Steppin lived in Harlem with his family. There was his little sister, Mary Ellis, and his mother. More than anything else in the world Steppin wished to become a tap dancer. He felt sure that if he could make enough money to take lessons he could soon get a job. One day when he was sitting under the Wishing Tree in Harlem thinking about his future, good luck arrived in shape of a young man in a car. It turned out to be Bob Williams, the great tap dancer. From then on Steppin was on the road to his goal. It was not an easy road but it worked out pretty well for Steppin. It is a funny and also touching story.

From the E.M. Hale edition