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The Story of Doctor Dolittle
Last updated Sunday, November 15, 2020
Author: Hugh Lofting
Illustrator: Angel Dominiguez
Date of Publication: 2019
ISBN: 1631582674
Grade Level: 5th (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Jun. 2020
Synopsis:
The 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 The Story of Doctor Dolittle, the first book in Lofting's popular children's book series.
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Characters
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John Dolittle, M.D. - The main character
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Sarah Dolittle - Dr. Dolittle's sister and housekeeper
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Dab-Dab - The duck, one of the doc's favorite animals
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Jip the Dog - Another of the doc's favorites
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Gub-Gub - The baby pig, another of the doc's favorites
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Polynesia - The parrot, another of the doc's favorites, teaches doc about the language of animals
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Too-Too - The owl, does the accounting for the doc, another of the doc's favorites
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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Have you ever had a pet, and did you ever feel like you knew exactly what it needed? If not, what pet would you want to have?
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What are some wondrous places you would like to visit? How would you travel to them if you were an explorer?
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Have you ever made a friend through just talking to them because you understood them better or listened to them?
Vocabulary
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Spectacles - Another word for glasses
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Shilling - A type of money used in Brittain a long time ago, worth around $3.84-85 today.
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Organ-grinder - A street musician who plays an old-fashioned piano called an organ, made out of a barrel
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Fishmonger - A person or store that sells fish as food
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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Why did all the animals like Dr. Dolittle over the other vets? Why did they decide to live with him?
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If you were running a hospital just like Dr. Dolittle, what animals do you think would stay with you?
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What did Dr. Dolittle show you about listening and helping those around you?
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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