BOSSY BEAR

In this tersely worded debut—“Give me that! Give me everything!”—a scowling, selfish little bear acts out, discovers that he’s lonely and changes his ways after a small turtle explains that he doesn’t have to be bossy. Dressed in cape and crown, and suspended against minimal or solid-color backgrounds, his size on the page changes as he takes charge or finds himself alone . . . very alone. Next to such other bossyboots as Rosemary Wells’s Ruby or that archetype, Eloise, this bear doesn’t show much personality, but similarly spoiled children who are beginning to feel as if they’re trapped by their own attitude might benefit from the insight. The bear resembles some of the “Uglydoll” toys that Horvath and his wife create, but isn’t quite as grotesque. (Picture book. 5-8)