Bogart and Vinnie: A Completely Made-Up Story of True Friendship

By Audrey Vernick and Henry Cole

When Vinnie, a crazy-happy dog, gets lost while visiting a nature preserve with his family, he finds comfort in the company of Bogart, a big, lazy rhinoceros. Vinnie loves his new friend, but Bogart would rather just take a nap. A friendship soon blossoms-even if Vinnie's definition of "friendship" is very different from Bogart's-and when word of their unique situation spreads, Bogart and Vinnie are a worldwide sensation! But as soon as their fifteen seconds of fame ends, what's left is a bond even Bogart can't ignore.

Pairing picture-book veteran, Henry Cole, with up-and-coming author, Audrey Vernick, this clever spoof of the unendingly popular interspecies animal-friendship story is full of heart and humor.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Release date: Oct 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9780802735799

Audrey Vernick

Audrey Vernick is author of several novels and many picture books, including Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team. She lives with her family near the ocean in New Jersey. Visit her online at audreyvernick.com and on Twitter @yourbuffalo.

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Reviews for Bogart and Vinnie

[lbradf4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Bogart and Vinnie is about the odd friendship between a lost dog, Bogart, at a zoo and a rhinoceros, Vinnie. Bogart follows Vinnie everywhere never leaving his side, they become the talk of the town and even news crews came to see them. Bogart’s family never stops looking for him and when they finally find him with Vinnie, they can’t stand to separate them. They bring Vinnie, as well as all the other animals home with them, everyone is happy, except for the neighbors!

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Unlikely friendship between "crazy-happy" hyper dog and reticent rhino.

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In this hilarious send-up of the inter-species animal friendship story that has become so popular in the picture-book world of late, author Audrey Vernick and illustrator Henry Cole tell the tale of Vinnie, an extremely happy and hyperactive lost dog who befriends an indifferent rhinoceros named Bogart. Although Bogart remains placidly impervious to Vinnie's many overtures, enduring the endless "playing" that he is subjected to by his new canine companion, Vinnie never wavers in his enthusiasm. When the 'friendship' is discovered by the media, the rhino-dog pair become an overnight sensation, alerting Vinnie's human family to his location.Although I have enjoyed many of the true-life stories of cross-species animal friendship that I have read - Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship, Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends, Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival - I still found Vernick's satire of the tale-type quite enjoyable. Vinnie's oblivious happiness and Bogart's reluctant tolerance are quite amusing, as are Henry Cole's cartoon-style illustrations, done in acrylic, colored pencil and ink. Bogart and Vinnie is one I would recommend to anyone looking for picture-books featuring humorous animal stories, or who has grown a little tired of the inter-species friendship tale.

[hschmill22 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book teaches kids that it is okay to have friends that are different from you. Bogart and Vinnie are two different animals with two totally different personalities. In the end they become inseparable and the best of friends.

[kvelin-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a modern fantasy story about a lost dog who finds himself at the zoo. He tries to become friends with the rhinoceros, Bogart. Vinnie follows Bogart everywhere and talks to him. Their one-sided friendship makes it on the news. Vinnie's owners see this and come to get him, but they can't stand the thought of breaking up the friendship. They decide to bring Vinnie, Bogart and a few other zoo friends home with them. Everyone was happy, except for the neighbors.