Each of the seven members of the Dottington family is afraid of something, from night noises to spiders to shadows. They decide a dog will be the answer - a true protector. The dog they acquire from the dogs' home, a large scruffy hound called Hero, proves to be anything but. He is terrified of all the things the Dottingtons are frightened of and then some. In calming his fears, they forget about their own, and everyone is happy. Wonderfully 'dotty' illustrations.