The book, part of the Sci-Fi genre, is centered on a kitchen which can travel in space.

Before the story starts, Frank Rodgers introduces the reader to the Bird family.

The Bird family live in the grounds of BONC – the National Bureau of Clever Experts, where some very odd experiments go on.

[1] The story starts with Mr Bird installing a protection system for the house.

They are about to go camping, when Mrs. Bird accidentally activates a force field, and are shot off into outer space.