Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn YouTube TikTok
    • Home
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Advertise
    • Mentorship
    • Editing Services
    • About
    • Contact
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest TikTok
    The Children's Book Review
    Subscribe
    • Books by Subject
    • Books by Age
      • Ages 0-3, Infant and Toddler
      • Ages 4-8, Preschool to Elementary
      • Ages 9-12, Preteen and Tween
      • Ages 12+, Teen and Young Adult
      • Books for First Grade Readers
      • Books for Second Grade Readers
      • Books for Third Grade Readers
    • Favorites
      • Diverse and Inclusive Books
      • Books About Activism
      • Best Books for Kids
      • Star Wars Books
      • Board Books
      • Books About Mindfulness
      • Dr. Seuss Books
    • Showcase
    • Interviews
      • Growing Readers Podcast
      • Author Interviews and Q&A
      • Illustrator Interviews
    • Kids’ Book Giveaways
    • Directory
    • Podcast
    The Children's Book Review

    XO, OX: A Love Story, by Adam Rex | Book Review

    Denise MealyBy Denise Mealy3 Mins Read Ages 4-8 Animal Books Humor Picture Books
    XO-OX-A-Love-Story-by-Adam-Rex-Book-Review
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    The Children’s Book Review | January 21, 2018

    Xo OX A Love STory Adam RexXO, OX: A Love Story

    Written by Adam Rex

    Illustrated by Scott Campbell

    Age Range:  4 and up

    Hardback:   40 pages

    Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (2017)

    ISBN: 978-1626722880

    What to expect: Unrequited Love, Animals

    Who of us hasn’t pined for a great beauty, as Ox has pined for Gazelle? In this delightfully dark, anti-romance story, Ox has found his true love in the form of the balletic, alluring Gazelle. He writes her a letter, stating his love. She writes back.

    Thank you for your letter. I hope you understand that I have many admirers and cannot reply to each one personally.

    Delighted, Ox writes back, and receives an identical letter. But the third time, Gazelle writes back herself.

    Here is a third and final letter, different from the first two. There is no need to write me again.

    Success! Now Ox is getting somewhere. Ox and Gazelle begin a hilariously one-sided (or is it?) love affair through letters. Gazelle keeps claiming she could never be interested in a clumsy, smelly ox, and Ox keeps finding new ways to admire her charm and grace. Will these two silly animals ever find their way to each other?

    Adults will especially love the irony of Gazelle continuing to write back to the Ox she has supposedly no interest in, and children will catch on quick that something rather funny is going on here. Maybe Gazelle really does like the attention, if she keeps writing back? The illustrations are dreamy and quite funny. Gazelle lounging on a pool pillow in a bikini is hilarious, as is her angrily writing a letter back to Ox about how amazing she is, and how amazing he is most definitely not. The personalities of the animals really come through – especially Gazelle’s interminable vanity. A delightfully funny edition to any child’s bookshelf.

    Highly recommended.

    Available Here: 

    Text, logoBuy on AmazonLogo

    About the Author

    Adam Rex has written several books for young readers including the New York Times–bestselling Frankenstein makes a Sandwich and The True Meaning of Smekday. His picture book School’s First Day of School earned seven starred reviews and was a New York Times Bestseller. He lives now with his wife and son in Tucson.

    About the Illustrator

    Scott Campbell is a maker of paintings, illustrations, comics, kid’s books, and video games. He studied illustration at the Academy of Art in San Francisco, focusing on comic and children’s book illustration. He is the author/illustrator of Hug Machine. XO, OX is Scott’s first book for Roaring Brook Press.

    XO, OX, A Love Story, written by Adam Rex and illustrated by Scott Campbell, was reviewed by Denise Mealy. Discover more books like XO, OX, A Love Story by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Adam Rex, Animals, Love, Picture Book, and Scott Campbell.

    What to Read Next:

    1. Brownie Groundhog and the Wintry Surprise, by Susan Blackaby | Book Review
    2. Giraffe Problems, by Jory John | Speed Interview
    3. Z is for Moose, by Kelly Bingham & Paul O. Zelinski | Book Review
    4. The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams | Book Spotlight

    *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.

    Adam Rex Animals Love Picture Book Roaring Brook Press Scott Campbell
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleThe Best Young Adult Books of 2017
    Next Article Being Fishkill, by Ruth Lehrer | Book Review
    Denise Mealy
    • Website
    • X (Twitter)

    Denise Mealy is a former web content provider who stays at home to change diapers and write books. Her days are filled with Word documents, books and sloppy kisses (from dogs and baby alike). She likes to read, cook, dance, travel and forward pictures of spam sculptures to friends. If she could have dinner with any author, dead or alive, it would be a toss up between J.K. Rowling and Jane Austen. They would probably eat pasta. Yes, definitely pasta. For more information, visit: www.dccmealy.com You can also find her on Twitter: @dccmealy

    1 Comment

    1. Pingback: Picture Book Review: XO, OX – A Love Story | Prologue – DCC Mealy

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    TCBR Supporter
    Recent Articles
    • Interview with M.H. Clark, Author of ‘We Needed a You’
    • Tiki Time: It’s My Turn | Awareness Tour
    • Drawing Cute Animals Shape by Shape: Learn to Draw Over 100 Adorable Animals Step by Step | Dedicated Review
    • Tiny Bird, by Sabrina Edralin | Dedicated Review
    • I Don’t Think So!, by K. Joyner | Book Review
    TCBR Supporters
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today

    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    Discover Kids Books by Age
    Best Books For Kids
    Media Kit: The Children's Book Review
    Author and Illustrator Showcase
    SEARCH
    BOOKS BY SUBJECT
    Archives
    Professional Resources

    Book Marketing Campaigns

    Writing Coaches and Editing Services

    Mentorship

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Policies
    • Advertise
    • TCBR Buzzworthy Mentions
    • About TCBR
    © 2025 The Children’s Book Review. All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.