A departing tortoise has his bags packed and is almost ready to set out on an adventure, but he cant leave until he says good-bye to each of his animal friends. The tortoise stops for every last timid mouse and bumblebee, shouting his rhyming good-byes, making you wonder if, perhaps, hes stalling the start of his trip.

His animal friends appear startled as he suddenly pops up on each page to say adieuespecially the perplexed rhinoceros the tortoise mistakes for a unicorn! With each farewell, the tortoises good-byes get sillier and more creative. When will the good-byes end and the adventure begin?