This is the original book about the amazing Dr. Dolittle who 'Besides the gold-fish in the pond at the bottom of his garden he had rabbits in the pantry white mice in his piano a squirrel in the linen closet and a hedgehog in the cellar.' In it the kind hearted dreamer learns he likes animals better than humans; is introduced to animal speech by his parrot Polynesea; becomes very poor; travels to Africa and has many adventures with his animal friends. And they are indeed friends.