Bo, a Great Pyrenees dog and Mr. Quillery a bobwhite quail are the co-sheriff duo of the Riverdill Lands. They take their job very seriously with daily patrols around the farm. When they learn that one of Mrs. Hen's chicks is missing, they search for the little one. On the trail, they tangle with the Hissy Gang in a dangerous quarry. What will happen?
I received a copy of this chapter book from Quillery & Bo LLC through NetGalley. It is written by Andrew K. Johnston and illustrated by Leo Hartas. This is my own unsolicited opinion of the book.
The cover caught my eye right away. I think any child would find it pleasing. As a grandmother I like that the story emphasizes how dangerous it can be to wander away from your parents or caretaker. It is a cute story. I think my own sons would have liked it when they were children. One of them loved and read the Redwall series over and over again. I'm sure my grandchildren would get caught up in the drama.
The detailed line drawing illustrations are very well done.
Here is a trigger warning, the Hissy Gang is a nest of snakes. If a child has a fear of them, just be aware.
I'm really pleased that this is book one in a series. This is a collection that I think will be good for family reading or independent young readers. Bo and Mr. Quillery show bravery and intelligence. I think kids of all ages will really like them.

The Adventures of Bo and Mr. Quillery: (Book 1 The Lost Chick) by Andrew K. Johnston is a fun chapter read for kids in elementary school. Moving into chapter books from quick reading books can be challenging to young readers. This fantasy animal book checks all the boxes for a great read. Illustrations, interesting plot, a desperate situation, a true villain and a surprise turning point to name a few. Most important are two lovable western animal sheriffs who show initiative, problem solving skills, bravery and compassion in their jobs. It also helps to have a friend on your side too.

The illustrations in the book are interspersed at just the right points making this such a marvelous read. Sheriff Bo, the Great Pyrenees and his friend Sheriff Mr. Quillery are my new favorite western heroes, along with their famous friend, of course. You don’t have to be a kid to love this book. As a grandmother who shares reading time with the kids I enjoyed this story immensely, too. We look forward to more adventures in this series.

The Adventures of Bo and Mr. Quilery was such a fun read! This is a fun western adventure with two lovable sheriffs (Bo & Mr. Quillery), outlaws and Guardian legends with virtues and character building woven throughout the story. We read this as a read aloud and really enjoyed it. This book also makes a great early chapter book for independent readers. Children of all ages will have fun reading this!


This book reminded me of Hank the Cowdog. So, if you grew up reading that series you are going to love this one. Definitely made me feel nostalgic. We are looking forward to the other books in this series!

This was such a fun and thrilling read! Packed full of mystery, cliffhangers, and bravery, I know this is going to be a series loved by kids everywhere. The characters are very loveable, and the illustrations perfectly fit what I'm imagining in my head.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. A positive review is not required & all opinions are my own.

RC Review•
The Adventures of Bo and Mr. Quillery
Book One: The Lost Chick

Adorable! Loved this sweet, book. Perfect for early readers, it teaches kindness, and courage. It’s hard to find books these days were characters are not disrespectful to elders or they are inundated with crude humor. You won’t find that in this new book from Andrew. I highly recommend. Looks like this will be a great series!

Also the illustrations by @leohartas … top notch!! Loved the posters of the different animals!

For those who #homeschool I’ve included a vocabulary list that may be helpful. Words your young readers may struggle with. Also, it would be a great opportunity to discuss similes, as there are several in this book!

Thank you @netgalley and Andrew for this ARC.

A uniquely bold, action-packed series, grounded in traditional values and executed flawlessly.

Appearing to be a cute story about farm animals on a homestead, readers are surprised by a wholesome, action-packed yarn that brings back traditional values through fantastical storytelling. From page one, author Andrew K. Johnston’s The Adventures of Bo and Mr. Quillery quickly sets itself apart with a countryside setting teeming with mystery, humor, and plenty of danger, all presented in an age-appropriate way. The heroics center around Bo, a majestic Great Pyrenees, and Quillery, a mild-mannered quail, as the unlikely pair patrol a homestead at the edge of the wilderness. The duo’s friendship is immediately absorbing and likable, from working together to find a missing chick to outsmarting a gang of rattlesnakes.

Adding to the unique charm of a quail and dog as best friends is the well-developed lore around Johnston’s characters. For Bo and Quillery aren’t the only sheriffs in town; there are guardians too, like Big Jake, a roadrunner on a mission who wields powered gauntlets and a lasso in his beak. This genre mashup of frontier drama with superhero action shouldn’t work as well as it does. But the effectiveness of Johnston’s fully realized world is a testament to his masterfully crafted characters as they work to solve problems together. There’s self-control in the face of panic, bravery against real fear, and most importantly, the power of earned trust between friends. Each theme is masterfully woven into the action, with Johnston’s inventive world-building serving as the backdrop to lessons in virtue, all the while mixing in an element of faith through a loving, mythical protector named Sage.

