Little Men follows the life of Jo Bhaer and the students who live and learn at Plumfield School that she runs with her husband, Professor Bhaer. The mischievous children, whom she loves and cares for as her own, learn valuable lessons as they grow to adulthood.
Each student has his or her own struggles: Nat lies; Demi, is so nave that he finds it hard to live in the real world; Emil has a bad temper; Dan is rebellious and rude; Tommy is careless; Annie is too rambunctious; and Daisy is too prim. They all learn to cope with their faults as they grow into young men and women.