MytylandherbrotherTyltylarepeasantchildrenwhoareledonaquestfortheBlueBirdofHappinessbytheQueenofLight,whogivesthemahatwithamagicdiamondthatallowsthemtocallforththesoulsofallthings,bothlivingandinanimate.Ontheirjourney,theyareaccompaniedbythehumanpersonificationsofadog,acat,water,sugar,bread,light,fire,andthelike.Theyvisitthekingdomsofthepastandfutureandthequeendomsofnightandluxury,ateachplaceabsorbingmorewisdom.Eventuallytheydiscoverthebluebirdthey'vebeenseekinghasbeenintheirownbackyardallalong.