Helpful Score: 1
Originally written in 1920. The original Disney movie followed this book somewhat, the more recent movie did not follow it at all. The book is better than either movie. Through the agency of animal friends Dr. Dolittle learns to talk to the animals. His human friends are most unhappy with a house full of animal patients. So when Dr. Dolittle hears of a horrible epidemic among African monkeys he sails off to help - engendering and finding many adventures. The pushmi-pullyu and Tommy Stubbins are in this book as well.
I have read and seen versions of The Story of Doctor DoLittle, but never before the original by Hugh Lofting published in 1920. The original is extremely and blatantly racist, with a story about an African prince who will do anything if the doctor can only make him white. My understanding is that later editions (I am not sure how much later) have thankfully completely written out that subplot and altered other text and illustrations to remove racial elements and render this story into its current view as an innocent children's story. For me, I don't think I can unsee the image of Prince Bumpo, his quest to be acceptable to his Sleeping Beauty princess, and of Dr. Dolittle's cruel use of of Prince Bumpo.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/02/the-story-of-doctor-dolittle.html
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/02/the-story-of-doctor-dolittle.html
FANTASTIC!! you will not regret reading this book, and will want to collect all of them in the series! my son could not put it down.
Delightfully fun book to read with the children. Listed as a Sonlight read aloud.
An abridged version of the 1920s classic children's book. This book didn't need abridgement but this version (pub. in 1997)will be welcomed by slower readers and those too impatient to read the complete version.
Read by Martin Short, who does a marvelous job with it! 3 hrs. on 2 cassettes. My kids loved it.
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
Doctor Dolittle has filled his house with so many of his animal friends that his "people" patients can bear it no longer. In fact, he likes the animals better and he can talk to them too! One day a mysterious call comes from Africa--the monkeys are all dying from a horrible epidemic. To the rescue! Doctor Dolittle sails off to help the monkeys and there finds the extraordinary two-headed Pushmi-Pullyu.
Great book. I laminated the cover and it is in perfect condition.
