When Prewitt's shamefully scraggly tail develops the appearance of a scary greeneyed monster, the other peacocks decide it has to go.

Every day at the Athensville Zoo the peacocks are allowed to wander freely among the visitors, delighting and guiding kids and grownups alike, and kind, curious Plum is the peacock most proud of their responsibility. But Itch the ningbing--a type of very small marsupial--doesn't understand why those birdbrains should get so much freedom while he's all cooped up. So he plots and plots, sure that he will escape and become the zoo ambassador!

When life on the Tucker farm is disrupted by the arrival of a peacock, whose shrieking and strutting bring many welcome visitors, the hens complain that they are doing all of the work until the hound suggests a trade.