Pete is the youngest and smallest penguin in his entire icy colony, and it is not always easy being so tiny. While the bigger birds dive gracefully into the freezing ocean to catch fish, Pete has to stay behind on the snowy shore. He passes the time by trying to imitate the flying birds that occasionally land on the ice, flapping his flippers in vain. When his temporary flying friends pack up and leave, Pete feels incredibly sad and left behind. But his luck is about to change. He finally gets the chance to slip into the water and practice his swimming. To his absolute delight, he discovers that even though penguins cannot fly in the sky, they are built to soar effortlessly through the ocean waves.