XO, OX

Starred review from October 17, 2016
She’s a famous, glamorous, and vain gazelle. He’s a salt-of-the-earth ox with a gift for plainspoken eloquence. Their journey toward romance is a rocky one, captured by Rex (How This Book Was Made) and Campbell (Hug Machine) through an epistolary format and luscious sepia-toned watercolors. Ox begins the correspondence with a declaration of love that seems like it would melt the hardest of hearts: “Even when you are running from tigers you are like a ballerina who is running from tigers.” Gazelle, who swans around her mansion in a wardrobe befitting a 1930s movie star, is unmoved and sends back a form letter and autographed picture—twice
(“I have many admirers and cannot reply to each one personally”). But Ox persists (in a non-stalkery way, it should be noted), and his good-humored self-awareness and unflagging devotion eventually win her over. Rex and Campbell don’t end with a romantic clinch, but with delicate evidence of Gazelle’s changed heart—though the endpapers will satisfy diehard romantics. It’s about as lovely (and funny) a story of opposites attracting that one could ask for. Ages 4–8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

October 1, 2016
Children get their first lesson in unrequited love reading the letters between lovelorn Ox and self-centered Gazelle. To say that Gazelle is a narcissist is putting it mildly. And Ox? Well, ever heard the saying big, dumb ox? Ox, depicted in a white shirt with trousers held up by suspenders, begins the exchange by expressing his admiration for Gazelle and her graceful movements. A turn of the page reveals his correspondents answer: a form letter and signed glossy stuffed in an envelope by her assistant while Gazelle, clad in a flapper-style dress, lies on a chaise longue gazing in a mirror. Ox doesnt see it as a form letter, though, and thanks her for responding personally. Her reply? The same form letter, which Ox takes as a sign of her tidy mind. The letters degrade from there, going from a discussion of Gazelles faults (or lack thereof) to a letter stating outright that she could never love a smelly thingan animal that isso thick and ungraceful and awful and unlovely. And unlovable. Ox loves her even more for admitting this fault to him. This frustrates Gazelle, who rips his picture to shreds. But the next page shows the start of a letter to him; she sits under his pieced-back-together picture, her heart seemingly softened. Campbells watercolor-andcolored pencil artwork uses old-fashioned, muted tones, patterns, and background details. Gazelle is elegant and haughty. Ox is moony and down-to-earth. Persistence pays off seems to be the message in this bracingly un-Valentineish love story. (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 1, 2017

K-Gr 2-In this epistolary picture book, Ox, who has admired the lithe and lovely Gazelle from afar, finally sits down with paper and pencil to profess his admiration and affection. Gazelle replies with a form letter and a signed photo of herself. Not one to be dissuaded, Ox writes again, and the vain gazelle's response is exactly the same. Ox tries flattery, complimenting her intellect as well as her beauty. Not wishing to be repetitive, Gazelle personalizes her reply: "There is no need to write me again." Ox next commends her sense of humor. Gazelle lashes out in frustration and states emphatically that she could never love someone "so thick and ungraceful and awful and unlovely. And unlovable." The thick-skinned ox retorts that at least she is able to admit to having a fault, which makes him love her all the more. This gives Gazelle pause and forces her to reassess her feelings... at least enough to continue the correspondence. This tale of the attraction of opposites and the power of words is simply told and charmingly illustrated. Campbell's whimsical watercolor and colored pencil artwork features sepia outlines and earthy hues on Ox's pages and more textured patterns and shades of pink and purple on Gazelle's. The notes are easy to read, and the sensibilities, emotions, and body language are child-centric and brimming with humor. VERDICT A sweet and tender Valentine choice for storytime or one-on-one sharing.-Luann Toth, School Library Journal

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2016
Preschool-G Ox adores Gazelle from afar, and one day he musters up the courage to tell her in a letter, which he signs, charmingly, XO, OX. Gazelle is a creature with many admirers, so her response to Ox's letter is the same as all the others: a boilerplate letter with a blank for the recipient's name, and an autographed photo. Undeterred, Ox replies, only to receive exactly the same canned letter he got before. Are his hopes dashed? Nope: I think this shows that you are very smart and have a tidy mind, he writes. As their back-and-forth continues, Ox becomes more smitten while Gazelle becomes increasingly frustrated Ox! Stop this! Please do not write me again. Though some might wonder why Ox doesn't get the picture, or why Gazelle doesn't simply stop replying, the epistolary format is appealing, and Campbell's lively watercolor illustrations are entertaining, particularly when depicting the comical contrast between hulking, boxy Ox and lithe, graceful Gazelle. Kiddos who liked Campbell's Hug Machine (2014) will get a kick out of this, too.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)