Comment from Dorothy Farrell

Excellent

Hello Sandra, top marks again for this fine entry - Q, not one of the easy letters, but you found a good one. Love the poem. As usual a great, in- depth entry to your Alphabet book. This one is particularly interesting from the historical point of view and an interesting read. A very well deserved six. Love Dorothy xxx

 Comment Written 26-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 27-Jul-2020

Thank you so very much, Dorothy, for your really lovely review. I was stumped at first, and thought that I'd not find anything interesting to write about a bird. But I was so wrong about these little birds. The more I delved, the more amazed I was. I'm so pleased you thought so. Thank you for the virtual six, my friend. I really appreciated it. Have a lovely day! It's tipping down here! :)) Sandra xxx

Comment from Y. M. Roger

Excellent

Our fun Bobwhites around here are hilarious... and, of course, they'll scare the pants off ya if you walk past a bush where a few of them are: cuz they're too stupid to just 'stay put'!! They just gotta 'fly out' with lots of bluster and noise when you're right next to them! :) Another great letter chapter, my lady! ;) thanx for sharing! ;)

 Comment Written 25-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 26-Jul-2020

I can quite imagine that, Yvette, I know it would me. Thank you so much for coming and reading this letter, I know how busy you are. Sending you a big hug, my friend. :)) Sandra xxx

Comment from LisaMay

Excellent

They might only have small brains, but choosing a mate for life and bringing up the kids together shows they have the basics of life right.
Your poem is engaging and the facts are conveyed in a well written, interesting manner. A wonderful addition to your book for Eric.

 Comment Written 24-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 24-Jul-2020

I totally agree with you on that. Love and caring for your young is more important than any amount of college degrees! (thank goodness!) Thank you for your lovely thoughts on this one, Lisa May, I'm delighted you enjoyed it. :)) Sandra xx

Comment from Elizabeth Emerald

Excellent

(hyphenate easy-going; comma vs semicolon last para...Although many countries have laws....., they are unfortunately... ) This is another charming and informative chapter in this delightful series. Cheers. LIZ

 Comment Written 24-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 24-Jul-2020

Thank you so much for another lovely review and picking up on the missing hyphen and semicolon, I sorted both. I'm really pleased that you are still enjoying my ABC series. Thank you, my friend. :)) Sandra xx

Comment from l.raven

Exceptional

Hi You Who, tell Graham...I think this bird is trying to make eye contact with me....look at that little shifty eye
following me around...I think he just winked at me....and I love the wing...perrrrfect...well done Graham...one of your best...

ok!!! story time...when we were kids...we would go to my dad's sister house...they were a bit wealthy...they had 1500 acres and more...well!!! they lived on the land...way in the far end of their land...they had Quail...and yes they rat them...but they knew I didn't eat any meat that they killed out there...one time we went there...and it was time to eat...they told me it was chicken from the store...I took one bit and spit it out...I knew it wasn't chicken...it was Quail...so they all laughed thinking it was funny...even my parents...coming from my dad...yea...he was as redneck as you could get...but my mother...NOOOOOOOO....so I thought I would give them something to laugh about...every time we were going there...my mother had to cook me a chicken at home...or I would go stay at my grandmothers on the day they would go...and one Thanksgiving...she had to cook me a turkey....I never ate meat out there again...but she had awesome fresh veggies...and potatoes...home grown...

after dinner we would go out(6 kids)....and have dried cow manure fights...there was a fight between us kids...who would sit by window in the car going home...yes...those were the days...

I love your poem my amazing friend...and I love your stories told sweet girl...and your pictures are beautiful...they are stunning birds...but Grahams wins first place....for beautiful color as well...very well done...love you in bunches...Linda xxoo

I hope all is remaining well...say hi the Ian for me...love xxoo

 Comment Written 23-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 24-Jul-2020

I am still trying to imagine how six smelly kids in a car must smell like after a cow manure fight!!! LOL!! Your poor parents. :))
I've never eaten quail, and after my researching, I won't be, either. One, because I might pick the one with the poison in, and two, because they are such loving birds, only mating up with the one partner for life, and share the household chores of building the nest and raising the children. I wouldn't want to leave the children mother or fatherless! Bless them. :)) lol.
Thank you, darling girl, for the sixer, and your lovely, fun review, and for sharing your childhood memories, (even if they were smelly!!! )
All well and good here, how long will you be staying home? Has the lock down eased up at all? Ours did, but now there are pockets of the virus creeping back into some areas, they have to lock down again. :(
Graham is so pleased you like his paintings, he's getting a few compliments now, and there's no living with him!!!

