The recently widowed Jo March Behr continues to run the school she and her late husband founded, a school for boys called "Plumfield." Based on Louisa May Alcott's classic book, "Little Men."
Jo's husband, Friedrich Bhaer, has died, and everyone expects Jo to close the school. When she hires sailor Nick Riley as caretaker for the grounds, things begin to change.
While out looking for the perfect Christmas tree, Nick and the boys come upon a severely injured woman. Everyone pitches in to help her, but also struggle with their first Christmas without Mr. Bhaer and certain loved ones.
Laurie donates a library's-worth of books to Plumfield, which inspires Franz to assign a project on philanthropy and reveals Nick's illiteracy. In the meantime, Jo's beloved horse falls ill, and chances of recovery look grim.