Baby & Me, Vol. 12

R to L (Japanese Style)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?!There's only one thing Ichika wants for her birthday (besides Minoru's undying love), and that's the royal treatment! At her birthday party, family and friends are forced to bow to the precocious toddler's whims...until Ichika goes a little too far. Then Takuya runs into a familiar face--and a group of gangsters--at a racetrack. And Takuya grows closer to a gruff new teacher when he's given the assignment of keeping a daily journal...

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.