八岁印第安小孩“小树”,在双亲逝世后,被送至田纳西州的史莫基山,与祖父母同住。小树与住在深山中的祖父母展开了一段新生活,他的新生活充满了探索与冒险,有欢笑有泪水,当然有胜利与挫折。同时,小树也认识了不少好朋友,包括神秘的奇拉几族先知——“柳树”约翰。1930年的美国,虽然经济萧条,生活困苦,但是对小树来说,却是最难忘的时光。Little Tree is an 8-year-old Cherokee boy, who, during the time of the depression, loses his parents and starts to live with his Indian grandma and grandpa and learn the wisdom of the Cherokee way of life.