When the Great Raven steals their Mother's precious brooch, the Twins, Henry and Henrietta, are blamed and told that, unless the brooch is returned, their Birthday Party in four days' time will be cancelled and that their four Animals, Curd the Lion, Pilgrim Crow, Sweeney the Heenie (a hyena), and O'Flattery the Snake, will be given away to the Charity Shop.