The Story of Doctor Dolittle

The Story of Doctor Dolittle is a children’s novel by Hugh Lofting, first published in 1920.

Told with playful warmth, it introduces a country doctor whose life changes when he discovers he can understand and speak the language of animals.

As word spreads, his home fills with parrots, pigs, dogs, and other companions, and he turns from treating humans to caring for creatures great and small. When news arrives of a plague among the monkeys, he undertakes a voyage to Africa, facing storms, pirates, and curious wonders—among them the two-headed pushmi-pullyu—before finding a way to help and return home.

Beneath its whimsy, the book celebrates kindness, empathy, and respect for animals, suggesting that the world grows larger when we choose to listen. Its adventures highlight the joy of curiosity and the power of communication to bridge divides, inviting young readers to imagine what it means to care for every living thing.

Like many classics of its era, the original text includes colonial-era depictions and stereotypes that later editions have revised. Even so, the story endures for its gentle humor, inventive creatures, and generous spirit, remaining a beloved gateway to fanciful, compassionate storytelling.

"ONCE upon a time, many years ago—when our grandfathers were little children—there was a doctor; and his name was Dolittle—John Dolittle, M.D. “M.D.” means that he was a proper doctor and knew a whole lot."