Bossy Rocky Dachshund refuses to share when he plays.
This demanding dog demonstrates he's not a team player at school or at play. His poor manners extend to his home as he bullies his brother, forced to share his room with only a corner of its contents (“just one inch,” to be exact). When called to be generous, Rocky flaunts his selfishness with a whiny taunt. “Can't you see? / It's all for me / 'Cause I don't care! / I just won't share!” In a humorous twist, the hound's sense of entitlement reaches new heights when Rocky demands control over the written word. “When Rocky heard about this book / he said ‘It's mine, and you can't look!’ / In fact, dear friend, you've him to thank— / he made us leave the next page blank.” His mama corrects his behavior for good when she allows him ownership over all the chores, resulting in a change of heart. Didacticism aside, there's far too much text in each spread and busyness to the images to get the message across to the board-book audience.
Expanded to a 32-page picture book and writ with a lighter hand, it might work; as it is, it's a bust. (Board book. 2-4)
