A little white bird appears in the village of Fairacre one winter’s day. It turns out to be an albino robin, and soon the whole village becomes involved in taking special care of it, and looking out for it. Various names are given to the bird; names such as: ‘Snowball’; ‘Snowball’; and ‘Snowflake’. Twitchers come from near and far to get a view of the special bird. So it is no wonder the villagers are deeply shocked and enraged when a visiting boy deliberately kills the robin.