A grandmother explains to her listeners why in their village on the side of a volcano the men live in square houses and the women in round ones.

In 1931 Cameroon, young Kedi is upset to learn that children in her American teacher's village of New York are going hungry because of the Great Depression, and she asks her mother, neighbors, and even the headman for money to help. Includes historical notes.

A boy discovers and takes pride in the customs of his people when he visits his family's village.

When her mother needs her to work all day in the marketplace, a girl finds a way of continuing her education.