# The Story of Doctor Dolittle — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting.

- [The Story of Doctor Dolittle](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/the-story-of-doctor-dolittle.md): This introductory chapter sets the stage for the peculiar life of Doctor Dolittle, a man who learns to communicate with animals, leading to astonishing adventures in foreign lands.
- [Puddleby](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/i-puddleby.md): Introduces Doctor John Dolittle, a kind and clever physician living in the small town of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh. His home is filled with many pets, which drives away human patients and causes his sister Sarah to complain.
- [Animal Language](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/ii-animal-language.md): The Cat's-meatman suggests Doctor Dolittle become an animal doctor. Polynesia reveals that animals have their own language, and the Doctor begins learning it. He gives up his human practice, successfully treats animals b
- [More Money Troubles](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/iii-more-money-troubles.md): Doctor Dolittle's practice revives, but his growing collection of rescued animals—including Chee-Chee the monkey and a crocodile—scares away clients, leading to financial ruin. His sister Sarah leaves in protest, and the
- [A Message from Africa](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/iv-a-message-from-africa.md): In the midst of a cold winter, the Doctor receives an urgent message from Chee-Chee's cousin in Africa about a terrible sickness among the monkeys. Despite having no money, the Doctor arranges to borrow a boat from a sai
- [The Great Journey](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/v-the-great-journey.md): Doctor Dolittle and his animal companions sail for six weeks to Africa, guided by a swallow. They encounter flying-fish and porpoises, who help them by providing onions. A storm shipwrecks them on the African coast, but 
- [VI: Polynesia and the King](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/vi-polynesia-and-the-king.md): The Doctor and his animals are imprisoned by the King of Jolliginki, who refuses to let them travel through his lands due to past betrayal by white men. Polynesia hides in the Doctor's pocket and later escapes through th
- [VII: The Bridge of Apes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/vii-the-bridge-of-apes.md): The Doctor and his animals flee through the jungle, guided by Chee-Chee, while the King's army pursues them. They hide in a hollow tree overnight, then continue their journey, enjoying the jungle's resources and Chee-Che
- [The Leader of the Lions](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/viii-the-leader-of-the-lions.md): Doctor Dolittle becomes extremely busy treating thousands of sick monkeys. He vaccinates the well ones and sets up a hospital, but faces a shortage of nurses when the proud Leader of the Lions and other animals refuse to
- [The Monkeys' Council](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/ix-the-monkeys-council.md): Chee-Chee keeps watch while Doctor Dolittle sleeps. Upon waking, the Doctor announces he must return to Puddleby to repay debts, surprising the monkeys. They hold a council to discuss how to persuade him to stay, but Che
- [The Rarest Animal of All](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/x-the-rarest-animal-of-all.md): The monkeys capture the rare pushmi-pullyu, a two-headed, shy creature, and persuade it to go with Doctor Dolittle to the Land of the White Men to be exhibited so the Doctor can earn money for his debts and a new boat. T
- [XI: The Black Prince](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/xi-the-black-prince.md): After leaving the monkeys, the Doctor and his pets become lost in the jungle and are recaptured by the King of the Jolliginki. Polynesia hides and, seeing Prince Bumpo reading fairy tales, impersonates a fairy to convinc
- [Medicine and Magic](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/xii-medicine-and-magic.md): Polynesia orchestrates a plan for Prince Bumpo to visit the Doctor in prison, seeking to be turned white so he can win the Sleeping Beauty. The Doctor reluctantly mixes a potion that temporarily whitens Bumpo's face, and
- [XIII: Red Sails and Blue Wings](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/xiii-red-sails-and-blue-wings.md): On the voyage home, the Doctor's ship is pursued by Barbary pirates. Jip's keen sense of smell detects the danger even in his sleep. The Doctor, with the help of Dab-Dab and the swallows, devises a plan to escape by havi
- [The Rats’ Warning](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/xiv-the-rats-warning.md): The swallows, tired from pulling the ship, guide the Doctor to an island for rest. While seeking water, rats warn the Doctor that his ship is rotten and will sink. The canaries lead the Doctor to fresh water and food. Sw
- [The Barbary Dragon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/xv-the-barbary-dragon.md): Doctor Dolittle and his animal crew attempt to escape from the bay but are caught by the pirate Ben Ali, the Barbary Dragon, who threatens to take the duck and pig. Too-Too advises the Doctor to keep the pirates talking 
- [XVI: Too-Too, the Listener](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/xvi-too-too-the-listener.md): The Doctor and his animals explore the pirates' ship, discovering luxurious furnishings and treasures. They find a locked door, and after searching for a key, the owl Too-Too uses his exceptional hearing to detect a pers
- [VII: The Ocean Gossips](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/vii-the-ocean-gossips.md): Doctor Dolittle and his animals rescue a young boy locked in the pirates' rum-room. The boy reveals his uncle was captured by pirates and may have been thrown overboard. The Doctor comforts him, and after tea, consults a
- [Smells](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/xviii-smells.md): The Doctor enlists eagles to search for the boy's lost uncle, but they fail. Jip then uses his extraordinary sense of smell to identify the uncle's scent from a snuff-filled handkerchief and vows to find him.
- [The Rock](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/xix-the-rock.md): After waiting for the wind to change, Jip catches the scent of snuff from the West and leads the crew to a barren rock in the sea. There, they discover a hidden cave where the boy's uncle is found asleep, surviving only 
- [The Fisherman's Town](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/xx-the-fisherman-s-town.md): Doctor Dolittle and Jip rescue a red-haired fisherman stranded on a rock, reunite him with his sister and nephew, and are celebrated by the townspeople. The Mayor presents the Doctor with a diamond-studded watch and Jip 
- [Home Again](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/xxi-home-again.md): John Dolittle returns to England after his African adventures, traveling with the pushmi-pullyu as a showman at fairs to earn money. He refuses to sell the creature to circus-men, valuing its freedom. Once he has saved e

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