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The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle is a children’s novel by Hugh Lofting, first published in 1922 and narrated by a boy who becomes the doctor’s apprentice. Setting sail with a physician who can speak to animals, the story widens the world of Puddleby into oceans, islands, and deep-sea wonders.
Across shipboard scrapes, tropical shores, and encounters with rare creatures (including a gigantic sea snail), the book unfolds as a celebration of curiosity and communication. It champions language as a bridge between species and the impulse to help wherever help is needed, turning each adventure into a lesson in empathy.
As the apprentice learns to listen and act bravely, the tale becomes a gentle coming-of-age journey about the ethics of exploration, responsibility to the natural world, and friendship founded on trust. The wonders feel both magical and closely observed, inviting readers to imagine a richer conversation with nature.
Awarded the 1923 Newbery Medal, the novel remains beloved for its inventive creatures and humane spirit. Like many classics of its era, early editions contain colonial-era depictions and stereotypes that later printings have revised, yet the book endures for its adventurous warmth and enduring kindness.
"MY name was Tommy Stubbins, son of Jacob Stubbins, the cobbler of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh; and I was nine and a half years old. At that time Puddleby was only quite a small town. A river ran through the middle of it; andover this river there was a very old stone bridge, called Kingsbridge, which led you from the market-place on one side to the churchyard on the other."
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The The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle book is available for download in PDF, ePUB and Mobi:
Copyright info
The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting is believed to be in the public domain in the United States only. It may still be copyrighted in other countries. If you are not in the United States, please check your local laws to ensure this eBook is in the public domain in your country before downloading The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle in PDF or ePub.
This is the big expedition: maps, storms, friendships, and the patient thrill of learning as you go. Lofting’s episodic structure feels like opening parcels—each island a lesson in humility and problem-solving. The humor is warm, the stakes gentle, and the respect for animals genuine.
Curiosity-led exploration beats doomscrolling. Read critically for period attitudes, keep the core: cooperative science, listening first, and travel as service.
Discovery as shared work.
Friendship widens the map.
Episode by episode wonder.
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Gentle adventure that respects animals; bright invention, clear sentences, and steady moral weather.
We have 4 books by Hugh Lofting in the AliceAndBooks library