Freddy convinces the Bean animals to join in the neighborhood scrap drive contest, finding unneeded metal to help win the war.

Freddy takes news input to the newspaper offices of the Guardian to discover that his friend, the editor Mr. Dimsey, has been fired.

The city reporter for the Bean Home News is collecting great material: The Guardian calls Freddy a ferocious wild pig.

Charles the rooster is infuriated, and meeting his reputation from an earlier book, single-handedly attacks Garble.

When Underdunk throws a gala party including a senator, the Bean animals cannot resist sneaking into the grounds to watch.

Pretending to be the senator, Freddy announces that Underdunk is donating her prize lawn ornament to the Bean's scrap drive.

Freddy lives on the Bean Farm with animal friends: dogs, cows, chickens and rabbits, as well as a variety of owls, jays, mice, spiders and wasps: several play a role in the book.

Mr. Garble and his aunt Mrs. Underdunk are introduced — appearing again a number of times, and not finally dealt with until near the end of the series.

There are 30 black and white, pen and ink drawings by Kurt Wiese, endpapers, and a full color cover, both depicting scenes from the book.