Review by Booklist Review
Big Enough tells the story of a boy named Ah-Fu, who is tasked with bringing the family's ox home from the field. Along the way, he meets various animals who warn him about what not to do when bringing an ox home. These encounters frighten him into believing that he is not big enough to lead the ox, and the scale of Linke's illustrations lean into Ah-Fu's imagination, showing readers just how big he fears the ox might really be. Feeling small and scared, Ah-Fu must find a way to overcome his fears in order to bring the ox--and himself--safely home. Linke (creator of the 2024 webcomic The Oxherd Boy), inspired by Chinese philosophy, shows kids of any size how to trust themselves in the face of adversity, her visual storytelling combining realistic depictions of characters with muted color palettes that exude a sense of serenity. An empowering story about compassion for others and believing in yourself.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Poised as an origin story based on Linke's fable for adults, The Oxherd Boy, this quiet meditation traces the simple narrative of a child overcoming doubt. A folkloric cadence kicks things off: "There once was a boy named Ah-Fu, who was so small he often got lost, especially in his own imagination." In an apparent daydream, the East Asian--cued child captains a tiny sailboat aided by an insect crew, until his grandfather interrupts with a request to bring the ox home from a field. Worried he's too small to wrangle the big animal, and receiving repeated and accumulating warnings about how to handle the task ("Don't try to lead him by the horns," suggest a flock of swallows, "you're not big enough"), Ah-Fu travels into the hills. But when he meets the big, soft-furred ox--even more reticent than Ah-Fu--the boy finds courage to navigate in his own way. Digitally rendered illustrations employ traditional Chinese gongbi and xieyi techniques to render a lushly serene pastoral setting. It's an organically empowering story of self-determination that exudes a gentle playfulness. Ages 4--8. (Apr.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A Chinese boy "so small he often [gets] lost" must bring his family's ox home from the fields on his own. Ah-Fu sets off with Grandfather's parting advice echoing in his mind: "Just don't try to ride him…You're not big enough to hold on yet." The warnings compound as Ah-Fu encounters a flock of swallows and a frog with conflicting advice of their own: "Don't try to lead him by the horns." "Don't try to herd him from behind." Like Grandfather, the animals tell the boy he isn't big enough to handle a stubborn, temperamental ox. When Ah-Fu finally comes face to face with the enormous ox, he is overwhelmed and flees in terror. As night falls, though, the timid ox finds Ah-Fu and asks for his help getting home. Soon, Ah-Fu realizes that he's big enough to break the rules set by others to find his own way forward. The illustrations, painted digitally using traditional Chinese techniques, are by turns realistic and minimalist, then fantastical and lush, capturing an agrarian countryside filtered through the unbridled imagination of youth. This tale of quiet persistence, enhanced by the ox's impressively expressive eyebrows, will strike a chord with young readers looking for their own burst of courage. A gentle adventure for big dreamers in small bodies.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
