A cute reminder that opposites attract. Just because someone is different does not mean they cannot be a friend. Love how a dog and a rhino are used as the examples in the story.

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. ( )

Media: Acrylic paints, colored pencil, and Ink on Arches hot press watercolor paper.
Use: Fun story of Friends; If a kid recently lost a dog (Give them a positive outlook on it.
Summary: This book is about a dog, named Vinnie, who escapes his house and runs to the zoo. He finds Bogart, a square-lipped rhinoceros, and they become best friends and they go viral. Eventually their family comes and finds them and takes all of Vinnie's friends home.
Meets Criteria: This book meets criteria of fantasy because the dog, the parrots, and the other animals in the zoo talk.
Fantasy ( )

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

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! ( )