Baby & Me, Vol. 11

Ten-year-old Takuya has a new job: to look after his baby brother Minoru?looks like it's time to put on the kid gloves!Takuya's class defends its honor in an intramural baseball game that gets a little too intense. Then it's off to beautiful Hawaii, where Takuya's dad tries to keep his staff together during a company vacation--while Takuya and Minoru help a pair of American kids with much more serious problems. Finally, Sunflower Nursery School No. 1 faces off against Sunflower Nursery School No. 2 in...baby sumo wrestling!Young Takuya has it tough. After his mother passed away it has been his job to take care of his baby brother, Minoru while their father, Harumi, works the long hours of a Japanese "salaryman." Takuya must sacrifice the playtime usually associated with childhood for the responsibilities of an adult. Cooking, cleaning, sewing and scolding are all now an integral part of the young boy's life. "All work and no play" has Takuya incredibly frustrated and resentful of his little brother. Will Takuya find it in his heart to love the brother who is causing him so much grief?!

Marimo Ragawa first started submitting manga to a comic magazine when she was 12 years old. She kept up her submissions for four years, but to no avail. She decided to submit her work to the magazine Hana to Yume, where she received top prize in the monthly manga contest, plus an honorable mention (Kasaku) in the magazine's Big Challenge contest. Her first manga was titled Time Limit. Baby & Me was honored with a Shogakukan Manga Award in 1995 and was spun-off into anime. Ragawa's work showcases some very cute and expressive line work along with an incredible ability to show complex emotions and relationships. Some of her other works include N.Y. N.Y and the tennis manga Shanimuni-Go. Ragawa has two brothers and two sisters.