What happens when a baby is born normal in every way but with purple skin?  The doctor and parents are shocked and concerned the child is ill but further examination shows he is fine, just has purple skin.  Bertrand learns to deal with inquistive children ("Are you purple because you ate a crayon?"), shocked parents and teachers and  peer pressure as he grows into his teen years.  The message to the children is that everyone is born with something different and we should learn to embrace our differences rather than criticize them.