1Storytelling is an ancient and powerful human tradition. It ties us to cultural memory and the experiences of those who came before us, linking one generation to the next. Oral tradition is of keen importance to Black heritage and is honored here in this classic work by poet and Harlem Renaissance leader Langston Hughes. Vivid illustrations by contemporary artist Gary Kelley pair with Hughes's 1926 poem in picture-book form to invite young learners to curl up and listen as Aunt Sue recounts her many shadow-crossed stories of slavery and a life hard lived.