Tom's father is so afraid of animals - even snails and butterflies scare him - that won't come out of the house. Tom decides to take drastic measures. First, he trains a polar bear and sneaks it into the house. Then he smuggles in a tiger, a squid, a tortoise, a snake, two peacocks, three hippos and a small flock of flamingos. His father doesn't seem to notice, but what will happen when he does?