Henry, a young hippopotamus learns an important lesson about balancing honesty with love. While Henry takes pride in always telling the truth, he initially blurts out every observation without considering others' feelings. After hurting his friend Gerry's feelings and learning from Mrs. Turtle about three important questions (Is it true? Is it loving? Is it necessary?), Henry begins to understand that not every truth needs to be spoken. Through various interactions with his classmates, he learns when speaking up is important (like helping Martha get her bracelet back) and when staying quiet is more loving (like not mentioning small flaws or embarrassing moments). The story concludes with Henry becoming known not just for his honesty, but also for his loving heart and wisdom.