Description

The acclaimed story of the little bird that won the nation’s heart

He’ll never live, the neighbors all said. But Robert, the abandoned quail chick would prove them wrong. Born on a kitchen counter in a house on Cape Cod, raised in a box surrounded by a lamb’s wool duster and a small lamp, Robert’s life began auspiciously.


What happens when a wild bird, against all odds, decides he belongs not in the woods, but in a human home?


  • A Classic Animal Story: Read the charming, unforgettable account of Robert, the quail who was born on a kitchen counter and refused to return to the wild.
  • The Human-Animal Bond: Discover a unique friendship as Robert becomes a full-fledged member of the family, full of personality, quirks, and affection.
  • Cape Cod Setting: Experience the gentle backdrop of Cape Cod, where a deserted quail’s nest in a garden leads to an incredible new life indoors.
  • An Unexpected Surprise: Follow Robert’s incredible journey, including a shocking discovery that changes everything his adoptive family thought they knew.

About the author(s)

Born on Cape Cod at Falmouth, Massachusetts, Margaret A. Stanger grew up in her pioneer parents' home in Iowa. With a B.A. from Grinnell College and an M.A. from Columbia University (where she also studied law), Miss Stanger was graduated from Boston Children's Hospital as a registered nurse. She returned to the Cape to live in Orleans, where she became one of Robert's closest human friends. Illustrator Cathy Baldwin, another friend and neighbor of Robert's, graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Reviews

“Along with BORN FREE and RASCAL, this true story of the little quail that loved people ranks among the great nature tales of all time.” - Boston Globe

“Add to the list of persons I wish I’d known (they include Cleopatra, Saki, the boy who put his finger in the dike, Robin Hood, and D’Artagnan) That Quail, Robert. . . . And if you insist that a quail can’t be a person, technically speaking, I agree, but declare that in Robert’s case an exception must be made.” - Chicago Tribune

“Robert revealed to those about her (he turned out to be a she) that there is indeed a universal language that all life shares. It is called love.” - Los Angeles Herald Examiner

“Captivating, charming, incredible, poignant. . . . At the end one has met and come to love a wild, shy, natural denizen of the fields and woods almost as a human friend.” - Nashville Banner

“Enthralling. … No one who has had a pet or watched a bird could fail to be enchanted. … Highly recommended.” - Library Journal

“A classic” - Christian Science Monitor

“A delight. … A beautiful little book illustrated with drawings by Cathy Baldwin.” - Best Sellers

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