Plum!

Plum wholeheartedly believes that the Athensville Zoo is the best zoo on the planet—and the most perfect home. He and the other peacocks wander the grounds, mingling with, guiding, and delighting the visitors. He has friends in every habitat. And the Great Tree has the most comfortable branches to roost on each night. So when trucks roll in and signs are posted about the zoo undergoing a total renovation, Plum can’t think of anything worse!

When Plum the peacock stumbles across a raccoon asking for help finding food on a gloomy day at the zoo, he is delighted to assist his new friend. But Scratch the raccoon doesn’t stop there. More and more of Scratch’s friends arrive, and soon the zoo is overrun by rowdy and rude raccoons. Though trouble might have found Plum, Plum has a plan to save the Athensville Zoo—and make a few new friends at the same time.

Young Plum is one of the peacock ambassadors for the Athensville Zoo. Every day the peacocks are allowed to wander freely among the zoo’s visitors, delighting and guiding kids and grown-ups alike. The peacocks are very proud of their responsibility; none so much as kind, curious Plum. 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!

The animals of the Athensville Zoo are going to school! Lizzie the zookeeper has Plum the peacock and his friends loaded in the zoo van to travel to a nearby elementary school to give a presentation. Most of the animals are excited—especially Itch, who has always wanted to share his knowledge with the world. But Plum is nervous. What if he doesn’t like school? What if the students don’t like him? What if he messes up the whole presentation?