Gerbils are the smartest of all rodents, but they feel disrespected. They've never starred in children's books, so you never hear about gerbils rescuing princesses, like Despereaux, or driving cars, like Stuart Little. And there's no Mickey Gerbil.One group of proud, free gerbils finds a way to change all that, and win respect from the rodent world. But it all depends on Joe, a ten-year old boy. His dad has just invented the Nanozap, a machine that can shrink anything to gerbil size, and open the way to a glorious future.Can the gerbils get their paws on that machine? Even if they have to shrink Joe?