PICTURE BOOKS

In this playful picture book Oxford the dog learns courage in the face of bugs.

Oxford & the Big Bug

DeAnn Melton | JP Ranch

36p, trade paper, $13.99, ISBN 978-0-98397815-2

Melton’s playful picture book for children follows Oxford the dog as he encounters a big, scary bug and learns to be brave.

Oxford is a large, handsome dog who proudly guards his space and tends to announce his presence with a hearty bark. That’s why he doesn’t see it coming when he encounters a palo verde beetle, which finds its way into his long fur when he brushes against a tree branch. The bug hitches a ride home with Oxford, who breaks a vase in his efforts to rid himself of the creepy crawly creature. Eventually Oxford succeeds in chasing away the beetle and delightedly returns to his favorite outdoor space.

Melton tells the story with to-the-point sentences and repeating phrases—“What is that? Who is that? It is big! It is black!” The simple prose will be helpful for emerging readers as they begin to recognize and sound out words, allowing them to take the lead in reading. The book also highlights welcome information about Oxford’s breed, the

Briard, which was favored by Napoleon and Thomas Jefferson, and the palo verde beetle, which can be up to six inches long. Oxford’s reaction to the immense insect will give kids the chance to discuss how they would behave if they encountered such a beetle—as well as how they could handle the situation with courage.

This title’s main strength is Melton’s inviting watercolor illustrations, which show smudged and textured representations of Oxford and the beetle as they fight and frolic in the garden and the house. In one scene, Oxford’s stringy fur seems to dance as he rears up on hind legs to frighten away the shockingly large bug, sending a vase of orange flowers scattering to the floor. The pictures clearly capture Oxford’s energy and curiosity, making him a fun and relatable protagonist for children to follow.

Great for fans of Shanna Silva’s A Dog’s Guide to Being Human, Ed Vere’s Max the Brave.

Cover: A | Design & typography: B | Illustrations: A Editing: A | Marketing copy: A