Lately I’ve been walking around my house saying, “Nose friend! I want to roll in this smell with you!”
I know you thought picture book writers were crazy, but maybe not this insane. My kids certainly think I’ve lost it.
But, once you’ve read BOGART & VINNIE: A Completely Made-Up Story of True Friendship, you might be repeating the same thing.
Vinnie is a lost yet crazy-happy dog, one of those mutt-types with a helicopter tail and an insatiable appetite for canine chatter. It doesn’t seem to bother Vinnie that he’s lost his boy—he’ll just make another bestie. And of course, no other animal has quite the bestial allure of a square-lipped rhinoceros named Bogart. But what’s Vinnie’s moniker for Bogart? What else can a pup call a double-horned behemoth? NOSE FRIEND.
Audrey Vernick’s the name, hilarious picture books are her game. You might know Audrey from IS YOUR BUFFALO READY FOR KINDERGARTEN?, which in my opinion is one of the finest get-ready-for-school stories ever published.
Audrey, how did you capture Vinnie’s doggy dialogue so well? I love his voice! (I do his voice. You might want to tap me for the audio version.)
Thank you! I have dogs. I realize there are few readers who will say “Oh, how COOL that Audrey Vernick is!” when I reveal that I often talk in my dogs’ voices. I give them words, and I am confident that I give them the right words, and the right tone of voice, too. I do think some readers might nod and say “Well, duh, of course. Me too.”
Once I had the general idea of Vinnie’s voice, I just had to push it a bit so it was more over-the-top enthusiastic.
Bogart and Vinnie is about an unlikely friendship. Did you get your inspiration from one of your unusual associations?
In a bizarre show of life imitating art (or “art”), an unlikely friendship, along the lines of the one Bogart and Vinnie share, came about in our very own house when we brought an excitable, happy puppy, Hootie, into our lives when our soulful dog, Rookie, was 10 years old. They WERE Bogart and Vinnie. But Hootie didn’t enter our lives until after I had written this book. (She must have gotten her paws on an early draft somehow.)
The inspiration for this book was actually born of skepticism, I’m afraid. I had read all those nonfiction interspecies friendship picture books and wondered about the use of that word, friendship. I thought it would be fun to find out what happened if animals photographed in close proximity were mistaken for friends. And Vinnie had been waiting around for a book to appear in. He had been the narrator of a manuscript that never quite worked, A Puppy’s Guide to Training, and apparently what had been missing in his life, all along, was a rhinoceros who wanted nothing more than to be left alone.
Your blog is about literary friendships. What was the most surprising friendship story from your site?
Do you know how there are some authors and illustrators you just never really discovered when you were young? For some reason, I never read a Roald Dahl book as a child. And the biggest surprise for me has been how many authors and illustrators, but especially illustrators, cite him as an inspiration. He was always just a name to me. As an adult, I read his memoir, Boy, a sort of Angela’s Ashes for the younger set.
But maybe that doesn’t answer your question. The biggest blog surprise is that my most read post was not an interview with a brilliant writer or illustrator but a post about my mother and how my writer friends sort of fill part of the hole where she used to be.
I think that doesn’t answer your question either. I think maybe I suck at answering questions. The most surprising friendship story from my site is what I’ve learned from the wisdom of everyone who has visited. There are so many, from Ruth Barshaw, Erica Perl, Bob Shea, Liz Scanlon, but for some reason, this one springs to mind, from Linda Urban:
“(when I was young…) I was waiting for someone to see me and tell me I was responsible and smart and special and worth being the subject of a novel. Of course, these are things that we can’t wait for, can we? We have to tell ourselves those things, and then become them. Which is sort of what the kids in my books do. My characters are much smarter than I ever was.”
Isn’t she smart?
Well, yeah, but I happen to think you’re darn smart, too, Audrey, my new NOSE FRIEND!
Do you have an unlikely friendship story to share? Leave a comment to enter the giveaway! You might win a copy of BOGART & VINNIE, guaranteed to make you talk like a dog (a crazy-happy one)!
In the meantime, you can visit Audrey’s blog at Literaryfriendships.wordpress.com.
