Doctor De Soto: (Newbery Honor Book; National Book Award Finalist)

by William Steig, William Steig (Illustrator)

Overview

From the incomparable William Steig, creator of Shrek, comes a story that proves even a fox can be out-foxed by a clever mouse in Doctor De Soto, a Newbery Honor Book.

"Doctor De Soto, the dentist, did very good work." With the aid of his able assistant, Mrs. De Soto, he copes with the toothaches of animals large and small. His expertise is so great that his fortunate patients never feel any pain.

Since he's a mouse, Doctor De Soto refuses to treat "dangerous" animals—that is, animals who have a taste for mice. But one day a fox shows up and begs for relief from the tooth that's killing him. How can the kindhearted De Sotos turn him away? But how can they make sure that the fox doesn't give in to his baser instincts once his tooth is fixed? Those clever De Sotos will find a way.

Doctor De Soto is a 1982 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year and Outstanding Book of the Year, a 1983 Boston Globe - Horn Book Awards Honor Book for Picture Books, and a 1983 Newbery Honor Book.

Made into an animated short film in 1984 by American director and animator Michael Sporn.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780312611897
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	04/27/2010
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	28,728
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	AD560L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

William Steig (1907-2003) was a cartoonist, illustrator and author of award-winning books for children, including Shrek!, on which the DreamWorks movies are based. Steig was born in New York City. Every member of his family was involved in the arts, and so it was no surprise when he decided to become an artist. He attended City College and the National Academy of Design. In 1930, Steig’s work began appearing in The New Yorker, where his drawings have been a popular fixture ever since. He published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968. In 1970, Steig received the Caldecott Medal for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. His books for children also include Dominic; The Real Thief; The Amazing Bone, a Caldecott Honor Book; Amos & Boris, a National Book Award finalist; and Abel's Island and Doctor De Soto, both Newbery Honor Books. Steig's books have also received the Christopher Award, the Irma Simonton Black Award, the William Allen White Children's Book Award, and the American Book Award. His European awards include the Premio di Letteratura per l'infanzia (Italy), the Silver Pencil Award (the Netherlands), and the Prix de la Fondation de France. On the basis of his entire body of work, Steig was selected as the 1982 U.S. candidate for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Illustration and subsequently as the 1988 U.S. candidate for Writing. Steig also published thirteen collections of drawings for adults, beginning with About People in 1939, and including The Lonely Ones, Male/Female, The Agony in the Kindergarten, and Our Miserable Life. He died in Boston at the age of 95.

Reading Group Guide

Healthy Teeth
This book can serve as an entertaining introduction to a dental health unit, and would also be appropriate for a nutrition unit. After reading the book, discuss proper dental care; if possible, invite a local dentist to present information to the students.

How Many Teeth?
Create a class graph representing the number of teeth lost by each student. Have students relate how and when they lost a tooth, and share their personal beliefs about the tooth fairy. Then students can compose a factual story about a lost tooth, a fictional story about the tooth fairy, or a note to be left for the tooth fairy upon her next visit.

Open for Business
The two signs outside Doctor De Soto's office read: DR. DE SOTO, DENTIST, and CATS & OTHER DANGEROUS ANIMALS NOT ACCEPTED FOR TREATMENT. Ask students to imagine starting their own business. What job would they choose? What important information must their sign convey? Have students create their sign using oaktag or cardboard. Encourage student creativity and originality.
Animals Beware
Ask students to list the animals Doctor De Soto and his wife would and would not treat. Then create a class chart listing a variety of animals and their predators. In small groups, have students choose an environment (e.g., ocean, desert, or woodlands) and design a mural depicting the animals and predators that inhabit this environment. Students should record relevant information below the mural, denoting the predators and describing the protective mechanisms of their prey (e.g., camouflage, defensive behaviors).

Editorial Reviews

I cannot imagine childhood without Steig: Sylvester, Pearl, Caleb, and now Doctor De Soto.” —The Dallas Morning News

“This is one of those picture books that are so good I'd just like to quote the whole thing.” —Philadelphia Inquirer

“Simple but sly, a mischievously imaginative rendition of the classic theme.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“Doctor De Soto is a mouse dentist who . . . operates a clinic open to all except animals threatening to mice. What to do, then, when a weeping and wailing fox shows up for treatment? . . . There is great wit and good fun in the illustrations.” —Booklist, Starred Review

From the Publisher

Doctor Desoto and his wife, both mice, assist animals large and small with their dental needs-that is, all animals except foxes! One day a fox comes to them in such great pain that they agree to treat his rotten tooth. When it becomes clear the fox intends to eat them when the job is done, the DeSotos come up with a brilliant plan. As usual, Steig combines elegent writing with amusing and sophisticated illustrations.

Barnes & Noble Staff

A somewhat unusual--and ravenous--patient is outfoxed by the resourceful mouse-dentist in this sly tale of mischief. Ages 3-up. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

It does say on the sign outside his establishment that animals dangerous to mice will not be admitted. Yet, on one fateful day, Mrs. De Soto prevails upon her husband, Dr. De Soto the dentist, to admit a bandage-wrapped fox. The buzzer is pressed, and Fox is in! What is a mouse to do when a fox imagines a delicious dinner of mouse after the dental work is complete? Stanley Tucci delights in bringing the scheming fox and the clever De Sotos to life. Dr. De Soto’s directives as the surgery proceeds are clipped; the descriptions of Fox’s despicable character matter of fact. Fox’s voice is sickly, and his sotto voce pangs of conscience slimy. Tucci also accentuates Steig’s remarkable language—for example, the secret formula that might “permeate the dentine”! A.R. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2011 - AudioFile