Doctor De Soto
By William Steig and Stanley Tucci
4/5
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About this ebook
This ebook includes audio narration.
"Doctor De Soto, the dentist, did very good work." With the aid of his able assistant, Mrs. De Soto, he copes with the toothaches of animals large and small. His expertise is so great that his fortunate patients never feel any pain.
Since he's a mouse, Doctor De Soto refuses to treat "dangerous" animals--that is, animals who have a taste for mice. But one day a fox shows up and begs for relief from the tooth that's killing him. How can the kindhearted De Sotos turn him away? But how can they make sure that the fox doesn't give in to his baser instincts once his tooth is fixed? Those clever De Sotos will find a way.
William Steig's Doctor De Soto is a 1982 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year and Outstanding Book of the Year, a 1983 Boston Globe - Horn Book Awards Honor Book for Picture Books, and a 1983 Newbery Honor Book.
NARRATED by STANLEY TUCCI.
William Steig
William Steig (1907-2003) was a cartoonist, illustrator and author of award-winning books for children, including Shrek!, on which the DreamWorks movies are based. Steig was born in New York City. Every member of his family was involved in the arts, and so it was no surprise when he decided to become an artist. He attended City College and the National Academy of Design. In 1930, Steig’s work began appearing in The New Yorker, where his drawings have been a popular fixture ever since. He published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968. In 1970, Steig received the Caldecott Medal for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. His books for children also include Dominic; The Real Thief; The Amazing Bone, a Caldecott Honor Book; Amos & Boris, a National Book Award finalist; and Abel's Island and Doctor De Soto, both Newbery Honor Books. Steig's books have also received the Christopher Award, the Irma Simonton Black Award, the William Allen White Children's Book Award, and the American Book Award. His European awards include the Premio di Letteratura per l'infanzia (Italy), the Silver Pencil Award (the Netherlands), and the Prix de la Fondation de France. On the basis of his entire body of work, Steig was selected as the 1982 U.S. candidate for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Illustration and subsequently as the 1988 U.S. candidate for Writing. Steig also published thirteen collections of drawings for adults, beginning with About People in 1939, and including The Lonely Ones, Male/Female, The Agony in the Kindergarten, and Our Miserable Life. He died in Boston at the age of 95.
Reviews for Doctor De Soto
270 ratings23 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Doctor De Soto is a story about a mouse who is a dentist. Doctor De Soto is the best dentist in town and treats animals large and small. He has one rule, he doesn't treat animals that are harmful to mice. One day, there is a fox outside of his office begging to come in because he has a toothache. Doctor De Soto and his wife decide to treat the fox because he is in so much pain. Doctor De Soto removes his tooth and tells him he will make him a new one. The fox is torn about whether or not he should eat the mice, but decides to wait until after he gets his new tooth. Doctor De Soto and his wife are aware of the fox's possible intentions, so the devise a plan. Once the fox gets the new tooth, Doctor De Soto put glue on his teeth and seals his mouth shut. The mice outfoxed the fox. This is a story that shows the reader that no matter you size, you can use your smarts to defend yourself. As an activity, each student could devise their own plan to outfox the fox.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Doctor Do Soto is a dentist, but he is also a mouse. When a fox who is in terrible pain comes to Dr. Do Soto, the doctor decides to go ahead and help the fox. By the end of the fox’s treatment, he decides he is going to eat the mouse and his wife, but the doctor has come up with a plan. He knows foxes eat mice, so he tricks the fox and he is unable to open his mouth to eat the mice. This fantasy shows a variety of animals talking and sharing emotions. The events that take place, such as a mouse being a dentist, could never take place in the real world. The story could be used in a classroom for appreciative listening. Children could draw out certain events in the story and compare pictures to see what was meaningful in the story to each student. The setting in this story is necessary for the storyline. The fact the mouse is a dentist makes it appropriate that the setting would take place at a dentist office. The mice also are illustrated as being so small, that when they work on larger animals, they much use a ladder to accommodate. This shows the size of the mice compared to other animals and how vulnerable they are to animals such as a fox. Media: Oil Paints
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Cute illustrations, kids would like it.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A cute book about how a fox is outsmarted by a mice.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book is about a fox who thinks he can outsmart the neighborhood dentist. He thinks he can pretend to have a toothache, he can eat the dentist and his wife easily. To his surprise, the dentist is on to his tricks. In the end, the fox leaves with a mouth glued shut and the dentist and wife are pleased with the results.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This is a good example of fantasy. It personifies animals. It gives them real human characteristics which makes them believable, but also gives them characteristics that are similar to their animal-likenesses, like the fox being predatory, which adds to the believability.Age Appropriateness: PrimaryMedia: Watercolor and Ink