Lester has long been one of America's masters of the short story, having established himself in that genre early in his literary career with Long Journey Home: Stories from Black History (please see separate entries for "Ben" and "Louis"). Before the publication of that book, he had already published Black Folktales and The Knee-High Man and Other Tales, revealing what would become a long-term interest in AfricanAmerican folklore. Many of his books have been retellings or expansions of folk tales: Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit, More Tales of Uncle Remus, How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have: And Other Tales, Further Tales of Uncle Remus, John Henry, and The Last Tale of Uncle Remus. Given his passion for his chosen religious faith, it seems only natural that he would wish to write a book that retells midrashim the way his Uncle Remus...