Stuart Little is a children's novel written by E.B. White, first published in 1945 by Harper & Brothers. The story follows a small, anthropomorphic mouse born to a human family, and chronicles his adventures in New York City. The character of Stuart Little was based on a dream White had. The novel's realistic New York City setting and anthropomorphized characters make it a distinctive example of American children's literature. Garth Williams provided the book's original illustrations, which contributed to its charm and success.