In this first of a series of children's books called "Connie and Friends," Charlie, a white duck, is disappointed when he is denied a job at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. To get the job, he attempts to become a mallard with the help of his barnyard friends - Connie, his practical cousin; Bossy, the patient cow; Grace, a gentle and wise blind pony; and Pepper, a yippy and hyperactive puppy. The children in the family also become involved in a series of mishaps to help Charlie change the color of his feathers. Though he is not a mallard, Charlie learns that he still has a special purpose for his life that he will discover over time.