The Story of Doctor Dolittle, is the first of his Doctor Dolittle books, a series of children's novels about John Dolittle, MD, who is a respected physician and quiet bachelor living with his spinster sister in the small English village of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh. His love of animals grows over the years and his household menagerie eventually scares off his human clientele, leading to loss of wealth. But after learning the secret of speaking to all animals from his parrot Polynesia, he takes up veterinary practice...

There are some of us now reaching middle age who discover themselves to be lamenting the past in one respect if in none other, that there are no books written now for children comparable with those of thirty years ago. I say written FOR children because the new psychological business of writing ABOUT them as though they were small pills or hatched in some especially scientific method is extremely popular today.

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. But I now come to set down that part of the great man's life which I myself saw and took part in.

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.

The classic Newbery Medal winner that was transformed into a beloved film.

Doctor Dolittle heads for the high seas in perhaps the most amazing adventure ever experienced by man or animal

Told by 9-and-a-half-year-old Tommy Stubbins, crewman and future naturalist, Doctor Dolittle and company survive a perilous shipwreck and land on the mysterious, floating Spidermonkey Island. There he meets the Great Glass Sea Snail who holds the key to the biggest mystery of all.

Doctor Dolittle loves animals - and he can actually talk to them as well. When he receives a mysterious call inviting him to Africa, the doctor's animal adventures really begin. This is a retelling of a Hugh Lofting story.

When the alarm is raised that Moorsden Manor is on fire, Doctor Dolittle and his animals are the first to run to the scene and help put out the fire. However, the owner of the manor, Mr Throgmorten, is terribly angry with the doctor and it becomes apparent that there is something very strange going on.

Dr Dolittle is forced to work in a circus to earn some money. He soon discovers the dreadful conditions the animals have to endure. When the star horse falls ill the ring master asks him to help but Dolittle drives a hard bargain.