Unaware that the voice from across the pond telling him he's lonely is his echo, a little beaver sets out to make a friend of that voice, encountering real animal friends on the way.
Eleven-year-old Simon has been raised to be extremely well-behaved, but when he goes to visit his unconventional great-aunt he discovers that not everyone has the same ideas about good manners.
Simon's nice manners are challenged by a visit to his unconventional great-aunt, and Simon's unruly classmates look at learning differently after his great-aunt serves as their substitute teacher.
Twelve-year-old Parker reluctantly goes to spend the summer with his eccentric great-aunt and great-uncle on their dilapidated farm, where he discovers that there is more to life than the latest game system and the coolest cell phone.
