Nuko Zuke!

Nuko Zuko gives you an idea of intent pretty early on, as the Nuko (cat-sized and featured humans) siblings Kei and Sasame sit wide eyed in a box begging to be taken in by a human. It's both endearing and tragic at the same time, pulling on the heartstrings, as I'm sure it does with Yuya, the dour but kind-hearted young man that brings them home. Expect more of this as we go forward.

The book is made up of a series of short vignettes, each of which highlight a moment or two of being a pet owner and the three discovering more about each other. Sasame, the male Nuko, is reactive and short-tempered as a result of his treatment by a previous owner, while the older Kei acts as a stabilising element for her younger, adopted brother. Acting much like adopted children, they create a family of sorts to learn and grow from each other, usually in small and everyday tasks such as cleaning, bathing and cooking. Sometimes the stories are even limited to a single page, making the book an easy read for short breaks.

The artwork is, as you might expect of the theme, adorably cute, with Kei and Sasame providing the over-the-top reactions while stoic Yuya's emotions are often presented with comical sketches with his face remaining unmoved. It's a nice balance and the stories, coupled with the art, make for an appealing combination.

There's really no deeper plot to the book than a man with his cat-human kids, so it's a slice-of-life manga relying on the characters to keep your attention with it's focus on how much small things matter. In this it's really quite successful, and a welcome break from the usual world-ending sagas that require an epic scope and continual escalation. 

In terms of appeal, it'll obviously do best with pet owners who can recognise some of the interactions, though as the father of a four-year-old there are situations I can absolutely relate to as the Nuko Zuke's are hybrid stand-ins for pets or children, which is smart design when you think about it.

If you're looking for something fun and easy to pass the time with, as well as book that's easy to dip into, then Nuko Zuke! is a worthy pick up. It's fun, cute and undemanding, which is exactly what's required some days, especially if life is getting you down.