About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

It's not exactly manga, but Dayan's Birthday has more than enough big eyes and kawaii (cute) appeal to please readers young and old with a weakness for feline friends. Much like Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit Tales, Dayan's Birthday features a charming menagerie of walking and talking critters who act more like mischievous children than animals.

Like Potter's stories, there are some slightly dark, less-than-politically correct twists in this story, like the witches' taste for alcohol.

This keeps it fun and interesting for adults, but might offend some parents. Overall, a cute read for kids and kitty lovers.



Pros

• Charming, whimsical stories that will remind readers of Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit books
• Distinctive and appealing artwork that will appeal to kids and adults
• Soooo cute, you just want to cuddle these characters

Cons

• Slightly dark undertones and drunk witches may offend hyper-politically correct parents
• The characters' huge, slightly off-kilter eyes take a little getting used to

Description

• Original Title:Dayan no Tanjyobi (Japan)
• Author & Artist: Akiko Ikeda
• Publishers:Dark Horse Books (US)
  Holp Shuppan Ltd. (Japan)
• ISBN: 978-1-59582-125-6
• Cover Price: $9.95 US
• Age Rating:E – Everyone / A – All Ages for whimsical fantasy, with some drunk witches
  More about content ratings.
• Manga Genres:
  • Kodomo (Children's) Manga
  • Fantasy
• US Publication Date: April 2008
  Japan Publication Date: 1993
• Book Description: 40 pages, color illustrations, hardcover
• More Manga by Akiko Ikeda:
  • Chibikuro Party
  • White Eurocka
  • Thursday Rainy Party

Guide Review - Dayan's Birthday

Given how much I complain that there isn't much manga suitable for kids under 12, I'm bending the usual boundaries of my reviewing habits to give Akiko Ikeda's Dayan books a look.

Already a beloved character in the children's book pantheon in Japan, Dayan is a mischievous cat who lives in Wachifield, a magical realm where animals walk, talk and live in peace together. In Dayan's Birthday, we find out that Dayan doesn't know his birthday, much less what a birthday is (other than it usually comes with a party). So Dayan does what any reasonable critter in Wachifield does when they have a problem: he consults a trio of witches. The downside is that Dayan doesn't realize what the witches want in return for their assistance.

Much like Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit tales, Ikeda's Dayan stories are whimsical and sweet enough to appeal to kids, yet have a hint of dark, witty undertones to keep adults interested too. The animals act more like children than like the actual animals they represent, but they're so darn cute, it doesn't matter.

Like the original Grimm's Fairy Tales and Peter Rabbit, Dayan's Birthday has some not-so-politically correct twists, such as the witches' taste for alcohol, which might offend some over-protective parents. However, as an adult reader, it was easy for me to overlook this minor detail and enjoy the light-hearted spirit of the stories.

The main appeal of Dayan's Birthday is the Ikeda's color pencil and watercolor artwork, which has a soft, magical glow. Dayan and friends' huge, slightly off-kilter eyes do take a bit to get used to, but once I did, I was smitten with this kitten.

It's not my all-time favorite children's book, but Dayan's Birthday is an appealing introduction to the wonderful world of Wachifield. Recommended for kids age 7 and up, and anyone who has a soft spot for all things kawaii (cute).