Irene and her menagerie of pets, including Max the duck, take in an alligator who has run away from the zoo, in spite of grave concerns about his voracious appetite.
Max the duck wishes he could do something for the other animals living at Irene's house, but when his aunts arrive for a visit he gets more than his fill of being helpful.
Irene and her family of cats and dogs take in Max the duck, who stayed behind when his flock migrated for the winter, and he learns to do many things, which drives the animals crazy--until he leaves to rejoin his flock in the summer.
A sheep wants nothing but to go to sleep in the big red barn on the farm, but each time he closes his eyes, another animal moos or neighs or peeps to come in.