Stephanie witnesses the deterioration of her inner-city neighborhood and school. There are gangs and violence on the street, and chaos in the school. Stephanie decides to “light her candle” against the darkness. After convincing her two friends, they begin with one simple act of kindness.

“It’s not fair!” shouted Buzzie the bee, when she accidentally finds out worker bees do ALL the work. Before this Buzzie was a happy worker bee, but now she’s furious! She starts a major revolt among the younger worker bees. The angry younger bees leave the hive to start their own. In the new hive the young bees argue and fight over who should do the work. Everyone wants the easiest job!

Even though Randy is much loved at home, he has a serious problem—everything he has is old! His rich neighbor Mike, who often teases him, has a new bike, new toys, and never does chores. Randy, however, rides an old bike, has old toys, and has to do all kinds of work around the house. Though Randy is often reminded that “things don’t bring happiness,” he desperately wishes he could be rich so he could buy everything new.

Proud Rooster, always ignoring everyone’s advice, gets into all sorts of trouble. Filling his tummy with green strawberries, falling off a tree while showing off, and skating on thin ice after being repeatedly warned, nearly do him in.