual title). It's about a young girl named Yotsuba, who spends every day exploring the neighborhood and making new friends. It's got literally tons of fans in all age groups, but is free of violence, dirty stuff, and swearing. It's an absolutely adorable manga, and can be pretty darn hilarious at times.

If he's into Pokémon, then the manga Pokémon Adventure is a good bet. It's the mos tpuplar Pokémon manga out there, and it's way better written than the anime.

I personally adore Cardcaptor Sakura, but there's a risk he'll diss it simply because it's such a girly manga.

And let's not forget Hikaru no Go, by the artist from Death Note. It's violence-free, and really exciting. The best part? It's fine if he doesn't understand how to play go! The manga is still enjoyable.

 

[Queen Michael]

What do you think about Angelic Layer? That might really appeal to a kid.

I didn't know that one was still in print! But yeah! Zontar, that's another good one for a kid. The basic idea is that there's this sport where you have remote-controlled action figures fight each other. (It's more kid-friendly than I make it sound.) It's just two omnibus editions long, so it's affordable too.

 

[KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime]

I'd like to throw at least one in here so let me wrack my brain.

I figure you could get away with The Prince of Tennis with relative ease.

Another you might consider would be Dragon Ball as it's pretty tame, plus the Manga of it is great.

I'm pretty sure I saw it recently in Barnes&Nobel so I assume it's still in print, you can't go wrong with Doraemon. It's absolutely adorable, not really violent except in a kinda toned down kids comics/cartoonish way. It touches on lots of great life lessons, takes the cast on amazing adventures, and the titular character is a techno wizard gadget cat from the future. What more could you ask?

 

[chysamere]

Sports anime are a safe bet. Haikyuu would be my choice.

Something like Hibike! Euphonium would be good too.

 

[Leg End]

Depends. Does in in particular like stuff that is plot heavy or is he just really into asskicking? You can't go wrong with a set of Dragon Ball/Z.

Or if he's also more accepting of female protags,

I personally adore Cardcaptor Sakura, but there's a risk he'll diss it simply because it's such a girly manga.

I totally fucking second this on every possible level because bias.

Really depends on, what exactly is he into now and does it also specifically have to be Manga or can we possibly shoot general comics or english subbed anime possibly?

What do you think about Angelic Layer? That might really appeal to a kid.

I second this suggestion because the concept will appeal to any 9 year old boy. Pretty much anything from CLAMP that is child friendly applies actually.

 

[NiPah]

Along the same lines there is Azumanga Daioh, a cute comedy manga that's kid friendly.
Also there's a manga called "With the Light", a very interesting manga about raising a child with Autism, I wouldn't recommend it for your cousin but for anyone else in your family it's quite insightful and enjoyable (although a little thick).

 

[EyeReaper]

Dang. Both the Azuma classics already got snatched up.

Uhh...I really liked Tokyo Mew Mew. But that might be considered a little too "girly" for most boys.

I also have the Kingdom Hearts and Megaman NT Warrior mangas, and can say that your kid will probs like them. especially Kingdom Hearts, you know, cuz Disney and all that.

 

[Queen Michael]

I'm pretty sure I saw it recently in Barnes&Nobel so I assume it's still in print, you can't go wrong with Doraemon. It's absolutely adorable, not really violent except in a kinda toned down kids comics/cartoonish way. It touches on lots of great life lessons, takes the cast on amazing adventures, and the titular character is a techno wizard gadget cat from the future. What more could you ask?

If Doraemon had been available in English, I would have recommended it faster than you can say "Dokodemo door." But sadly, it's never been given an official English-language release. There was a few volumes released in a bilingual edition for people who want to learn either Japanese or English, but those were only sold in Japan. (I've imported a few manga books like that to my native Sweden. Cost a small fortune.)

Then there's Chi's Sweet Home. It's pretty darn great. It's a funny manga about a kitten who gets adopted by a human family. It's te kind of manga that's probably technically intended for girls but he'll never know if you don't tell him.
Also, it's available in omnibus editions now, so that makes it cheaper.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I'll throw out an emphatic seconding of Azuma's works (Azumanga Daioh and Yotsuba&).

Fruits Basket might also work, though it starts getting some dark patches starting around volume 6.

 

[KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime]

I'm pretty sure I saw it recently in Barnes&Nobel so I assume it's still in print, you can't go wrong with Doraemon. It's absolutely adorable, not really violent except in a kinda toned down kids comics/cartoonish way. It touches on lots of great life lessons, takes the cast on amazing adventures, and the titular character is a techno wizard gadget cat from the future. What more could you ask?