Audrey Vernick writes funny picture books, nonfiction picture books, and middle-grade novels. Her picture book, Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team, was a New York Times Notable Book of 2012. In 2014, two new books will hit the shelves–the funny/tender picture book Edgar’s Second Word, and the middle-grade novel Screaming at the Ump, and her first novel, Water Balloon, will be released in paperback. A two-time recipient of the New Jersey Arts Council’s fiction fellowship, Audrey lives near the ocean with her family.
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July 11, 2013 at 9:27 am
Jean Reidy
Audrey and Tara! This interview made me all mushy. I love that Audrey talks in dog voices. I do that too! Yes. I talk for babies too. It’s because I just know – right? – what they’re saying. I can’t WAIT to get my hands on this book. As a matter of fact, I won’t wait. I’m buying it today. TODAY!
July 11, 2013 at 9:32 am
Jeannie Mobley
Ooh, ooh! I want Bogart and Vinnie, so here’s my story. A little over a year ago, our older cat went to kitty heaven. We hadn’t planned to get another cat, but our younger cat started driving us crazy, tackling our feet, clawing the furniture. So we went to the humane society to get another cat, a young, playful tabby on their website, but they had two-for-one cat adoptions, and they had this sickly old lady cat that had been there for a whole year. So, we came home with the playful Little Sister, and the Dowager Empress. The idea was our wild Demon Cat could play with Little SIster, while the Dowager Empress could live out her golden years asleep on the sunroom sofa.
But low and behold, within about a week, Little Sister decided she didn’t care for contact sports and began to snub Demon Cat. And who should discover her inner kitten and step into the void but the Dowager Empress herself. So now, the slow, old, declawed cat puts up with being tackled and clawed by Demon Cat, while Little Sister watches contemptuously from the sideline. When the Dowager has had enough she grabs Demon Cat and tames him by licking his ear, and they end up sleeping together on the sunroom sofa.
July 11, 2013 at 9:34 am
Elaine Kearns
I talk in dog voices, and cat voices too! I can’t wait to get this book! Audrey is already the author of my favorite get ready for kindergarten book- I recommend it to parents all the time, so I’m sure I’ll love this book too! Besides, how can you NOT love funny? Funny is where it’s at! 🙂
July 11, 2013 at 9:36 am
Ashley Bohmer
I think most of us have the blessing of at least one unlikely friendship in our lives, it’s what keeps life beautiful and interesting. Just looking at the two of them on the cover excites me.
July 11, 2013 at 10:12 am
Wendy Greenley
This sure looks like another “I can’t wait to read.” The story of Tara the elephant and Bella the dog (RIP) at the Elephant sanctuary in TN is my favorite unlikely friendship story. Always good to be reminded to be open to possibilities.
July 11, 2013 at 10:38 am
ReneDAube (@9261Aube)
I love your description of Vinnie! That helicopter tail is the exact same type of tail my lovely late Louie had ~ there were times when I thought he would begin to hover in mid-air because of the whirring of his tail!
Louise’s unlikely friendship developed with my mare, Georgia. Louie thought ALL horses loved dogs (as did the first gelding he ever met). He soon discovered that Georgia was not sure he was a dog or a goat. You see, goats used to eat her feed when she was a small filly. She did NOT like goats…consequently, she thought she had to chase and strike at Louie. After a while, and a few scoldings, she stopped chasing him and started sniffing his helicopter tail. Off course, by this time, he would tuck his tail and run. Several years down the road, Georgia would allow Louie to eat horse hoof cuttings right underneath her…and when he would tire out on the trail, she would reach down with her nose and give him a little nudge to keep on going instead of stepping on him.
Georgia and I miss Louie terribly, but our memories are alive and vivid of the special friendship we shared.
July 11, 2013 at 10:49 am
www.patmillerbooks.com
I will buy this book TODAY! I think an unusual friendship I enjoy is one I made recently through a critique group in Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12. Janie and I clicked, even though she lives in Ohio and I in Texas. We e-mail, call, and are planning to be roomies at the 21st Century Nonfiction for Children Conference next June–and meet for the first time!
July 11, 2013 at 10:50 am
Penny Klostermann
Oh! I’d like this book! I’d love this book! In fact, I covet this book! Woof! Woof!
Once we had a duck and she laid eggs in our backyard. One night a coyote came howling down the alley.
