Tommy Stubbins is thrilled to make the acquaintance of the esteemed Doctor Doolittle. Doolittle has the amazing ability to talk to animals and he loves to travel; these two combine to send him off on many adventures. And Tommy is able to come along, a witness to all the adventures of the doctor. They meet up with the world’s greatest naturalist, Long Arrow, on a floating island. The doctor teaches the people of Spain a new way to fight bulls. And the doctor is made king. ( )

Hugh Lofting was a prolific author, poet, and artist. He wrote and illustrated thirteen Doctor Dolittle books, which he began in the trenches of WWI as stories for his own children. These books have generated some controversy over the years because of certain wording and characterizations that are offensive to 21st-Century sensibilities. However, I read the original version of The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle and found nothing that is not in Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn. These books seem to have fallen out of favor toward the late 20th Century as realistic fiction came to dominate children's libraries, with little room for escapist fiction in which nothing bad ever happens. However, I think it is as wrong to force children to read Judy Bloom and Louise Fitzhugh exclusively as it is to enforce a staid Dick and Jane, conservative literary tradition. The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle conveys a great love of animals and the natural world and playful adventure in far-off lands, all within a secure world of humor and extended childhood. ( )

Opening Sentence: '...All that I have written so far about Doctor Dolittle I heard long after it happened from those who had known him - indeed a great deal of it took place before I was born...'

This book was written back in the 1920's when, rightly or wrongly, attitudes to women and races were different. Many of the references to native people in the story are considered derogatory today, but having said that, this is a good little fantasy story and should be used to demonstrate to older children what is acceptable and what is not, even if they notice the references. It seems to me that most of the negative reviews are by adults who take umbrage to various bits - the good reviews are from kids who think it is a really good adventure.

Dr. Doolitle is an English naturalist who talks to animals and keeps a private zoo in his garden. Tommy Stubbins, who narrates the story, longs to join the Doctor on one of his voyages and become a naturalist. Dr. Doolitle takes him in as an assistant and teaches him to speak various animal languages, then Tommy is taken on a voyage to help the Doctor find another naturalist who has gone missing on Spidermonkey Island. On their adventure they encounter several stowaways on the boat, the doctor has a bullfight without killing the bulls, and travels inside a giant sea snail. Along with Jub the dog, Polynesia the parrot and Chee-Chee the monkey this is a great adventure story for kids.

It is also a Newberry Medal winner . ( )

My niece recommended I read this. Of course it's one of those books that I should have read, thought I had read, but never had. It was great. I tried to read the first Newbery winner and couldn't finish it. This was the second winner and I thought it deserved it. ( )

This is a fanciful look at the natural world - very much from a child's view. In this world one can ride on the back of a giant sea snail's back right down to the depths of the ocean, and islands can float, and animals have extensive languages that can be learned. I loved Dr. Dolittle - he is pleasant and interested and good. This tale reminded me of tales such as "The Odyssey" or "Gulliver's Travels". An enjoyable read. ( )