Big Enough

BIG ENOUGH

April 1, 2025 | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | Written by Regina Linke

Little Ah-Fu has a big imagination, but he can’t imagine being the Oxherd Boy . . . yet.

When the day comes for Ah-Fu to bring the huge family ox home from the woods, he worries that he’s not big enough to do the job.

Will fear and self-doubt drive Ah-Fu home empty-handed? Or can he rely on his wits and compassion to become the Oxherd Boy his family expects—and prove to himself that he is, indeed, big enough?

Delightfully paired with exquisite illustrations, this empowering story inspired by traditional Chinese philosophy shows kids big and small how to trust themselves and embrace what they can be.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

New England Book Award: Picture Book 2025
Kirkus Best Books of 2025: Picture Book
School Library Journal Fuse #8 Blog & Evanston Public Library: 101 Great Books for Kids 2025
Society of Illustrators: The Original Art 2025
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Best Books of 2025
Thousand Oaks Elementary School Mock Caldecott Honor 2026
A Kids’ IndieNext Pick
An Amazon Editor’s Pick

REVIEWS

“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.”
– Kirkus Reviews

“Readers will be glad to hear that soon they’ll be able to experience Linke’s work for the first time as a picture book in Big Enough, which tells the origin story of the comic strip’s titular character.”
– Bookpage

“It’s an organically empowering story of self-determination that exudes a gentle playfulness.”
– Publisher’s Weekly

EVENTS

Book Launch, Exhibition Opening, Author Talk & Signing
Tuesday, April 1, 5:00-6:30 PM
The UNITED | Westerly, RI
To mark the birthday of Big Enough, I’ll be giving a talk about bridging ancient traditions with modern young audiences.

Book Signing, Meet & Greet
Friday, April 4, 2:00-3:00 PM
Martin House Books | Westerly, RI
Drop in for a casual chat and baked goods or coffee at this beautiful, independent bookshop.

Chinese Painting & Storytime
Sunday, April 6, 12:00-1:00 PM
The UNITED | Westerly, RI
Kids can learn about and explore materials from traditional Chinese painting before we read Big Enough together.

Independent Bookstore Day Storytime
Saturday, April 26, 10:30-11:00 AM
Charter Books | Newport, RI
Celebrate Charter Books’s 4th birthday and Independent Bookstore Day with a storytime and giveaways.

Storytime
Saturday, May 3, 2:00-3:00 PM
Bank Square Books | Mystic, CT
Join me for casual storytime at Bank Square Books’s new location in Mystic, across from the Big Y.

All About Books
Wednesday, May 7, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
NEIBA Spring Forum | Hartford, CT
Independent booksellers attending NEIBA’s Spring Forum will learn more about the book and recommendations on how to position and sell it for maximum impact. Please refer to my Booksellers page for more resources.

Draw Together & Storytime
Saturday, June 14, 10:00-11:00 AM
Westerly Library | Westerly, RI
I’ll be doing an illustration demonstration and collaborative workshop with kids at this historic library.

LBYR Picture Book Showcase
Saturday, June 28, 12:00-2:00 PM
ALA Annual Conference 2025 | Philadelphia, PA
Come and have a one-on-one chat with me to learn more about gongbi tradition and how I incorporate it into visual storytelling for children.

Special Storytime & Book Signing
Saturday, July 5, 11:00-11:30 AM
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art | Amherst, MA
Make a holiday trip with me to lovely Amherst and explore this unique museum dedicated to art and illustration for our youngest readers.