“Quack!” said the duck.
“Howl!” said the coyote.
“Quack! Quack!”
“Howl! Howl!”
I don’t claim to understand quack-a-latin or howl-ese, but I just know they were planning a friendly rendezvous at the Quack and Howl for later that night.
Now that is an unlikely friendship! (And, I’ll admit, it is completely made up…but with tail-waggin’, drooling enthusiam!)
July 11, 2013 at 10:57 am
JoAn Watson Martin
I inherited Baaboo, solid white with pink paws and ears, from my 92 year old aunt. Luckily, I have learned to speak CAT. If one of her 3 water dishes is empty, she ask me to fill it, in plain cat language, even waking me at 3 AM. She refuses to eat people food unless I open a can of tuna. Then she will deign to lick the can. She insists we take a nap every afternoon. Who can resist? I really didn’t want a pet, but she adopted me.
July 11, 2013 at 11:23 am
Kerry Mazengia
I haven’t seen this book yet – but just the cover makes me want to read it! The illustrations look priceless and the story concept sounds great too. I can’t wait to go find it!
July 11, 2013 at 11:44 am
Donna L. Sadd
This fun book looks right up my alley! We’ve got an unlikely friendship going on at my house between our cat, Zeetz and the 4 Guinea hens that have adopted him. He can be found wherever they are…lying about right in the midst of them. Go Figure. I would love to win Bogart and Vinnie! :0)
July 11, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Ruth Schiffmann
This book sounds like so much fun. Can’t wait to get my hands on it and start talking like a crazy-happy dog.
July 11, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Anne Bromley
This is my kind of book! I love stories about unlikely friendships. The latest I’ve observed on my block is that between an ancient basset hound and a mockingbird. Go figure. I think they are waiting for me to write their story.
July 11, 2013 at 12:57 pm
Michelle Levin
What a great idea for a book! And I cannot wait to find out just what exactly makes someone a good Nose Friend!
My unlikely friendship story? – My sons.
I know, I know, as adults lots of siblings are good friends, but it seems a touch more rare for LITTLE brothers to be buddies. When my second was born, my first was 3. It wasn’t so shocking to me that the older one was nice to the little one… I mean, the kid did nothing but sleep, cry, and stink – what’s not to like. But I was fairly sure that as soon as that little stinker got bigger and started moving and touching and taking the older kiddo’s stuff, I was SURE we were in for a serious change of heart.
Luckily (so far), I was wrong. The big one still loves the little one. He cheers for him in his “accomplishments” (e.g. new word, new food, new action) and plays with him pretty darn nicely. Don’t get me wrong – there are some episodes of shouting and requests that sound like, “someone nicely take that from brother, but hurry!” But overall, they are pretty darn great. (And, yes, everyone in the internet can knock on wood for me, please).
July 11, 2013 at 1:53 pm
Patricia
Hi! I agree with Ashley Bohmer’s comment above. An unlikely friendship for everyone is, I think, the norm. I think I’ve had about three!
I would love to win this book.
Thank you for sponsoring this Giveaway.
Patricia
July 11, 2013 at 2:17 pm
Jessi Peterson
Love the dog voice – I bet we all read it in our own unique version of “dog”! My mother has a dog, Ace, and a cat, Edgar, who we worried would not see eye to eye when Edgar came on scene as a stray, but it has all turned out well. They don’t hang together all the time because Edgar likes to sleep the day away in the greenhouse and Ace can’t get down the spiral staircase there, but you can always tell if they’ve been together because Edgar will have a big sticky uppy spot in his fur at the back of his neck where Ace has been helping him with his grooming!
July 11, 2013 at 2:40 pm
LeslieG
Audrey Vernick and Henry Cole–not at all an unlikely friendship, really, but a fabulous combo nonetheless. Congrats on the book, and thanks for a great interview!
July 11, 2013 at 3:45 pm
Lynne Marie
One unlikely friendship was me with my parents when we all became older and wiser 🙂
July 11, 2013 at 4:09 pm
Colleen Rowan Kosinski
I guess the friendship between my large Doberman and tiny dachshund is kind of funny. Especially since the little one is the boss.
