Ernest is a young aardvark who lives in the burrows of the Old North Village and who always wears a big purple top hat. Every aardvark in the village can see Ernest from miles away thanks to his special, useful hat. It can be an umbrella in the rain, a stool at the bus stop, and a table to eat at when he's hungry.

Then one day, a big gust of wind comes and takes his hat right off his head. Ernest jumps and tries to catch it, but the hat is gone. After school, he looks everywhere and still can't find his hat. What can he do? Ernest's father takes him to see Mr. Wilson at the local hat shop—maybe he can help Ernest find a new hat that will be as special and as useful as his purple top hat.

In this children's story, a young aardvark loses his unique hat and must find a way to regain what he has lost.