The kids at my elementary school are just wild for manga, but I’m finding it difficult to be age appropriate. We only go up to age 12, so I don’t want books with lots of skimpily dressed characters and swearing (they can get that from the public library, LOL). I’m finding this more challenging than I expected. I do have Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia but they’re at the top end of iffy IMO. Can anyone recommend any good manga for kids around age 8-12?
by GroovyFrood
6 Comments
Doreamon
My son likes a series called {{Warriors}} by Erin Hunter.
They have released a few Manga
Witch hat atelier
Bear in mind a lot of popular manga are in the demographic for boys 12-18 essentially. My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, Etc.
My suggestions are
Witch Hat Atelier: a fantasy adventure series with the occasional dark moment (though nothing as traumatic as the 80s movies I grew up with). No nudity, no gore, no swearing, meant for all ages.
Yotsuba And (usually stylized with an ampersand, which my phone apparently can’t make??): For all ages and popular with all ages. Honestly you might like this one too. It’s about a father raising his daughter in the Japanese country side and she’s a handful. It’s very popular online, very funny, very wholesome. Definitely give it a read.
Chi’s Sweet Adventures (Sometimes called Chi’s Sweet Home): About a new house cat. Very funny, very cute. Originally targeted at Japanese men who want a family. No horrible animal suffering like in most kids animal movies I grew up with… /Trauma.
Here’s some I haven’t read personally, but hear good things about. You may want to look them up yourself to be sure.
Legend of Zelda: based on the games.
Hooky
Splatoon Squid Kids: like the video game
Animal Crossing New Horizons: Like the game
Yokai Watch.
I worry these might not be action and drama focused enough– Which would be less of an issue with Witch Hat Atelier, but they’re all still quite popular among all kinds of manga reader.
Full metal Alchemist. Although maybe the plot is too heavy for ,a 12 yr old.
Most seem to be shonen genre, aimed to young men, since it’s the most popular, “best selling” one. You’ll find more luck in the kodomo genre, aimed to kids. Not as popular (because kids usually prefer brightly colored material as opposed to black and white manga) but it has some honorable mentions like Doraemon.
Within older categories you might also find some luck in the sports genre (like iunno, Slam Dunk) and the slice of life 4koma genre (like Azumanga Daioh) but it’s a hit or miss and checking each individually.
Kodomo genre manga THAT AREN’T DORAEMON:
Inazuma Eleven (sports)
Game Center Arashi (old school gaming)
Asari-chan (comedy slice of life)
Mirmo! (Honestly not sure what this one is about because it never caught my attention due to having fantasy and romance but it was given kodomo awards?)
Magical Doremi (magical girls and slice of life)
Yumeiro Patisserie (cooking)
Kitchen princess (more shojo romance but also cooking and has recipes)
Pretty cure (magical girls and fighting)
Mysterious joker (suspense? Adventure idk its like a world class thief adventures)
Yo-kai watch (adventure, action)
Duel masters (fantasy, similar yo yu-gi-oh)
Chii’s sweet home (slice of life, animals)
Hello kitty (I do think Sanrio has manga)
Nekodomo (Seems slice of life, a kid living with his mother but everyone’s a cat. Only found 1 chapter tho.)
There’s anime I remember emitted as for kids but I can’t remember if all of them have manga. I was definitely more inclined to pay attention to those with animals/creatures on them though.
Digimon
Beyblade (they had creature souls within them)
Pokemon
Hamtaro
Medabots (the bots are so cool)