Designed primarily for first through fourth graders, Johnston’s story intentionally meets children where they are—curious, imaginative, and hungry for fun. Johnston never talks down to his readers, though he does show great respect for their innocence through simple and practical storytelling techniques. Johnston’s powerful themes, however, reveal something deeper that he has wisely caught onto, something many writers for this age group either should have known or did know but didn’t care—that an illustrated chapter book’s audience is a child in their most formative years. Johnston’s The Adventures of Bo and Mr. Quillery, with its clean, wholesome setting and an emphasis on traditional values, is the kind of series that once defined early childhood reading but has long been missing. The significance of chapter books—which fall somewhere between picture books and full-length novels—lies in their ability to stir creative thinking in children, shaping their imaginations to solve problems tomorrow and build worlds themselves.

Each generation has its defining series, and years from now, some of the brightest, most imaginative thinkers will look back and say, “It all started with Bo and Mr. Quillery.” This is the beginning of something special—a dust-kicking, trailblazing triumph that is as virtuous as it is wildly entertaining. The Adventures of Bo and Mr. Quillery, by Andrew K. Johnston and illustrated by Leo Hartas, will define generations to come. Highly recommended.

This is cute little story. I like the western setting. The friendship is sweet. The storyline clear and age appropriate. I wish the Christian message was a little stronger and more clear.

This is an adventurous tale of two animal sheriffs working to protect their farm in the wild west. I enjoyed this story and think it makes a great early chapter book and young readers would also enjoy it as a read aloud. The illustrations are really well done and I loved the little information pictures about the animals. The author note mentioned at the end that the books in the series will alternate perspectives between the two friends and I think that will help keep the story fresh and keep readers interested! I can't wait to read their next adventure to my kids!

The Adventure of Bo and Mr. Quillery is such a unique Wild West story for children! My children and I sat down and read it in one sitting because we couldn’t get enough of it. We were absorbed into the story and had to find out if the lost chick made it home safely.

This is such a wholesome story for early readers! A story of good vs. evil and being brave and courageous! The illustrations were also beautiful, very well done!

Our favorite scene was definitely the showdown between the Hissy gang and Big Jake! The author’s writing is so vivid and detailed, that it was so easy for us to imagine that scene!

My 7 year old said “this book was so good, the author should write 100 more!” With that being said, we can’t wait for book 2 to come out!!

Thank you to Andrew Johnston for early access to this fun children's adventure book! I am so glad this is a series and there will be more from both Bo and Mr. Quillery's points of view!

I think this is a perfect read aloud chapter book for children - 5 stars because I wouldn’t change a thing! I can’t wait to read more and neither can my children. I think it was just the right length story to keep young ones engaged but we all immediately wanted more of Bo and Mr. Quillery. I loved the illustrations they captured the images we had in our minds of Bo and all the animals perfectly.

It was such an enjoyable adventure with themes of bravery, courage and community. I love how the two animals are opposites in size but both have brave and big spirits.

I think this could be a great book for older children who could read for themselves, mine are still young (5 & under) but I could see them picking this one up on their own again in a few years (6-10years old maybe)

It is a perfect kid's book. It will keep the kids entertained on the story. The story has animal characters and their unique personalities are engaging. It is not usual that there are stories with dogs and birds as tandems. They are good examples of how you can always be a hero no matter how big you are, as big as a Pyrenees dog or as small as a quail.

I was excited to read this book to my 7-year-old since the summary said fans of Hank the Cowdog would love it. It did not disappoint. We finished it in three sittings because my son always wanted “one more chapter”. We look forward to reading the next installments!

This is such a good kids book! The adventure and rescue is perfect. There's enough jokes to keep kids entertained while seeing the consequences of actions can affect them. My son laughed out loud while I was reading aloud to him, which can be a hard task to accomplish. The heroes are relatable and I'm excited to see what the next books have in store.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed it and it will appeal to younger readers.

The Adventures of Bo and Mr. Quillery take readers on a Wild West adventure of good v. evil. An endearing sheriff team, rowdy outlaws, and larger than life legends weave a virtue teaching tall-tale that will leave young readers wanting more.

I downloaded the audiobook to a make your own yoto card and my girls have loved listening to this adventure. While the recommended age range is 1st-4th grade, I think children of all ages can enjoy this book. It makes a great read aloud for little (my oldest and 5 and 3) and could work into the early middle grade years as well.

Additionally, parents will be in for a treat, especially if they grew up reading and loving Hank the cowdog! It’s a great nod to the nostalgic children’s western series with added virtues woven subtly throughout the narrative.

Content: one use of the slang phrase “what the devil”