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    The Children's Book Review

    Oxford & the Big Bug, by DeAnn Melton | Dedicated Review

    Dr. Jen HarrisonBy Dr. Jen Harrison2 Mins Read Ages 4-8 Animal Books Author Showcase Picture Books
    Oxford and the Big Bug by DeAnn Melton Dedicated Review
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    Book Review of Oxford and the Big Bug
    Sponsored* | All opinions are our own
    The Children’s Book Review

    Oxford and the Big Bug

    Oxford & the Big Bug

    Written and Illustrated by DeAnn Melton

    Ages 4+ | 36 Pages

    Publisher: JP Ranch | ISBN-13: 9780983978152

    What to Expect: Fear, courage, positive thinking, dogs

    Oxford is a good dog who spends his days guarding his home, garden, and chickens. One day, though, he accidentally becomes host to a hitchhiking Palo Verde beetle—a huge, black bug that can grow as big as six inches long! When Oxford feels the tickle of the beetle on his back, he panics and runs into the house, creating havoc as he tries to get away from the terrifying insect. Soon, though, Oxford can talk himself out of fear and chase the beetle back out of the house. Thanks to his courage, the garden is beetle-free and under guard once more!

    Most people know what it’s like to feel an irrational fear of something harmless, whether it’s the dark, heights, or insects. Oxford & the Big Bug invites readers to laugh at those fears and models using positive thinking and self-encouragement to overcome them. Readers will laugh at and empathize with Oxford’s initial panic and are sure to share in his infectious canine pride when he finally finds his courage. The book’s beautiful watercolor illustrations bring Oxford and his home to life, while the creative use of different fonts helps make the simple text accessible to even beginner readers.

    Oxford & the Big Bug is a fun, funny exploration of what it means to overcome fear.

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    DeAnn Melton: Author Headshot
    About the Author

    DeAnn Melton received an M.F.A. degree from the University of Arizona. She is a painter who works in watercolor and oil, has participated in museum shows, and has worked with galleries. Melton has been working on a series of life-size portraits of artists, curators, and art collectors since 1992. She is currently working on a series of oil paintings of large birds whose gestural poses enliven the canvas. In 2022 DeAnn Melton published the children’s book FLYWAYS, which she wrote and illustrated.

    For more information, visit https://deannmelton.com/ and https://jpranchpublishing.com/.

    Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of Oxford and the Big Bug by DeAnn Melton. Learn more about getting a book review …

    What to Read Next:

    1. Flyways, by DeAnn Melton | Dedicated Review
    2. Joe Leap: A Grasshopper Adventure in the Flint Hills of Kansas | Dedicated Review
    3. George Can! (And You Can Too!), by Maria Stuckey-Leach | Dedicated Review
    4. B is for Bicycles, by Scott & Jannine Fitzgerald | Dedicated Review

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Bugs Courage DeAnn Melton Dedicated Review Dogs Fears JP Ranch Picture Book Positive Thinking
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    Dr. Jen Harrison
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    Dr. Jen Harrison provides writing and research services as the CEO of Read.Write.Perfect. She completed her Ph.D. in Children’s and Victorian Literature at Aberystwyth University in Wales, in the UK. After a brief spell in administration, Jen then trained as a secondary school English teacher and worked for several years teaching Secondary School English, working independently as a private tutor of English, and working in nursery and primary schools. She has been an editor for the peer-reviewed journal of children’s literature, Jeunesse, and has published academic work on children’s non-fiction, YA speculative fiction, and the posthuman.

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