If you're reading this on the day it was posted (August 6), and happened to glance at "Today in Toons" on the way over (or at the headline of this page), you know what momentous event this is the anniversary of. I wrote an article to commemorate the event, that I was meaning to get done for a long time. I put it off until I'd broached the subject of Japanese imports, but now that I have, and the appropriate anniversary is here — no excuses! It's posted, and that's that.

Starting when my kids were much younger, like about as old as their kids are now, I used to read to them every night. We covered an amazing variety of things over the years, and kept it up as long as they'd sit still for it, well into their teens. Lots of comics were included, like Prince Valiant, Zot! and (of course) Uncle Scrooge.

I never read them Gen of Hiroshima, tho I certainly wanted to. The sticking point was Mom's insistence that they not be exposed to such adult material. I don't see it, personally. I read them an unabridged translation of The Three Musketeers, and it went over so well, I followed it with The Count of Monte Cristo —an adventure novel for adults if there ever was one. And they loved it!

I even read them two books of Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast trilogy. (The third book isn't any good, in my opinion.) They even enjoyed that! A lot! But a simple little tale of a family getting nuked? She wouldn't hear of it!

Unfortunately, the first volume is out of print, and copies are selling for a fortune. But it'll be back, and you'll have a chance to judge for yourselves. When it's available, take a look. See for yourselves that it can and should be a wholesome part of a child's education.

While you're at it, try them on Maus. It's a bit on the gut-wrenching side, but anyone who can take The Diary of Anne Frank should have no trouble with it.

— DDM