One morning, a boy called Ben Makepeace finds a small envelope hidden behind the milk bottles. An envelope containing a very special invitation to come and see The Gee museum-a dusty old place under threat of closure. However, once inside he discovers all sorts of incredible things like talking owls, dancing bees, magical bottles, witches and of course, a hippo at the end of the hall.But most importantly he discovers a connection to his father and the family he never even knew he had. And now he has something important to fight for-the survival of the Gee museum and the promise of finding out who he really is.