Petit Potam lives in the village of Barbotam, on an island in the middle of the Potamazone river. The village's activities revolve around the river and Pa Potam plays a very important role: driver of the boat-train, he distributes provisions, mail and walks visitors. Like all six-year-old's, Petit Potam loves making up stories - and this one is big. He tells his family that he saw a pirate ship on the river. Of course, neither Pa Potam, nor Ma Potam, not even Grand Pa Potam believe it. Same thing at school where everyone laughs at him. Vexed, he fled and took refuge in the jungle.