Leo is a lizard who is the class pet for grade 5 - 74 years old his seen it all and spent his whole life in the classroom. His companion is a turtle, and occassionally they get to see the other class ets during firedrills where they all get taken outside. They also get taken home for the weekend sometimes by a child. Leo dreams of escaping to visit the Everglades and on a home weekend attempts to escape. He inadvertently lets the child discover that he can talk and then finds himself acting a  counsellor to her problems. Their teacher is off on maternity leave and the supply (substitute) teacher is an old dragon of a teacher. Eventually all the kids have taken Leo home and he has recealled himself secretly to all.