Timothy Mallard was born a little different from the rest of his family. His brothers tease him about his differences until finally they play a trick on him, resulting in his separation from the family. Realizing what has happened, Timothy gets upset with them but finds himself lost and doesn't know his way back home. After running into some trouble, he encounters a place where his uniqueness makes him very popular and where food is plentiful. His family begins to starve due to a major drought. Although he is still angry with his brothers, when he finally reunites with them, he realizes that he is happy to be with them again. After Timothy takes his family to where they will have all of the food they need, he realizes that without the cruel trick that his brothers played on him, he and his family would all have starved to death. This book describes the positive outcome of a horrible trick that could have ended Timothy's life. The author uses vivid details and entertaining characters to attract and hold the reader's attention. Anyone who is considered "different" must overcome many obstacles, but as this book shows, differences can also lead to fame and make heroes of ordinary beings. 2003 (orig. 1990), Lion Publishing, Ages 9 to 12.