Chris Sfichi-Hortopan is an energetic, intelligent, and imaginative five-year-old who wants just two things in life: a dog and an elephant.

Although he does his best to convince his mother that adopting a puppy is the best idea ever, she is not as thrilled as he is about bringing a furry member into their family. Meanwhile, Chris keeps himself busy competing with his fellow classmates to take Cedric the Rat, the Wooster Rooster Booster Elementary School kindergarten mascot, home for the summer. When he learns that he has won the essay contest, Chris can hardly contain his excitement. As he takes on his new responsibility, Chris still wonders if his mother will eventually let him adopt a dog or an elephant. Will he ever be able to convince her?

In this entertaining story, a little Jewish boy uses his imagination and a whole lot of persistence in an attempt to convince his mother to let him adopt a dog or an elephant.