Written in 1920 by the British author Hugh Lofting, the Doctor Dolittle books were a series of children's novels about a man who learns to talk to animals and becomes their champion around the world. It was one of the novels in the series which was adapted into the 1967 film Doctor Dolittle.

Magical retellings of four classic fairy tales. In "Rapunzel" read by Tamsin Greig, beautiful Rapunzel has been imprisoned by an evil enchantress. Every day, she sits at the window of her high tower, and sings as she lets down her long hair. Then one day, a prince comes riding by.... In "The Tinder Box" read by Stephen Mangan, a wizened old woman promises a soldier riches beyond his wildest dreams. All she wants in return is a small tinderbox - but is there more to the tinderbox than meets the eye?

It has been three long, rainy, boring days in Dr. Dolittle’s home, and his animal friends are feeling wilder than usual. The animals cause a ruckus in the house, and Dr. Dolittle declares that they all need a picnic out in the fresh air. But when it is time to go home, one of his animal friends is nowhere to be found! Can Dr. Dolittle find his missing friend?

Dr. John Dolittle is an esteemed physician, but he finds himself drawn to animal patients more often than humans. In this book, his animal companions convince him to go on a daring voyage around the world to search for a missing friend. Their travels take them through storms and shipwrecks, to bullfighting rings and into courtrooms where animals testify as witnesses. All the while, Dr. Dolittle uses his incredible talent of animal communication to befriend and protect any animal he meets.

Doctor Dolittle is one of kind. Not only can he talk to animals - but he can understand them too! One day Doctor Dolittle receives a message from Africa - the monkeys there need his help. So he sails off from his home, bringing along all his pals: Dab-Dab, the duck; Jip, the dog; Gub-Gub, the baby pig; Polynesia, the parrot; and Too-Too, the owl. Join the doctor and his animal friends on an amazing adventure. They even meet the rarest of all animals, the two-headed pushmi-pullyu!