Composed by Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) at the age of 38 (1878), around the same time as his Sonata, Op. 37. After his European travels from the previous year, he visited his sister's family and dedicated the work to his then 7-year-old nephew, Vladimir Davydov. Furthermore, this work is noted for its connection to Robert Schumann's Album for the Young. The titles of each piece were written in Russian in the autograph manuscript and are believed to have been translated into French when the first edition was published.

No. 1: Morning Prayer

Written in Andante, 3/4 time, this piece takes the form of a Bar form ("A-A'-B"). It possesses a chorale-like character.

No. 2: Winter Morning

Written in Allegro, 2/4 time, this piece takes the form of a three-part form. It is filled with a lyrical character. The eighth rests often placed on the off-beat of the second beat are thought to contribute to this lyricism.

No. 3: The Hobby-Horse

Sometimes called "The Little Horseman." It takes the form of a three-part form and is a rapid piece (Presto) in 3/8 time. Eighth notes are continuously articulated.

No. 4: Mama

Written in Moderato, 3/4 time, this piece takes the form of a three-part form with a coda. Tchaikovsky himself lost his mother at the age of 14. Both the melody and accompaniment are constructed by interweaving stepwise motion and leaps, evoking the image of a child clinging to their mother.

No. 5: March of the Wooden Soldiers

Written in Moderato, 2/4 time, this piece takes the form of a three-part form. A similarity in musical figures has been noted with Schumann's Album for the Young, No. 2, "Soldiers' March," which also bears a soldier-related title.

No. 6: The Sick Doll

Written in Moderato, 2/4 time, this piece takes the form of "A-A'." It clearly forms a single narrative with the 7th and 9th pieces. A characteristic feature of this piece is the quarter rest placed on the first beat, consistently found in either the left or right hand.

No. 7: The Doll's Funeral

Written in Adagio, 2/4 time, this piece takes the form of a three-part form. It is a funeral march characterized by dotted rhythms.

No. 8: Waltz

This Allegro assai waltz is written in the form "A-B-C-B-A."

No. 9: New Doll

Written in Allegro, 3/8 time, this piece takes the form of a three-part form. While the 6th piece, "The Sick Doll," was characterized by descending melodic figures, this piece, titled "New Doll," is characterized by ascending melodic figures. Furthermore, it is written in B-flat major, the relative major of G minor (the key of the 6th piece), indicating a close relationship between these two pieces.

No. 10: Mazurka

This Allegro non troppo mazurka is written in a three-part form. A characteristic feature is the quarter rest placed on the second beat of the left hand.

No. 11: Russian Song

Written in Allegro, 2/4 time, this piece takes the form of "A-A-A'-A'" followed by a coda. From this 11th piece to the 13th piece, Russian folk music is strongly expressed. This piece is constructed by repeating 6-measure phrases. Furthermore, the repetition of the same melody emphasizes its folk song-like character.

No. 12: The Peasant Plays the Accordion (Rural Prelude)

Written in Adagio, 2/4 time, this piece takes the form of "A-A-A'-A'-A''" followed by a coda. It is characterized by sustained notes imitating an accordion. Also, similar to the preceding 11th piece, the repetition of the same melody emphasizes its folk song-like character.

No. 13: Kamarinskaya

Written in Vivace, 2/4 time, this piece takes the form of "A-B-A'-A''." Kamarinskaya is a type of lively and cheerful folk dance said to inherit the tradition of the skomorokhi, wandering entertainers of medieval Russia. It is primarily danced by men, possesses a free-spirited character, and is known as a dance for competition.

No. 14: Polka

This Moderato polka is written in a three-part form.

No. 15: Italian Song

Written in Moderato assai, 3/8 time, this piece takes the form of "A-B-B." From this 15th piece to the 18th piece, songs from various countries—Italy, France, and Germany—are presented consecutively. This piece incorporates the melody of a song Tchaikovsky heard sung by a boy singer named Vittorio when he visited Florence, Italy, the year before composing this piano collection.

No. 16: Old French Song

Written in Molto moderato, 2/4 time, this piece takes the form of a two-part form ("A-A-B-A"). In this piece, the flowing, beautifully sung melody is occasionally accompanied by a two-voiced left hand.

No. 17: German Song

Written in Molto moderato, 3/4 time, this piece takes the form of a three-part form. It evokes a yodel, characterized by the skillful alternation between chest voice and falsetto.

No. 18: Neapolitan Song

Written in 2/4 time, this piece takes the form of "A-B-C." The left-hand accompaniment up to the Andante "C" is consistently written with the same rhythm. Thereafter, the accompaniment primarily consists of eighth notes.

No. 19: Nanny's Tale

Written in Moderato, 2/4 time, this piece takes the form of a three-part form. Chromatic melodic motion is frequently employed.

No. 20: Baba Yaga (The Witch)

Written in Presto, 6/8 time, this piece takes the form of a three-part form. Baba Yaga also appears in Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. In Russian folklore, she refers to a gaunt old woman who lives in the forest, capturing and eating humans. She is known for riding in an iron mortar, propelling herself with a pestle, and sweeping away her tracks with a broom.

No. 21: Sweet Dream

Written in Moderato, 3/4 time, this piece takes the form of a three-part form. It is filled with Tchaikovsky's characteristic lyrical quality. Furthermore, in the middle section, the melody is sung in the lower voice.

No. 22: Song of the Lark

Written in Moderato, 3/4 time, this piece takes the form of a three-part form. Notably, "Song of the Lark" also appears in The Seasons. It is characterized by a richly ornamented melody that truly evokes the song of a lark.

No. 23: The Street Organ Grinder Sings (Hand Organ)

Written in Andante, 3/4 time, this piece takes the form of "A-B." It is a piece that imitates an organ that plays automatically, similar to a music box. A hand organ is considered a type of organ where the same melody is repeated multiple times by turning a handle to operate bellows and pump air.

No. 24: In Church

Written in Moderato, 2/4 time, this piece takes the form of "A-B." It is a chorale-like piece that evokes the choir of the Russian Orthodox Church. In this respect, it is related to the first piece, which also possessed a chorale-like character, and is thought to provide a cyclical connection to this collection.