When a young boy discovers a skunk in his bed on a freezing night, he immediately jumps to the conclusion that the skunk is smelly and dirty. The boy orders the skunk out. However, the skunk urges the boy to calm down and patiently explains that the boy has prejudged him and should not rely on what others have said. Instead, the boy should find things out for himself. Soon the skunk introduces the boy to other animals with undeserved bad reputations who show up looking for their friend, the skunk. This includes a raccoon perceived like others of his kind to look sneaky and a bat others fear may attack people.
As the boy gets to know the real truth about these animals, he is able to overcome his early prejudices, as well as learn a valuable lesson that one should not make assumptions about those who look or act differently.
Profound in its simplicity, the story is told in creative rhyming couplets and is colorfully illustrated. Children will enjoy the whimsical interaction between a little boy and the animals he befriends. It highlights the importance of learning to keep an open mind and is a valuable tool for educators and parents to show children tolerance in action.