Ruby, the smallest of five ducklings, is the last of the bunch to learn everything, but while Father Duck worries that she will never catch up, Mother knows she will do just fine in her own time.
Although Avery cannot eat the right grub, is allergic to horses, and gets rope burns from lassos, he learns at camp that he is uniquely qualified in the most important cowboy quality.
Chicken Chuck the rooster, who has set himself up as boss of the barnyard by virtue of the special blue feather in the middle of his forehead, finds his authority undermined by a circus horse with two blue feathers.
Feeling that he is not ready to start monster kindergarten, Patrick practices roaring, sneaking up on people, and baring his teeth despite his parents' reassurances that he need only be himself in school.
All the elephants of the jungle were gray except Elmer, who was a patchwork of brilliant colors until the day he got tired of being different and making the other elephants laugh.