July 11, 2013 at 8:09 pm
Donna Black
What I really like about this unlikely friendship discussion is how many good ideas it is giving me. Thanks you Audrey and Tara!
July 11, 2013 at 11:54 pm
katiemillsgiorgio
My daughter and our dog (OK, kid and pet not that unlikely I know.) But I honestly think my daughter thinks she is a dog when they play, and our dog thinks she is a human. They love each other something fierce.
July 12, 2013 at 12:40 am
KidLitReviews
Nice book. Love the cover. I have yet to win a book, so this would be a wonderful time to have me win. A book on friendship – a true story or made up, if good, is worth much. Would love to review, so the winner is . . .
July 12, 2013 at 12:44 am
KidLitReviews
Oh, an unlikely friendship. When I was four we had a parakeet named Pete. I loved to play with Pete but one day forgot to close the front door and Petie flew away. I also loved to play with my goldfish — until the day I took it out of the water for too long. For some reason we never got a dog. 😦
July 12, 2013 at 8:57 am
Jennifer Rumberger
Great post! An unlikely friendship – Lisa Yee’s Bobby books feature Bobby and his best friend, which just so happens to be a goldfish. Their relationship is a major part of the book, I think. Thanks for the giveaway!
July 12, 2013 at 9:49 am
literaryfriendships
Tara, your readers leave the best comments! I love all these unlikely friendships…
July 12, 2013 at 10:58 am
Charlie Barshaw
My wife is the abovementioned Ruth McNally Barshaw, who also did the line drawing of Audrey at the bottom of the post. Ruth and Audrey are an unlikely pair, too, but best friends since they first met at their mutual agent’s retreat.
At Ruth’s urging, I helped convince our SCBWI Advisory Committee to bring Audrey in as our picture book revision guru, and we couldn’t be more excited. Audrey is super-talented, extra-funny, and a big baseball fan, too. What’s not to like?
July 13, 2013 at 12:51 pm
viviankirkfield
Great interview with a super author whose books are among my favorites.:) Thanks, Tara! And thanks, Audrey, for writing such amazing stories and for offering a copy of your new book, which I would LOVE to win.
My unlikely story of animal friendship:
While raising my children, I took a break from teaching kindergarten and ran a home day care. This enabled me to be home for my own children, earning a much-needed extra income watching the children of local teachers. We had a Golden Lab (Bandit), a calico cat (Smokey), a rabbit (Thumper)…as well as gerbils. The gerbils were kept in a fish tank, with a mesh cover on top (because Smokey wanted to be altogether too friendly with them…as the wild things said to Max…We’ll eat you up, we love you so!). The other three animals, however, were truly best of friends. If you walked into the house during nap time, you would find 6 little children upstairs, asleep on their mats. And downstairs, you would find the dog and cat and rabbit, nestled together, snoozing in the quiet of the afternoon.
And me…hahahaha…I, too, would put up my feet for a rest.:)
July 13, 2013 at 8:48 pm
Ruth McNally Barshaw
Hugs to you both, Tara and Audrey.
I don’t need to win the book — I’ll buy it.
But, since you asked, my two dogs have a most unlikely friendship. When the little guy first arrived, the big guy couldn’t stand even having him on the same couch. (The big guy missed his big brother who’d just moved off to the other end of the country, which is why we even considered a second dog)
These days (almost two years later) I often catch the little guy napping on the big guy’s back. Or gnawing on the big guy’s nose, ear, or tail. The big guy just takes it — part of why I love him so much.
July 15, 2013 at 5:35 pm
wendymyersart
Sounds like a very fun book! I’ve been privileged to share my life with dogs, cats, hamsters, horses, cows, a bird, and even chameleons. Probably the most unlikely friendship was between the hamster named Zippy and the cat named Cecilia. Every night for weeks Zippy would escape his cage in the second story bathroom where our daughter kept him. He would make it down a complete flight of stairs, through a very large living room, down a long hallway, across our bedroom, and to our bed. I would wake up each time (I’m a light sleeper) and there would be Zippy looking up at me from the floor, and Cecilia next to him. I’m not quite sure if she was waiting with him or waiting for him to make the wrong move, but I’d scoop him up and take him back home. He only did it once a night, until I finally figured out how and put an end to it!