This story about a Norwegian immigrant family, set in early twentieth century San Francisco, is a refreshing account of children growing up in a closely-knit extended family, with parents who impart strong values by example.

Each chapter reads like a short story, but the book is a unified whole narrated by the eldest daughter, who is the author of this tribute to her mother. (The plot is the basis of the play and screenplay I Remember Mama by John Van Druten.)