My Rhinoceros

The plot of the story begins immediately on the end page and title page through Jon Agee’s illustrations. The main character has already bought his rhino before the words of the story are introduced. The medium of these illustrations in this story I think are marker and paint. They’re balanced on the pages and in the book itself. Like the first half of the book shows the rhino doing nothing in the illustrations. But the second half of the book the rhino is shown in movement. I really liked how you could see the brush strokes on the rhino and that made it look rough to touch. I also loved how the book ended, with the rhino being the hero of the story. It helped show the boy that not everything is as it seems.

A boy buys a rhinoceros without realizing what he was getting into. He is disappointed to learn that his rhinoceros won’t chase a ball or roll over or do anything. Finally, he consults a rhinoceros expert and learns that rhinoceroses only do two things: pop balloons and poke holes in kites. The boy takes his rhinoceros to the park and the rhinoceros does not pop balloons or poke holes in kites. The boy begins to worry that his rhinoceros is a dud until one day the boy sees a robbery and the rhinoceros has a chance to show what he’s made of.

A delightfully absurd story sure to make both children and grownups chuckle.

“My rhinoceros didn’t pop balloons!
He didn’t even poke holes in kites!
I began to wonder about my rhinoceros.
Maybe show more he was a clunker. Maybe I should have bought a hippopotamus instead.” show less

A slow starter that ends up being really fun. A boy's pet rhinoceros seems like a dud. He doesn't DO anything. Or does he?

Jon Agee was one of the authors at this fall's N. California trade show. When I told him that I was giving my copy of the book to the newest member of our family, he gave it this special touch.




The story is sweet about a little boy who buys a rhinoceros from the exotic pet store, but is disappointed that it doesn't chase a ball, a stick, or a frisbee. But there are some surprises as to what a rhinoceros does do!

This is a cute story about a boy who bought a rhino for a pet. The illustrations fit perfectly with the story.

I found this little story of a boy who gets a rhinoceros for pet to be funny, my son thought it was okay but not for repeated readings. The appearance of bad guys at one point in the story may have been what put him off.

The little boy had not realized what to expect of a rhinoceros pet, so he's in for some surprises. Cute.

In this imaginary tale, a little boy buys a rhinoceros from the pet store. He is told that the rhinoceros should have the talents of popping balloons and poking holes in kites, but is disappointed when his rhinoceros is does not engage in these activities. Just when the boy is considering trading the rhinoceros in for a hippopotomus, his pet displays both talents with the additional twist of flying. It has an endorsement by Maurice Sendak on the back cover.