A departing tortoise has his bags packed and is almost ready to set out on an adventure, but he can't 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, he's stalling the start of his trip.

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