Product Description

In this first book in the series, Doctor Dolittle discovers that he can talk to the animals--Jip the dog, Dab Dab the duck, Polynesia the parrot.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #285291 in Books
• Published on: 1968-12-15
• Released on: 1968-12-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

From AudioFile
Nadia May 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 and premises of Hugh Lofting's tale of an English country doctor who develops the ability to speak with animals in their own languages. May attempts to give each animal its species-specific voice, and she succeeds with enthusiasm, levity and gaiety. One can picture a circle of eager, young faces drinking in this incredible and colorful tale. D.W. An AUDIOFILE Earphones Award winner. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Review
"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

Ingram
Doctor Dolittle prefers his animal patients to his people patients. And one day when a mysterious call beckons him to Africa, he discovers that he can talk to animals. Now the people are talking about Doctor Dolittle.

Customer Reviews

The Story of Doctor Dolittle
The Story of Doctor Dolittle
By: Hugh Lofting
Reviewed by: R Bhatt
Period 6

This book is about the life of an ordinary doctor named John Dolittle. He is a doctor for people but later on becomes one for animals. Dr. Dolittle possesses one unusual gift. It is the ability to talk to animals. He helps many different animals. He journeys to Africa to treat a sickness that is killing many monkeys. There he has many adventures.
I really liked this book because it is all make believe and adventure. I really like adventure books. They are very exciting to read. They never let you get bored reading them. It is also funny in some parts of the story too. This makes you not want to stop.
I also like the characters. They come to life in this book. They also become a part of you when you are reading. My favorite character was Jip the dog. He was a main character and sometimes he is really funny. I also like Polynesia the parrot because she helps the doctor many times in the book.
My favorite part is when the Barbary pirates are stuck on the old sinking ship. That part is really funny and exciting to read. Ben Ali the leader wants to kill Dr. Dolittle but doesn't succeed. He and his pirates have to become birdseed farmers on the Canary island. This I like this part because the animals help doctor Dolittle out. They are very nice to him because he is their friend.

You may WANT the "adulterated" edition
As you read these reviews, be aware that the "non-PC" material in the original includes an African begging Dr. Dolittle to make him white, since being black makes him unattractive. While Lofting didn't mean to be hurtful and was simply a product of the world in which he lived, you may feel that you can do better for your children than to send them off into today's world with the notion that white people are more attractive and that black people all wish they were white. If nothing else, the fact that they identify Eddie Murphy with the good doctor may render the "unadulterated" version of the book quite strange to them!

A SUPER GREAT BOOK!
It was so neat how Dr. Doolittle was able to talk to animals! The push-me pull-yu is very funny because it has 2 heads. I loved the way the doctor figured out how to help all the monkeys! It was also cool how the animals helped the doctor too - like when Jip the dog helped figure out where the boy's uncle was.

I can't wait to read the next book (VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE) and see the movie. I've only seen the one with Eddie Murphy so far and this is different!

(My mom loved reading this book with me too and she wants me to say that it's also lots of fun for grownups!)