The Story of Dr. Dolittle | Leveled Reader

Editors

Jerry Stemach, MS, CCC-SLP

Karen Erickson, PhD Center for Literacy and Disability Studies University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Don Johnston Incorporated 26799 West Commerce Drive Volo, IL 60073 USA myreadtopia.com

Start to Finish L.L.C. grants the rights for teachers and other educational professionals to download, print, reproduce, and distribute this book with students, or portions of it in any form, in both print and electronic formats while their subscription is active. Birds, Mammals, and Reptiles

The Story of Dr. Dolittle

by Hugh Lofting

retold by Mary J. Chester

Don Johnston Incorporated Volo, Illinois

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Doctor Dolittle of Puddleby ...... 6 Chapter 2 An Animal Doctor ...... 8 Chapter 3 More Trouble with Money ...... 10 Chapter 4 Going to Africa ...... 12 Chapter 5 The King of the Jolliginki ...... 14 Chapter 6 Many Sick Animals ...... 16 Chapter 7 A Rare Animal ...... 18 Chapter 8 Prince Bumpo ...... 20 Chapter 9 Pirates! ...... 22 Chapter 10 Going Home ...... 24 About the Readtopia Author ...... 26 About the Original Author ...... 27 6 Chapter 1 Doctor Dolittle of Puddleby

This is the story of Doctor Dolittle. Dr. Dolittle lived in Puddleby, England. He lived in a small house with his sister, Sarah. He made money by helping sick people. But now, he wasn’t making any money. Why? Dr. Dolittle was spending less time with people. He was spending more time with animals. 7

Sarah said, “We need money, not animals.” But Dr. Dolittle loved animals more than people. He loved his talking parrot, Polynesia. He loved his dog, Jip. He loved all of his animals. “People pay us money,” said Sarah. “Animals cost us money.” 8 Chapter 2 An Animal Doctor

One day, Polynesia spoke to Dr. Dolittle. “You should not be a people doctor. You should be an animal doctor,” said Polynesia. “You know that parrots can talk,” she said. “I know that you can talk,” said Dr. Dolittle. “Did you know that all animals can talk?” “No, I didn’t know that,” said Dr. Dolittle. 9

“Jip and Chee-Chee are both talking,” said Polynesia. “Jip is saying, ‘It’s really wet outside.’ ” “Chee-Chee is saying, ‘It’s really cold outside.” “Can you teach me more?” Dr. Dolittle asked Polynesia. “Yes, I can teach you,” said Polynesia. Soon, many animals were talking to Dr. Dolittle. None could pay, but they wanted to stay. 10 Chapter 3 More Trouble with Money

People brought their sick animals to Dr. Dolittle. The people paid Dr. Dolittle. One day, a crocodile asked, “May I stay here?” Sarah said, “If the crocodile stays, I leave.” Dr. Dolittle said ‘good-bye’ to Sarah. But now, people would not bring their sick animals. Why not? They were afraid of that crocodile! 11

One day, Chee-Chee got a letter from Africa. “Everyone in my family is sick,” said Chee-Chee. “We must help them!” said Dr. Dolittle. “They live far away in Africa!” said Polynesia. “We will need a boat and a map.” “I can find a boat,” said Dr. Dolittle. “I can find Africa,” said a bird. 26

About the Readtopia Author

Mary J. Chester is not a real name. Mary J. Chester is a name that was made up by a real person who has a different name.

Have you ever heard of Mark Twain? Mark Twain wrote about Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. But Mark Twain’s real name is Samuel Langhorne Clemens. We say that Mark Twain and Mary J. Chester are pen names.

So who is Mary J. Chester? What is Mary J. Chester’s real name? Jerry Stemach

Jerry took all of the letters in his name — J-e-r-r-y-S-t-e-m-a-c-h — then put them in a different order. What did he get? M-a-r-y-J-C-h-e-s-t-e-r

Would you like a pen name? What would it be? 27

About the Original Author

Hugh Lofting was born in England in 1886. During his life, he lived in England, Canada, Africa, and the United States. When World War I started in 1914, Hugh was married with two children. He left his family to fight in the war. He promised to write letters to his children. But the war was terrible! Hugh could not tell his children about bloody battles. He could not tell them about horses and men who were shot and killed. So, he decided to write letters about a make-believe man who talked to animals.

When the war ended, Hugh’s letters were made into a chapter book, The Story of Doctor Dolittle.