As a child Great-aunt Alice Rumphius resolved that when she grew up she would go to faraway places, live by the sea in her old age, and do something to make the world more beautiful--and she does all those things, the last being the most difficult of all.

Zoo animals from polar bear to walrus make their distinctive sounds for each other, while children imitate the sounds for the zookeeper.

When Albert the dog steals the cat's fishy nibbles, Sarah Jane, the cat, moves next door, but she misses having a great big cat dog cuddle by the fire.

When the cool and damp bucket he was living in gets thrown away, Frog tries to find another compatible home.

Henry the mouse is a big help to an old lighthouse keeper, but when the keeper disappears for a few days, Henry needs some help of his own.

Alfie the polar bear loves to do the Polar Bear Paddle, but although his brothers tell him he is too old for the baby pool they are too busy to teach him how to swim in the sea and he must turn to Diving Bird and Seal for help.

Rex is embarrassed when his mother insists he take his little sister to the swamp where his friends are playing, but when he tells her to "get lost" he soon regrets his behavior.

Alfie the cat loves to look grumpy even when he feels fine, but when his face freezes in a smile one day he makes an interesting discovery.