When the Smiling Pool and Laughing Brook dry up one day, Jerry Muskrat and the other forest animals set out to find the cause.

Relates the adventures of Sammy Jay, a lazy bird who would rather steal from his neighbors than find his own food.

The other animals are frightened when Buster Bear comes to live in the Green Forest, until he gets into trouble trying to steal blueberries from Farmer Brown's boy and they realize he is not very different from them.

When Grandfather Frog sets out to see the Great World, he discovers it is a dangerous place and is happy to return to the Smiling Pool.

When Unc' Billy Possum plans to bring his family to join him in the Green Forest, some of the animals look forward to welcoming them, others look forward to causing trouble, and Unc' Billy himself has an adventure in Farmer Brown's hen-house.

Once the animals in the Green Meadows realize that Ol' Mistah Buzzard isn't a hawk and someone to be afraid of, they learn many curious and interesting things from the old fellow.