The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

The second winner of the Newbery Award (1923), The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting (Lexile: 930; Interest Level: Grades 4-7) tells the story of one of the voyages of the great naturalist who could talk to animals.  It is told from the point of view of Tommy Stubbins, the son of a local cobbler who seeks out the doctor to help a squirrel he found with a broken leg.  Tommy convinces the doctor to take him on as an apprentice, teach him to read and to talk with the animals.  Tommy and Doctor Dolittle embark on an amazing adventure to Spider Monkey Island, a floating island off the coast of Brazil.  There are several mini-adventures along the way including stowaways and a failed mutiny, but when they arrive at the island, things really pick up!

The language in this book is rather old-fashioned, and the timeline sometimes doesn't quite make sense, but the story is fun and engaging, nevertheless.  Readers who enjoy animal stories and wish they had Dr. Dolittle's wonderful gift will enjoy this story.  It is the second of Hugh Lofting's books about the amazing doctor, but it stands alone just fine. (336 p.)

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