Portrait of a Chinese boy from the childrens book Big Enough by Regina Linke

Big Enough

A delightful fable that weaves Buddhist principles of overcoming fear with gorgeous illustrations

Square image of the cover of BIG ENOUGH 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.

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Art from the childrens book Big Enough by Regina Linke showing a Chinese boy guiding an ox across a river with three blue birds in a tree with lush yellow leaves.
Art from the childrens book Big Enough by Regina Linke showing a Chinese boy sailing a boat with three ants through choppy waters as two koi fish battle over a dragonfly in a lotus pond
Portrait of a Chinese boy from the childrens book Big Enough by Regina Linke

Editorial Reviews

"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

Awards & Recognition

  • New England Book Award 2025
  • Kirkus Best Books 2025
  • Fuse8 & Evanston Public Library 101 Great Books for Kids 2025 Edition
  • Society of Illustrators: The Original Art 2025
  • Center for the Study of Multicultural Literature Best Books of 2025
  • A Kids' IndieNext pick
  • An Amazon Editor's pick