Poindexter is a very shy pig who, while helping out at the library, meets a turtle who is also shy, and together they read a book about making a friend in four easy steps.
When Joe the giraffe and his friend Sparky, a turtle, get curious about a big yellow bus that comes to their cageless zoo, they find themselves accidentally taking a trip to school, where they discover a lot to do and learn.
Taro is fascinated by the strange actions of old Jiro-San, who sweeps the sand on the beach while waiting for the arrival of Japanese sea turtles ready to lay their eggs.
Because Tortoise is slow to deliver the mail, one animal after another offers to do a better job, but the successful completion of the task always depends on Tortoise.
Turtle talks to different animals about the coming winter, trying to find a dream that will fit her and prepare her for the long cold season of darkness.
In this variation on the folktale, Sody Salyraytus, each of Epossumondas's birthday guests disappears until it is finally up to him to rescue them all and bring home the "sody" for his birthday biscuits.
