Customer Reviews

Doctor De Soto (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've given it as a present several times.

William Steig's books are very funny both to adults and children, which is an amazing accomplishment if you think about it.

The story involves a mouse dentist, Dr. DeSoto, who has a fox present himself for dental work. Normally Dr. DeSoto doesn't work on carnivorous patients, but he feels sorry for the fox, who has a toothache. Even while Dr. DeSoto is fixing the fox's tooth, however, the fox is thinking about what a tasty treat his dentist will be.

The humor lies in William Steig's use of language -- he is well known for not talking down to children, but slipping in some wonderful "big words" that children love to hear and that increase their vocabularies painlessly.

I can't imagine anyone not finding this book entertaining. William Steig will be greatly missed.

On Friday afternoon, I was talking to my younger sister at a Denny's restaurant, when, out of nowhere, the storyline image of this book came into mind. I am currently seventeen years old, and even though it was more than ten years ago, I was still able to vividly recall to my sister (who is thirteen) all of the wonderful images of the fox, donkey, and alligator that I had enjoyed so long ago. She also began remembering different parts of the book since I had shared it with her when we were younger, and we excitedly spoke about the clever dentist and his antics.

This is one book that has stuck out in my mind as a childhood favorite (even though I still am somewhat of a kid) and I'm sure your child will come to love and cherish this book as well.

I'm 10 now but still enjoy all of Steig's books. I read them still, in bed. This is a very funny and witty book, and I think all young children should read it. Dr.DeSoto is a nice character,as all of Steig's are. I recomend this book to anyone looking for some laughs.

Dr. DeSoto, a mouse, has a standing policy of never treating predators at his dental practice. One day, a fox appears and pleads for help, weeping so that Dr. and Mrs. DeSoto take pity on him and agree to replace his abscessed tooth. While helping him they realize he intends to eat them after his treatment is finished, and they devise a clever way to outwit him while still finishing the job.

The story is satisfying on many levels. It builds on the principle of Aesop's fable of the crane and the wolf, showing that evil people will return evil for good. But the dentist and his wife demonstrate wisdom in doing good for this evil character, refusing to go back on their commitment yet not denying their real danger. In working together, this husband and wife team demonstrate courage, unity, and mutual care, exemplifying the kind of marriage I want to be defined as normal for my children.

Steig tells the story in an understated way, with effective dialogue and gentle humor. Children will wait anxiously to find out how the two mice will resolve their problem, and will greatly enjoy the fox's discomfiture when he is defeated. This is an excellent early-reader story about how to deal with evil in the everyday world.

Recommended to me by a kindergarden teacher, I sent this to my grandsons. Their Mommy said that they loved it!

We stumbled onto our copy of Doctor DeSoto in the bargain bin of our local thrift store. It's about the best dime I've ever spent.

My daughter (3.5 years old) loves this book. For weeks it's been her favorite, she just can't get enough. She now insists that we call her Dr. De Soto, which may suggest some deeper pathology, but nonetheless is quite a hearty vote for the appeal of this book to young children.

The great thing is that, like many of Steig's books, it's a pleasure to read too. His animals are so fun, so lively, and capture the essence of their human counterparts so effectively.

Steig has an indescribably fantastic way with words. The fox doesn't just wonder if he should eat the De Sotos, he wonders if it would "be shabby of him."

After reading this book, we researched Steig and ordered a whole slew of his books. After all, if you enjoy what you're reading to your kids, you will read to them all the more. This book is one you can't go wrong with.

We read this to my daughter before her first visit to the dentist. I thought it did a good job of preparing her for what to expect at the dentist. At the same time, it's a funny book- for everyone! Also, if you think about it, it's the dentist who's scared- not the patient, so it helps to allay a child's fears about the dentist. Great book!

This is a wonderful book! I purchased this for my 4 year old son and have given several copies as gifts to his friends. The story appeals to boys and girls. The author of this book wrote the original Shrek story as well as another book titled Boris and Amos. I highly recommend this book!

Who do you go to when you have a sore tooth? Why Doctor De Soto, of course. If you haven't heard of him, he's the famed dentist who will take care of all your dentistry needs. Did I mention he is a mouse.

One day, Doctor Desoto comes in contact with a patient he is unsure of-a well-dressed fox with an aching tooth. Well after a small debate with his wife and assistant, Mrs. De Soto, our hero decides to treat the poor Fox. But will the seemingly friendly Fox eat Doctor De Soto?

Steig has done it once more with this book, a runner-up for the Newbery Medal. As one of the reviewers pointed out, there IS some blood shown, but to tell you the truth, I didn't even notice. Besides, pop culture has already given little ones a preconceived image of what a trip to the dentist's is like. A picture book not to be overlooked. William Steig will not be forgotten.

R

The author William Steig will be forever missed for his clever and delightful stories for the kiddie set. In "Doctor De Soto", Steig places the action in a land where such stories as "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" have taken place. In the story, animals of all types interact just as humans do, all the while retaining some very wild aspects. The story takes place in what looks to be the 1930s. As in Steig's "When Everybody Wore a Hat", the animals look as if they'd be comfortable listening to the radio and discussing President Roosevelt's reforms before going to bed each night. Dr. De Soto is a mouse dentist, who runs a quiet family practice with his wife. Normally, the De Soto's do not treat carnivorous animals but that rule changes when a pitiful fox comes to them with a toothache. Steig's drawings are sometimes easily dismissed as simplistic. This is not the case. Tiny details dot the illustrations, giving each page the feel of a snapshot into another world. The stairs leading to the De Soto office are separated into two types, large for bigger animals (donkeys, pigs, etc.) and smaller for woodland creatures. Dr. De Soto himself has set up a series of pulleys that allow him to work in the larger animals' mouths. Kids will like the book, gleefully observing the picture where a bloody infected tooth is pulled from the fox's mouth (little droplets of blood falling to the ground). If there is a moral to the story, it's probably to be vigilant. But who picks up a Steig book for a moral? This is just a fun piece of kid literature that everyone will like. It probably works best as an introductory text to the world of William Steig. Just be sure not to miss it.