John Irvings first picture book for children is a story excerpted from his adult novel A WIDOW FOR ONE YEAR about a little boy frightened by strange noises in the night. Little Tom tells his father that hes heard a terrifying creature that pulls itself along on its teeth. Tom and his teddy bear timidly look around the house for whatever unspeakable horror was making the sound of an armless, legless monster dragging its thick, wet fur. Eventually, his father points out that its just a mouse crawling between the walls, reassuring his son that there was no reason to be afraid. Muted pencil-and-watercolor-wash illustrations capture the shadowy world of the scared child.