The Story of Doctor Dolittle

by Hugh Lofting

Overview

John Dolittle is a kind-hearted country physician who keeps goldfish in his pond, rabbits in the pantry, white mice in a piano, and a hedge-hog in the cellar. He also has an unusual gift: he can talk to animals-a talent that comes in handy, since he prefers treating animals, rather than humans, as his patients.

One day, a mysterious call summons him to Africa, where a serious epidemic has spread among the monkey population. Of course, the good doctor sets out immediately with some of his best friends-Jip, the dog, and Polynesia, the parrot, among others. Along the way, they're joined by new acquaintances, including the pushmi-pullyu, a remarkable creature that has a head at both ends of its body.

"Any child who is not given the opportunity to make the acquaintance of this rotund, kindly, and enthusiastic doctor/naturalist and all of his animal friends will miss out on something important," said renowned primatologist Jane Goodall.

An entertaining classic that has charmed readers of all ages for generations, Hugh Lofting's timeless tale is accompanied by 27 of his own delightful illustrations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780440483076
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	12/15/1968
Series:	Doctor Dolittle Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.19(w) x 7.56(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	580L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 11 Years

About the Author

"Hugh Lofting was born on January 14, 1886. From 1905-1906, he studied at MIT, Cambridge. He was trained to be a civil engineer, owing to which he travelled extensively. Later on, he enlisted in the Irish Guards regiment of the British Navy in World War I. Not wanting to write about the ruthlessness of war, Lofting composed imaginative letters to his children, which served as the foundation for Lofting’s creation of the beloved and immensely popular Doctor Dolittle series, the books of which have become classics in children’s literature. The first book of this series, The Story of Doctor Dolittle was published in 1920 and was an instant success. Lofting’s other works, such as The Story of Mrs. Tubbs (1933), Porridge Poetry (1924), and Noisy Nora (1929), were also successful amongst his young readers. His only work aimed at an adult audience was Victory for the Slain (1942), a long narrative poem about the futility of war.

Read an Excerpt

He was poorer than he had ever been before. But the Doctor refused to worry.

"Money is a nuisance," he said. "We'd all be much better off if it had never been invented. Who cares about money as long as we are happy?"

But soon even the animals began to worry. One night, as the Doctor snored in his chair before the kitchen fire, they whispered among themselves about what to do.

The owl, Too-Too, who was good at arithmetic, figured that there was only enough money to last one week—if they each had only one meal a day.

"I think we should do the housework ourselves," Polynesia suggested. "After all, it's because of us that the Doctor is so lonely and poor."

They agreed that Chee-Chee, the monkey, would do the cooking and mending; Jip, the dog, would sweep the floors; Dab-Dab, the duck, would dust and make the beds; Too-Too, the owl, would keep the accounts; and Gub-Gub, the pig, would do the gardening.  Because she was the oldest, Polynesia, the parrot, would be housekeeper and laundress.

At first the new jobs were very hard to do—except for Chee-Chee, who had hands and could do things like a person.  But soon they got used to it and thought it was great fun to watch Jip sweep his tail over the floor with a rag tied to it for a broom.  They worked so well that the Doctor said his house had never been so clean before!

The animals built a vegetable and flower stall outside the garden gate.  They sold radishes and roses to people going by on the road.  

But there still was not enough money to pay the bills.  Yet Doctor Dolittle did not worry.

"Never mind," he said.  "The hens lay eggs and the cow gives milk.  We can always have omelets and pudding.  There are plenty of vegetables in the garden. The winter is a long way off."

But that year the snow came earlier than usual.  Although the horse hauled in lots of wood from the forest for big fires in the kitchen, most of the vegetables were gone.  For the first time, the animals were really hungry.


Excerpted from The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting.  Copyright (c) 1920 by Hugh Lofting.  Copyright (c) 1940 by Josephine Lofting. Centenary edition copyright (c) 1988 by Christopher Lofting.  Adaptation edition copyright (c) 1997 by Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers. Excerpted by permission of Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, a division of the Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Table of Contents

I	Puddleby	1
II	Animal Language	4
III	More Money Troubles	10
IV	A Message from Africa	14
V	The Great Journey	19
VI	Polynesia and the King	24
VII	The Bridge of Apes	27
VIII	The Leader of the Lions	32
IX	The Monkeys' Council	36
X	The Rarest Animal of All	39
XI	Red Sails and Blue Wings	45
XII	The Rats' Warning	48
XIII	The Barbary Dragon	52
XIV	Too-Too, the Listener	56
XV	The Ocean Gossips	59
XVI	Smells	62
XVII	The Rock	67
XVIII	The Fisherman's Town	71
XIX	Home Again	75

Editorial Reviews

"Any child who is not given the opportunity to make the acquaintance of this rotund, kindly, and enthusiastic doctor/naturalist and all of his animal friends will miss out on something important."— Jane Goodall

From the Publisher

[Wanda McCaddon] has a great time hooting, greeting, barking, and grunting through this kick-off book in the famous children’s series. Her distinctive British intonations fit in perfectly with the settings…[McCaddon] attempts to give each animal its species-specific voice, and she succeeds with enthusiasm, levity, and gaiety…Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”

AudioFile

Any child who is not given the opportunity to make the acquaintance of this rotund, kindly, and enthusiastic doctor/naturalist and all of his animal friends will miss out on something important.”

New York Times bestselling author Jane Goodall

A work of genius.”

English novelist Hugh Walpole