Reviews from

AmaZing Animals

Viewing comments for Chapter 18 "AmaZing Animals - R"
The A-Z of animals and facts

56 total reviews 
Comment from Cindy Decker
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Good evening, Sandra.
Excellent essay of the reindeer. I loved this story because it is so informative, there so many facts I didn't know; and the pictures of the cows with calves are beautiful. I hope your book goes far! It's exceptional work.
Good luck with all time best status...
Best wishes,
Cindy. Stay well. ð???

 Comment Written 25-Sep-2020


reply by the author on 26-Sep-2020
    I liked the reindeer. They are so interesting and do a lot more than just pull Santa's sleigh. :)) Thank you for reading this one, Cindy. I'm really pleased you enjoyed it. Warm hugs, my friend. :) Sandra xx
Comment from Jeffrey L. Michaux
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I think that they are unique and beautiful creatures. They have some killer looking racks also. I'm sure that they would be dangerous in a fight and their speed is incredible! Thanks for sharing these fun facts in this well written work. Well done!

 Comment Written 03-Aug-2020


reply by the author on 04-Aug-2020
    Thank you again, Jeffrey, that is so nice of you to go back and read this one when the payment had expired. They were fascinating to research, and I learnt a lot too. I'm so glad you enjoyed this one as well. Thanks, my friend. :)) Sandra xxx
Comment from Cindy Warren
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

R for Rudolph, of course. I didn't know they actually could have red noses. So sad they're dying because of climate change. I didn't try to guess that one. Things have been a little hectic lately and I haven't had much time.

 Comment Written 02-Aug-2020


reply by the author on 03-Aug-2020
    Hi Cindy, thank you for this lovely review! Sorry I've been so long replying, I've had the most terrible headaches. I'm so pleased you enjoyed this one, and yes, it is really sad about them dying because of what we've done to our climate. But, who knows, it seems that is the only thing that has improved with the world-wide lock-down! I'm sorry you missed out on the payment, but Im posting the next letter in an hour or so. Big hugs, my friend. :)) Sandra xx
Comment from alexisleech
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Yet again, I'm amazed at the amount of truly interesting information you have managed to pack into this post. An inch a day? My goodness - that takes some beating. I didn't realise they shed their antlers every year, but at that rate of regrowth, I can see it's not a problem.
Another excellent addition to your animal alphabet - well done!

Alexis xxx

 Comment Written 30-Jul-2020


reply by the author on 30-Jul-2020
    Hi, Alexis! Thank you so very much for another of your amazing reveiws and the six stars. You have been encouraging me all the way through and I'll not forget that. Thank you, my friend. :)) Sandra xx
Comment from Roberta Lawrinsky
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Dear SandraMitchell,
You're already on "R"?? That's more than halfway there!
Thank you for teaching me about caribou--they have amazing traits, no question.
I like the sing-song meter.
The rhymes are good, too.

Now, for the caveats. Have you decided whether your reindeer is singular or plural??
I ask because your first line denotes singularity by virtue of the verb 'lives' . Plural reindeer take the verb 'live' (n'est pas?). Then the third line--For keeping warm they have two coats-- denotes plural reindeer. To be more consistent, you can say 'live' in the first line & stay consistently plural. Or you can individualize by writing--For keeping warm he has two coats.
Of course, it's up to you.
Have you singularized or pluralized the other creatures in your alphabet book??
Also-- in the fun facts you include how reindeer detect lichen
through ultraviolet vision that sees through snow(!) yet your verse has them detecting lichen through their sense of smell
with their red noses. Both facts are fascinating & must have required you to make a tough choice??
Did your grandson Eric make the drawing?
All in all, your project is VERY inspiring-- & also quite a page- turner. With an overall A through Z scaffolding with a built-in beginning, middle & end, your project is well-chosen..
Within the boundaries, you can create a lot of rhyme & impart a lot of information by way of two four- line stanzas & an abcb rhyme scheme.
It's enchanting to meet you here on Fanstory--
Do you plan to self-publish or are you in contact with a publisher??
Thank you for your inspiring work!
sincerely,
roberta lawrinsky

 Comment Written 30-Jul-2020


reply by the author on 30-Jul-2020
    What a lovely review, Roberta, thank you so much. I've made those corrections to keep it plural, I hadn't noticed I'd made such a mistake!! Thanks for that! They are all plural, but, saying that, I'll be double-checking that I've not made the same mistake anywhere else.
    The finding food by their sense of smell is mostly how they do it, but also ultraviolet waves play their part. In the winter months the lichen absorb UV light, making them appear black in contrast to the UV-reflecting snow. It doesn't see through the snow as I've written, so a big thank you for bringing my attention to that!

