A Quail in the Family

The Story of Peep-Sight

By: William J. Plummer

Narrated by: Pete Ferrand

Length: 2 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

This is the story of Peep-Sight, a Gambel's quail who came to live with the Plummer Family in Nevada. He captured their hearts, and he will capture yours. It describes the sensitive care one should take in adopting a wild creature and the rich rewards thereof.

©1974 Christopher Plummer (P)2018 David N. Wilson

Endearing and Insightful

Great story of a truly remarkable bird and his doting humans. Their attention to him and how they provide for his needs as he grows up with their clan really shows a lot of love. And the narration of this was excellent! Very expressive and energetic, yet soothing. I listened again and again.

A Bird's tale

"This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review"  - I really hate these disclaimers because I feel they take away from the book.  If the book was not good I would rate it as such.  

What do you do when your kids find a baby bird on the side of the road?  Well, the Plummer's liked to take care of animals.  Being an engineer Plummer tries to figure out foods the bird can and cannot eat.  This was before Google so finding this information was not at your fingertips.  

Having a Gambel's quail as a pet was quite a fun adventure for the Plummer's.  They all had to take turns to clean up the mess that Peep-Sight would occasionally make.  They kept thinking that one day while hanging out by the pool the bird would just up and fly away, especially during the mating season.  But that was not the case.  Once there were a few other Gambel's quail in the tree in the front yard.  Taking the bird out in the front to see the bird, Peep-Sight really didn't care and wanted to go back in.

This was a very enjoyable, albeit too short of a book about a random bird becoming part of the family.  There were funny tails of Peep-Sight watching TV, or riding around the pool on a float, and even getting into the flour on the counter.  I love picking up random reads like this that happen to be so very interesting.  

A Wonderful Tribute To A Special Little Bird

What did you love best about A Quail in the Family?

The descriptions of how Peep and friends would go about their day and how much the family truly cared about them.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Peep lectures the kids for hanging on the fence.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book is just lovely. It reminded me of a pet my family had that was beyond wonderful. In that sense it can be a little bit of a tear-jerker, but it reminds me to hold dear all the good memories I have.

Any additional comments?

The narrator, Pete Ferrand, did an excellent job and I feel that he was the perfect person to read this title.

I thought it was so interesting that William didn't want to deal with the bureaucratic red tape involved with keeping a wild animal, especially one that had become part of the family. That chapter of the book really spoke to me.

This was worth the time spent listening to it. Highly recommended.

*This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Lovely and Heartwarming Story

This is a wonderful account of how the author took in a baby bird who grew to become a part of his family. There are too few people in this world who would rescue a wild animal in need and come to care for him as much as this family did, and I am encouraged every time I hear a story like this. I wish there were more.

I enjoyed listening to this book with my son. I think it is a great story to teach the values of kindness and respect toward animals to young children. Wild animals typically shy away from humans to such an extent that sometimes we don't think about the depth of the individual personalities they all must possess, each with their own character, peculiarities, and social habits. They are as richly varied as individuals as any beloved domestic pet. This book reminds us of that.

I received this book for free at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Warmly narrated story

A delightful tale of a little bird that finds a home with a loving family. Narrator was excellent.

Well organized, written, and quite enjoyable

Would you consider the audio edition of A Quail in the Family to be better than the print version?

Personally, I prefer audiobooks and this is where this work shines.

Any additional comments?

Pete Ferrand’s narration adds a level of personalization and enjoyment to this work. He presents it as if he has invited you into his living room so you can listen to him personally tell YOU the story of the quail and its family. It goes so far above mere reading it that it rises to a new and much higher level of entertainment.

I look forward to experiencing many more of his audiobooks.

Peep-Sight’s Memoir

Very sweet, funny, and enlightening!
For anyone who has ever had an atypical pet, you’ll see parallels to how to domesticate an “exotic” pet and how they can become a part of a family, similar to our familiar, traditional feline and canine members.
I enjoyed this book and how the family had to become innovative and think ahead, taking into consideration Peep-Sight’s basic needs while they carried on with their lives.
I applaud the author/narrator for sharing with us and providing a subtle ending.
Recommend to anyone who wants a light and fascinating memoir of this quail.

PeepSight

Narration was warmly and tenderly read. Well done😁

Nearly every family has a story about a child bringing home an injured animal. My son Ben was very like the boy in this family who brought Bo-PeepSight home to be healed. If you've ever read author Jean Craighead George's book My Side Of the Mountain, this has that same kind of flavor. I learned a lot about the habits of the Gambel Quail.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

A Very Touching Story!

A Quail in the Family
The Story of Peep-Sight
By: William J. Plummer
Narrated by: Pete Ferrand
This is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary.
This is such a wonderfully touching story about a baby quail and his life growing up with a loving family. Or should I say a family living with a terrific little soul. It is a heart warming short story that made me feel happy inside and glad I listened to this book. I could tell this family had so much love for this little bird. It was a good feeling story!
The narrator was perfect for this story. The soothing yet deep voice tells the story with warmth and caring. Well done!

Finding Value in All Forms of Life

I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

William J. Plummer writes A Quail in the Family: The Story of Peep-Sight. One day, Willam's son brings him a small abandoned quail. The family takes in the bird and proceeds to care for him. Peep-Sight has a surprising effect on the family, and he touches their hearts in a unique way. This is an enduring story that highlights the importance of all forms of life.

This book follows William and his family as they care for an abandoned quail. Williams explains the process he and the family used to acclimate their friend to his new home. Peep-Sight has a personality of his own, and he loves mischief. Whether exploring the backyard or running across countertops, the quail quickly finds his place in any environment. He endures some hardships throughout his time with the Plummers, but they care for him in any way possible. The family quickly grows to love their new resident, and they find his hijinks adorable and heartwarming. Williams has written a cute, simple and engaging story. It's only two hours and 26 minutes long, and it would've been interesting to hear the family's backstory and how they came to care for so many creatures. Nonetheless, this is a worthwhile story that remains interesting throughout it's short duration.

Pete Ferrand provides clear and consistent narration. His pronunciation is precise, and he never stalls on words or phrases. His voice rises and falls depending on the circumstance, and he communicates emotion when appropriate. Although his performance is solid, the recording has some issues. For instance, a passage is repeated at one point in the work, and there are some audio glitches. Even still, these issues don't overly detract from the performance.

A Quail in the Family is a short read that is consistently fun and lighthearted. It's endearing to see one families desire to care and provide for such a small, helpless creature. Williams does a great job bringing Peep-Sight to life, while clearly conveying his vibrant personality. And Ferrand's narration is consistent and engaging even with some audio issues. Despite its short duration, bird and animal lovers will enjoy A Quail in the Family.