Kids and Usagi

Space Wolf · Post by **Space Wolf** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 15:33 -0700

I'm reading book 9 at the moment and I began to wonder. Are there any folks here who has kids and they read your Usagi books? Sensei, do your kids like to read Usagi?

I have a small box of comics saved for my daughters to read when they are a bit older. Mostly Disney and Uncle Scrooge ones. I'm hoping they will read them, and one day Bone, and am wondering if they will want to read Usagi like their dad does. I'd like to be able to share this with them, or maybe my grand kids one day!

SHAMSKI · Post by **SHAMSKI** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 17:40 -0700

Space Wolf, I have two sons that also love Usagi. Its really neat to see them gobbling up the trades. I first stumbled on to Usagi Yojimbo in the mid 80's. I was really into Martial arts and comic books so when I found Usagi Yojimbo I was hooked. Over the years some of my interests have changed and I have sold most of my collectibles and comics but a few are timeless and will passed on to my boys. Of course Usagi is at the top of the list but I also have a large Carl Barks collection, Don Rosa, Bone and a couple others. Its neat to see you reading the trades, getting excited about them and the really cool thing is the more you re-read them the better they get. I would imagine in the future there would be a complete " Stan Sakai Library" like the collected Carl Barks works. Usagi Yojimbo is ageless and im sure your kids will enjoy them just as much 20 years from now.

Space Wolf · Post by **Space Wolf** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 18:43 -0700

Hey Shamski, thanks for the reply. I can't wait to introduce my kids to Usagi. It's nice that you can share your love for Usagi with your boys, I think that's great.

You mentioned being an Uncle Scrooge fan, which is awesome, because so am I. I talk Uncle Scrooge with my local comic shop seller and we both feel that Don Rosa is an amazing talent, second only to Barks. I love Rosa's comics, the adventures he sends Scrooge on are great.

If I was ever forced to sell my comics, my Usagi's would never go, the same with my Life and Time of Uncle Scrooge trade.

I have an Uncle Scrooge plush I got from a Disney Store a few years back. My daughter Lily loves to play with it. Maybe one day there will be an Usagi plush to go with it?

SHAMSKI · Post by **SHAMSKI** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 19:30 -0700

Space Wolf, Its no SDCC but its actually grown quite a bit and is a really cool comic-con http://www.comicon.com/baltimore/ im really looking forward to meeting David Petersen, I just recently got the hard bound collection of Mouse Guard. Also Don Rosa will be there and I'm hoping to add to my art collection of his. I hope one day Stan Sakai could make it but from what I understand since its late in the season many artist have deadlines and skip this one. By the way I got my avatar from this Usagi art from David Petersen http://www.davidpetersen.net/comics/usagi.jpg

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 22:02 -0700

I introduced my two nephews, Nick (13) and Jacob (11) to Usagi Yojimbo and Groo the Wanderer five years ago. Between the two of them, they share a complete set of trades for both series, which they are doing their best to wear out from repeated readings. Nick was allowed to attend his first comic convention this past May where he not only was able to meet both Stan Sakai and Sergio Aragones, he also attended the Dojo Dinner with them as well.

Thomas Froehling · Post by **Thomas Froehling** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 5:59 -0700

I've introduced my daughter Mara to comics at the age of four/five I believe, to the simple but lovely "Petzi" stories. But she soon figured out that there is a lot more to comics (she can't help to recognize the 1.500 + comics that have amassed in my room; and she often finds me reading comics, so she wants to share the experience. And share we do....).
Around October last year she read her first Usagi comic and simply fell in love with it (it was the TPB Fathers and Sons, with I had signed for her by Sensei; Boy, that book has to suffer now...

)

Admittedly, she does not read them all by herself; sometimes she just wants to leaf through the trades, with occasional questions, sometimes she wants me to read them to her, which I love to do, translating the stories as we read them. I think we both enjoy these moments (I sure do...).

Lately we've read "Mouse Guard: Fall 1152" and loved it.

I think reading comics to children at such early age might sharpen their skill to tell good comics from bad ones, although it'll be years untill I allow her to even touch "300" or "Sin City". While these are great comics (I think), their content does ask for a more mature reader....

But now (at the age of six) Mara can handle Usagi comics with ease. For some reason, her favorite character is still Jotaro, and it took some time to tell her that Usagi Miyamoto is the main character; oh well...

Space Wolf · Post by **Space Wolf** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 13:32 -0700

Thanks everyone for your input on kids and Usagi. I appreciate it. I can't wait to be able to share this with Lily and Holly.

I have to say this, this is one of the friendliest sites around, everyone here is very cool!

matthewapple · Post by **matthewapple** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:39 -0700

It really makes me happy to hear about so many children reading Usagi. I am a high school teacher and I'm hoping to put Usagi trades in my classroom. I think it would be something they would find really interesting and hopefully they would really enjoy it.

Space Wolf · Post by **Space Wolf** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 14:03 -0700

I wish when I was in high school teachers were looking to comics as forms of literature. I'm really glad this is happening now. I think all too often people dismiss comics as nothing more than kids material, and they are missing out on some wonderfully written and illustrated works of literature.

Let us know if you put the trades in your class room, I'd be interested to hear what the students think.

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 15:32 -0700

Space Wolf wrote:I wish when I was in high school teachers were looking to comics as forms of literature. I'm really glad this is happening now. I think all too often people dismiss comics as nothing more than kids material, and they are missing out on some wonderfully written and illustrated works of literature.

Let us know if you put the trades in your class room, I'd be interested to hear what the students think.

I actually get quite a few letters from teachers who use Usagi in the classroom. I get the biggest was when Grasscutter was one of the textbooks used in the Japanese History classes at the University of Portland (OR). I guess it helped after Usagi received that American Library Association Award and those Young Adult Library Services Awards. They gave Usagi some respectability. Now Usagi can be found in a lot of libraries.

Space Wolf · Post by **Space Wolf** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 16:54 -0700

It's great that more and more libraries are carrying graphic novels. I think it's a great step for the comic world.

I just finished reading Grasscutter this week, an amazing story. I loved that Jei and Gen were in it, and I loved all the history.

Krogu · Post by **Krogu** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:27 -0700

I showed uy to my teacher of history and he enjoyed grasscuter, he bought mother of mountains today in empik and im borrowing him some uy occasionaly

tayocham · Post by **tayocham** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 13:32 -0700

I let my 10 year old niece borrow Book 2 of Usagi once, but she never really got into it. "I couldn't pronounce the names," she said. But I think they're perfect for early teenagers and really anyone who's interested in Japanese history told in a fun and different way.

Musashi · Post by **Musashi** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:32 -0700

I'm transitioning careers (military to teaching), and hope to eventually teach an Asian studies class at a local high school. Tonight in my education classes I'll be doing a reading from Grasscutter. Maybe I can convince some of my peers that using Usagi, and other graphic novels, can be intriguing for students.

On a personal note, I plan to introduce my 8-year-old son to Usagi's adventures later this year. He already plays with my toys and finger puppets, but we haven't read the stories together yet. My daughter doesn't seem too interested, even though she LOVED Bone, Akiko, and Scary Godmother stories.

cynlee · Post by **cynlee** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 19:30 -0700

I started bringing Usagi into my classroom when I still taught second grade. I had two of my autographed copies of compilations stolen by a third grader, whose brother came into my class two years later with the same books (missing the covers) and asserting that they were his brother's. I have fifth grade now, and yet Usagi is well-received. I guess it depends on the children. But yeah, I like that kids can enjoy them but that Stan doesn't dumb them down as a result (the way the author of the Xanth novels did as he increasingly got more and more mail from kids).

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