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.

Three boys grow up in the same drug-infested, gang-ruled, poverty-stricken neighborhood. Nelson becomes a successful doctor, his best friend Jesse, an award-winning architectural engineer, but Nelson’s brother Alvin ends up in jail. In this riveting tale, Nelson relates the story of their childhood, and how, with the love and guidance of his grandparents, they come upon valuable lessons on how against all odds to become successful.

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.

Harry Hare never stops bragging that no one can beat him in a race. The animals go to Mr. Wise Owl to find out how to stop Harry Hare from boasting. They vote to have a race, but everyone declines to race Harry Hare but Teddy Tortoise, the slowest of them all. It’s utterly foolish to the forest animals to expect Teddy Tortoise to win.