Because none of the other animals will play with him, Joshie the sea otter swims too far out to sea, but he is called back by a song sung in the strong safe voice of his mother.
Ma Otter and her loving son Emmet, hoping to buy each other special Christmas presents, both make sacrifices to enter a talent show in attempts to win a talent show prize of fifty dollars.
An account of the author's life on the northwest coast of Scotland describing his constant companions Mijbil and Edal, the otters, and other animals who shared his life there.