Sending you loads of love, and humongous hugs, my friend. :)) Sandra xxxxxxxx

reply by l.raven on 24-Jul-2020

I don't know how they could raise animals...and then turn around and eat them...
I guess just a different breed of people...

and what else were we suppose to do...go ride the bulls...it was enough we were picking up after them...

but we have one other pass time we loved...
they had a huge oil drum in the yard...that is how they got electric...otherwise it was oil lamps...and every time you flush the toilet...or had the lights on...this big drums would start vibrating...so one of our favorite things to do...in the daytime...we would take turns... jumping off the oil drum and flushing the toilet so we could sit on it and vibrate...after about ten times...Aunt Julia would yell out for us to knock it off...but it was fun while it lasted...Oh...kids today don't know what their missing...hmmmmm...

and tell Graham...his pictures are real...they touch a child's heart...

sending you soooooo much love back at you both...and the biggerest hugs...my amazing friend...smiling back at you...always..xxoo

Comment from alexisleech

Exceptional

Well, I thought this might be a bit boring compared to your other excellent chapters, but I couldn't be more wrong. The quail sounds to be a very interesting breed of birds, and the fact they mate for life and bring the kids up together, makes them the tops in my book.
Looking forward to R!

Alexis xxx

 Comment Written 23-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 23-Jul-2020

Aw, thank you so very much for the lovely six stars, Alexis, and the lovely review. Yes, I'm with you on that, I think we should start a protest march, Protect the Quails! It's different from all the other protests! LOL. Have a lovely evening, my friend. :)) Sandra xxx

Comment from Jomo17

Exceptional

Wow! This is awesome. I love the idea of an animal alphabet book for older children that includes interesting facts about the animals. The poem is excellent. The flow is perfect and it gives information in a fun way. It is obvious you have done your research. The pictures you chose complement your writing, and they are effectively positioned. I'm sure Eric (and other children) will enjoy this book.

 Comment Written 23-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 23-Jul-2020

Thank you so much for this really lovely review, Lisa! Coming from another children's book author, that means a lot to me. Thank you for
the sixth star that is so nice of you. Have a lovely day! :)) Sandra xx

reply by Jomo17 on 23-Jul-2020

You're welcome Sandra!

Comment from Earl Corp

Exceptional

I learned a lot reading this chapter. I didn't know there were old and new world quail and that one was poisonous to humans. Another use of quail is for s young woman, the Everly Brothers sang about it in their song Bird Dog. Very nice job.

 Comment Written 22-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 22-Jul-2020

I was a young teenager and madly in love with both the Everly Brothers. It's a shame it all ended in tears. Thank you so very much for the six stars, Earl, and the lovely review. I'm delighted you enjoyed reading about the quail. They were far more interesting than I thought they'd be, but after a bit of deep researching it was surprising what came up. Thank you, again. :)) Sandra xx

Comment from lancellot

Exceptional

Wonderful work. Each chapter and each animal. I love the care it took create this. Not I could write for kids. Too hard to watch my words and phrases. When I read this. You make the little bird seem so majestic. It is hard believe people hunt them for sport.

Research and design alone makes this ART a six.

Perfect.

 Comment Written 22-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 22-Jul-2020

Thank you so very much, Lancellot, for another really nice review. Your words are so encouraging, and the sixth star is the icing on top. Thank you, my friend. Have a lovely day! :)) Sandra xx

Comment from elchupakabra

Exceptional

I really enjoyed this piece. I was afraid it was headed in a direction that was perhaps too infantile for older children, like I was picturing more reading this to my 7 year old (just turned) as opposed to a 10-12 year old. However, the way you started with the light poem to then lean into the actual factoids, I thought that presentation and setup was stellar and thus the six stars. Great job and later daze.

 Comment Written 22-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 22-Jul-2020

What a really lovely review, Elchupakabra. What you've said is what I really needed to hear, that the age group I've put to this work is right. The sixth star is a bonus on top of your lovely comments and all I can say is a big thank you! Have a lovely day! :)) Sandra xxx