If Doraemon had been available in English, I would have recommended it faster than you can say "Dokodemo door." But sadly, it's never been given an official English-language release. There was a few volumes released in a bilingual edition for people who want to learn either Japanese or English, but those were only sold in Japan. (I've imported a few manga books like that to my native Sweden. Cost a small fortune.)

They started to release translated Doraemon starting in 2013 for the North American market. So yes there are English versions of it being made now apparently.

 

[Queen Michael]

I'm pretty sure I saw it recently in Barnes&Nobel so I assume it's still in print, you can't go wrong with Doraemon. It's absolutely adorable, not really violent except in a kinda toned down kids comics/cartoonish way. It touches on lots of great life lessons, takes the cast on amazing adventures, and the titular character is a techno wizard gadget cat from the future. What more could you ask?

If Doraemon had been available in English, I would have recommended it faster than you can say "Dokodemo door." But sadly, it's never been given an official English-language release. There was a few volumes released in a bilingual edition for people who want to learn either Japanese or English, but those were only sold in Japan. (I've imported a few manga books like that to my native Sweden. Cost a small fortune.)

They started to release translated Doraemon starting in 2013 for the North American market. So yes there are English versions of it being made now apparently.

Really? Be great if it's true, but I'll need a link.

EDIT: Nevermind, I found one. Huh. I'll be damned.

 

[Bobular]

I have a manga stall and most of the young kids are generally into Sword Art Online, Dragon Ball Z, Fairy Tail and One Piece, probably in that order of popularity, so those are good things to start with.

I'm thinking of giving my 10 year old sister Assassination Classroom for Christmas.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

The illiterate part is kinda tricky because even the simpler stuff can get pretty intricate so I'll just go for some with a high number of just really cool artwork.

Pokemon Special is a sure-in. Everyone knows pokemon and it's actually a legit manga too.


Record of Lodoss War for a fantasy classic.

Nintama Rantarou for another children's classic.

 

[springheeljack]

Galaxy Angel is a really good choice for a kid

 

[Pinkilicious]

I would have to either say Gantz, or Elfen Lied.[footnote]This is a joke. For god's sake don't take this seriously!!!! I'm sure you already know this, but these are so horrible and inappropriate for 9 years old that I have to add this for safety.[/footnote]

Alien Nine sounds completely safe for 9 year olds, why, it is right in the title, and just seems to be about cute schoolgirls on rollerblades with funny talking hats! ;}

Anyway, the first arc of Tokyo Mew Mew and Wedding Peach are good, I'd think, if he seems to be leaning towards feminine things at any point. Unlike other magical girl shows they really are all about dat friendship. None of this BS like in Sailor Moon where they corner some frightened "monster" and "Moon-dust it!" They'll risk life&limb trying to befriend the darn things! (or cure whatever kooky mind control is going on) (the next arc of TMM gets more steamy&teeny, romance and betrayal style. Might be a bit hard to keep up or might not be insteresting, while the first arc is just silly crushing.)

Also on the slice-of-life front, Nichijou's english volumes are published by Vertical. If he's into action-y stuff that might be better than Yotsub& since it's absolutely crazy. (aka that infamous series where the principal suplexes a deer)

I don't know much teen&below boys anime outside of giant robot ones, but Giant Robo might be a good pick since the main hero is a kid himself. (basically a more serious update to Gigantor of the 50s) Viz Media also put out the manga of Big O if he seems to want more complicated fare (or if he just likes Batman ;Þ)

Dark Horse also has a lot of good stuff that might work, like Hipira The Little Vampire, Caravan Kidd (slight boobage warning), and Saiyuki: Journey to the West (actually this one went back and forth between them and TokyoPop, no idea who currently publishes it)

and since fantasy was brought up, Scrapped Princess, Legend of Arislan, Magic Knight Rayearth, Beet The Vandel Buster, Marchen Awakens Romance, and Hitsugi no Chaika, off the top of my head.

 

[Beffudled Sheep_v1legacy]

I'd say Kodomo No Jikan is very kid "friendly".
Anyone else wanna back me up?



Azumanga Daioh and Yotsuba& are probably the best, but I don't seem them holding the attention of most nine year olds.

 

[Leg End]

I'd say Kodomo No Jikan is very kid "friendly".

It even translates roughly to "A Child's Time"! Totally enjoyable for a nine year old boy!