Peterson, left, and Aly Plasterer, Parnassus Books' children's bookseller and floor manager, host weekly storytimes. Photo courtesy of Hannah Peterson. As a bookstore children’s events manager and weekly storytime reader, I know firsthand that different books serve different purposes. A slow, peaceful story is perfect for bedtime. A heartwarming tale...

When I worked as a bookseller, I was often asked about manga appropriate for young readers. Even though I am an avid manga reader, it was sometimes difficult for me to provide concrete recommendations. Manga series are often long; series generally come in around twelve to twenty-five volumes total, and...