Doctor De Soto

Written and illustrated by William Steig

Part of the Doctor De Soto series

A mouse dentist faces a dilemma when a fox seeks his help. Can he outsmart the predator?

4.9/7 Bookroo experts·4.2/5 Goodreads · 15,394 ratings

32 pages· 1,124 words· Est. 9 min read-aloud

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Bookroo's summary

Doctor De Soto, a skilled mouse dentist, treats animals of all sizes but avoids those who might eat him. When a desperate fox arrives with a painful toothache, the kindhearted De Sotos face a tricky decision. Can they help the fox without becoming his next meal? As they navigate this precarious situation, the clever De Sotos must devise a plan to ensure their safety. Will their ingenuity be enough to outwit the cunning fox, or will they fall prey to his instincts? Discover the surprising solution in this charming tale of wit and courage.

From the publisher

A Newbery Honor Book from the creator of Shrek. 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.

Awards

Newbery Honor (1983)Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (1983)

At a glance

Format
Pages: 32
Words: 1,124
Reading age: 5–8
Audience: Picture
Lexile: AD560L

Themes & topics

Books about animals Books about mice Books about health and daily living Books about dentists Books about trickery

What readers & critics say

Reviews

4.9

out of 7

5.3

“This silly tale of mice dentistry treating a sneaky, hungry fox is so fun. I loved this one as a child and still love it today. The mice were on their guard, and rightfully so--can you ever really trust a fox? :)”

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Trusted reviewer

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