The Story of Doctor Dolittle

BDoctor Dolittle has been beloved by children for more a century and will soon come to life again in the new movie, IThe Voyages of Doctor Dolittle/I./BBRBRThe famous doctor who can speak to animals first appeared in Hugh Lofting’s letters to his children during World War I and then later commercially in IThe Story of Doctor Dolittle/I, the first book in Lofting’s popular children’s book series.BRBRWritten and illustrated by Lofting himself, IThe Story of Doctor Dolittle/I follows John Dolittle and his misadventures with a crew of animals that he befriends. After learning he can speak to animals and he transitions from human medicine to veterinary practice, he loses most of his income and human patients. However, word in the animal kingdom spreads of this doctor with an extraordinary gift. Animals travel from far and wide to visit the doctor’s practice and receive treatment for their ailments.BRBRAfter losing the majority of his wealth, the doctor receives word that an epidemic among monkeys is spreading throughout Africa and makes the voyage to confront the plague-ridden continent. Upon being shipwrecked with his animal crew, a slew of tribulations and adventures ensue in a classic story that has captivated readers young and old for nearly a century.