A young boy commits a simple act of theft that sends his quiet town into a frenzy over the course of one unforgettable summer. Eleven year old Petit Jean has two uncles: His kindly Uncle Arthur is a good neighbor and law-abiding citizen, but Arthur's brother Andre is a notorious thief. When Andre is arrested for stealing chickens, he denies any wrongdoing yet winds up in jail regardless - the unfortunate victim of his own his bad reputation. Meanwhile, on the outside, the townspeople remain split over the decision to pin the crime on Andre despite the notable lack of evidence. Little do they realize that Jean Petite is the real thief, because he's not talking.

After a long time, a blue wolf, locked in the cage of a Paris zoo, winds up allowing Afrique, a young boy who visits him day after day, to come close to him. As the wolf is one-eyed, the boy has the idea to shut one eye himself and thus manages to communicate with the proud wild animal. Wolf and kid then start telling each other the story of their respective lives...