    I have sent out enquiries to agents about publishing this, but if I have no joy there, I will self-publish. At my time of life it's all about helping my grandson and anyone else who would like a copy. (Of course, I'd love a publisher to take it on!)
    Thank you once more for this really excellent review, I appreciated it immensely. Have a lovely day! :)) Sandra xx
reply by Roberta Lawrinsky on 30-Jul-2020
    Hi Sandra!
    I've a fair amount of experience in proofreading, so I may as well use it.
    Do you ever attend education book fairs or independent small publisher's book fairs?? For example, here in San Francisco we have a yearly Teachers 4 Social Justice conference & any number of chatty, friendly vendors line the halls-- including independent publishers of children's picture books. They don't necessarily expect to sell thousands of copies. Social justice & equity is in the air everywhere & possibly your book can include that angle too!? For example, since you like research, is there any animal that changes skin/fur color from white to brown or is spotted with brown & white?? The poem could mention that the animal is down with showing off both white & brown. Just a suggestion.
    Nice to meet you, Sandra. --roberta--
reply by the author on 31-Jul-2020
    Good morning, Roberta. Thank you for all this info. I'm sure we must have them in here in the UK, I'll do a bit of researching on that as well. :))
    I thought that the colour angle was another excellent idea. For the 'K for Kangaroo', there is an example of that, but with the coloured kangaroo protecting an albino from danger, even to the point when humans tried to take photos, they would surround the little albino several kangaroos deep. That was incredible. Animals truly are amazing, researching for this book has been a eye-opener. If only humans were a little more like them.
    Thanks for all this, and it's lovely to meet you, too. Welcome to Fanstory. :)) xx
reply by Roberta Lawrinsky on 31-Jul-2020
    Hi Sandra,
    To be obvious, does FanStory have a feature where reviewers are nominated?? Last month I think I was nominated by three or four writers but I think I read a caveat that reviewers are not to ask for nomination.
    Regardless, I think you may like to view
    YouTube videos on unlikely intraspecies animal friends. They feature, for example, a lion & a gazelle, a cat & baby ducklings, a hippopotamus & a dog & several other unlikely animal pairs in any number of countries all over the world. Fascinating.
    --roberta--
reply by Roberta Lawrinsky on 31-Jul-2020
    hi again--to be honest, brown kangaroos protecting an albino (even out of friendship) may not be the most endearing example at this moment in history whereas if you can find an albino anything protecting a brown animal --THAT might hit the mark.
    roberta
reply by the author on 01-Aug-2020
    Good morning Roberta, yes you can nominate a reviewer in two ways. First, after you have thanked a reviewer for his/her review, and you feel they deserve a nomination, once you've clicked 'save' and before you click, 'continue' there is a question at the side asking if you want to 'nominate' just click on that and it will take you to a box where you can tell person why you've nominated them if you want to, and then click 'OK'
    The second way is to go to that person's 'profile' page (to do that just click on the person's name) and on the left-hand side of the screen you'll see a list starting with 'Contact', 'Portfolio' etc. scroll down to 'NOMINATE'. Just click on that and then click on 'OK'.
    You have six to use, but you can only nominate a person once a month.
    I hope that helps, I'm useless at explaining things. :))
reply by Roberta Lawrinsky on 01-Aug-2020
    Hi Sandra--First of all, thank you for your nomination! I just noticed it right now & it happened 2 days ago! And thank you for explaining so clearly. So---once I hit 'save' but before I hit 'continue'. Thank you again.
reply by the author on 01-Aug-2020
    You are very welcome, Roberta. Where do you live? I'm in the UK so it's 7:10 and most of the Americans are still asleep. )
reply by Roberta Lawrinsky on 02-Aug-2020
    Hi Sandra!
    Living in the UK?
    I'm here in San Francisco where we get a good amount of drizzle & fog.
    I visited London with my family when I was in high school. Tower of London & all that. I like books & movies about the Tudor period & King Henry VIII--the overbearing man!--& also the Regency period. "The Knight's Tale" with Heath Ledger & Shannon Sossamon & Paul Bettany as Chaucer is a lark of a movie & one of my favorites.
Comment from Tpa
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Provo! Your chapters continue to be educational as well as entertaining.There were many facts like the eyes and stomach that I, myself, didn't know. Keep up your excellent work.

 Comment Written 30-Jul-2020


reply by the author on 30-Jul-2020
    Thank you so much, Tpa, for this lovely review, and the six stars! I was also unaware of those things, it's surprising what I've discovered researching for this book. It's been fun. Thank you for your continued support, my friend, I do appreciate you. :)) Sandra xx
Comment from Ben1
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I am yet again pleased to read another one of your interesting stories for the third time! I'm glad I learned so much more about reindeer than just from Christmas stories. That part I found most interesting was the skin feature on their antlers. It must be pretty scary seeing them when they shed it.

 Comment Written 29-Jul-2020


reply by the author on 30-Jul-2020
    It is a strange fact, isn't it. The same with their hooves, how they change depending on the season. I'm delighted you enjoyed reading this one, thank you so much, Ben. Have a lovely day! :)) Sandra xx
Comment from Craigitar
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Very informative! Living in the Mojave Desert as I do, my exposure to reindeer and their ways is very limited. Thanks for this edifying, enjoyable and interesting piece--I can't imagine any grandson worth his salt would not be thrilled with this ABC book. Well done!

 Comment Written 29-Jul-2020


reply by the author on 30-Jul-2020
    Mine is only at Christmas time with the children's stories, I've never seen one in real life, but would love to. Thank you for your lovely review, Craigitar, and encouraging words. Have a lovely day, my freind. :)) sandra xx
Comment from inkedone
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This is excellent! Fun and informative. As a children's book author and illustrator I really appreciate anything aimed towards teaching the youth of our society. Hats off to you. Keep up the inspiring work.

 Comment Written 29-Jul-2020


reply by the author on 30-Jul-2020
    Thank you so much, Inkedone, for this lovely review! I'm delighted that you, as a children's author, find mine fun for the young to learn with. That is really encouraging. Thank you, and have a lovely day! :)) sandra xx
Comment from tfawcus
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

What fascinating beasts! If this chapter captures Eric's interest as completely as it captured mine, it will be one of his favourites. You have a way of selecting the most fascinating and unusual facts and bringing them to life with your description. Bravo! Another spledid illustration by Graham, too.

 Comment Written 29-Jul-2020


reply by the author on 30-Jul-2020
    Aw, thank you, Tony. I'm enjoying doing this, and learning a lot as well. Thank you so much for the six stars, my friend, and your lovely review. Have a wonderful day! :)) Sandra xxx

    How is your editing coming along?