When a lazy bird hatching an egg wants a vacation, she asks Horton, the elephant, to sit on her egg--which he does through all sorts of hazards until he is rewarded for doing what he said he would.

Photographs and simple text introduce the physical characteristics and behavior of elephants, one of many animals kept in zoos.

"Piggie is determined to thank everyone she knows, but Gerald thinks she will forget someone important"--

Describes the behavior of elephants in a family group, particularly the role of the older female elephants.

"When Horton hears a voice coming from a speck of dust, he's sure there's a person living on the speck. The other animals in the Jungle of Nool don't believe him. And to prove it, they try to destroy the dust speck. But Horton is determined to save his new friends because he believes that a person's a person, no matter how small"--Page 4 of cover.

An artist describes his "cat," who can usually be found either sleeping or eating.

Gerald the elephant discovers that there is something worse than a bird on your head-- two birds on your head! Piggie will try to help her best friend.

When Little Red Chicken comes home excited about what she learned in school, she explains to Papa that every story has "an elephant of surprise."

Piggie celebrates her favorite day of the year, but Gerald the elephant is sad, thinking that he cannot join the fun.

Gerald the elephant, who "knows parties," gives his best friend, Piggie, advice for getting ready after Piggie receives her very first party invitation.