When young elephants bully an African baby elephant born with stripes on his back, they are taught a gentle lesson by Mama Elephant. As Striper and his new friends play, their adventures lead them to a sick baby elephant. They also help reunite a missing baby elephant with his mother in the darkness-with Striper's stripes leading the way. No longer unhappy about being different, Striper feels proud that he is the only elephant with yellow stripes. As young readers learn about elephants in Africa, they also see that being different is nothing to fear, as everyone is different and special in countless ways.