In this wildly whimsical tale, a cautious but determined painter withstands the threats of a mob of monsters in order to pursue his art. But these monsters are bent on making mischief. What's an artist to do amidst all this chaos. While the energetic pranksters run amok, the painter resolves to stay put and paint-all day if he must. Gradually his desire to create outstrips his fear of the rambunctious rogues.

As the words diminish in On Tumbledown Hill with each page, the story is taken over by the hilarious witty revelations in the illustrations, and we discover who the monsters really are-a gang of unruly children out to have fun.