What goes into a really good story? Only the best ingredients--a heroine, a hero, excitement, a little romance, and even a villain or two. They are all here, as Aunt Isabel and her niece concoct a delightful story within a story. Fun to read aloud, this book is a lively yarn, a visual treat, and a charming introduction--all in one.

Illustrated in rich colors, Lester's folksy retelling of a popular African-American folk ballad has warmth, tall tale humor, and boundless energy. A Caldecott Honor Book.