Life goes along pretty much as it has been, then some small thing happens, and everything changes... Pete and Jon are out fishing and discussing this very phenomenon, when a floating bottle with a note inside bumps against the side of their canoe. The two of them have no idea of the adventures that await or the changes that will come. The note in the bottle is from a long-lost friend, initiating a tropical island rescue adventure. Pete's life changes, and so does Jon's, but life goes on with new opportunities and joys, and plenty of reasons to feel optimistic about the future.

The story is told in a melodic rhyming style that entertains the ear as it paints a picture in the mind. Pages are richly illustrated in a hybrid drawing-on-photograph technique that injects the characters into colorful landscapes, conveying a rich sense of physical setting significance.

This book is based on the characters in the My Favorite Penguin book series, including Pete, Jon, and Patty, and the storyline intertwines with other books in the series. The book favorably illustrates principles of camaraderie and friendship. The story and imagery provide many opportunities for tangential discussions, enriching the level of understanding between an older reader and a younger listener.