Doctor De Soto, William Steig
Doctor De Soto, William Steig
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Doctor De Soto
(Newbery Honor Book; National Book Award Finalist)

Author: William Steig

Narrator: Stanley Tucci

Unabridged: 15 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/04/2011

Synopsis

From the incomparable William Steig, creator of Shrek, comes an audio story that proves even a fox can be out-foxed by a clever mouse in Doctor De Soto, a Newbery Honor Book.

"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.

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.

Made into an animated short film in 1984 by American director and animator Michael Sporn.

About 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.

About Stanley Tucci

Stanley Tucci’s memorable roles include parts in the films Julie & Julia, The Hunger Games, The Devil Wears Prada, The Lovely Bones,The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, and Lucky Number Slevin.  He also wrote, directed, and produced Big Night--winner of an Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay.  For his performance in the Broadway production of Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Stanley received a Tony Nomination.  He has also garnered two AudioFile Earphones Awards for his audiobook narration, which includes reading William Steig's Shrek!

Reviews

Goodreads review by Calista on January 25, 2020

The doc is a mouse who is also a dentist, a very smart mouse. He treats animals of all sizes, but he is careful who he treats. He doesn’t treat cats or anyone that wants to eat mice. A smart policy in my mind. Well, one day, a fox is in terrible pain and begging to be treated and the doc and his wif......more

Goodreads review by Lisa on April 29, 2012

A very cute story, about a mouse dentist and his assistant mouse wife who treat all sorts of creatures, except those that would eat them. But they’re so kindhearted that when a fox begs for help, they relent and do their jobs. Of course, the fun part is how they outsmart the fox to render him harmles......more

Goodreads review by Emily on August 28, 2011

I never imagined that a story about a dentist could be charming, but this one is. I enjoyed the story well enough, but what tickled me were the illustrations, especially the ones with the mouse dentist being hauled up on pulleys by his wife to work on the teeth of very large animals. I was also char......more

Goodreads review by Melissa on September 07, 2017

So I had never heard of this book nor this author before. When I looked into other books he wrote I found out that he is the one who wrote Shrek. Though from what little (and I do mean little) research I've done the movie is very loosely based on the book. Either way that baby is getting added to my......more

Quotes

“I cannot imagine childhood without Steig: Sylvester, Pearl, Caleb, and now Doctor De Soto.” —The Dallas Morning News

“This is one of those picture books that are so good I'd just like to quote the whole thing.” —Philadelphia Inquirer

“Simple but sly, a mischievously imaginative rendition of the classic theme.” —Starred, Kirkus Reviews

“Doctor De Soto is a mouse dentist who...operates a clinic open to all except animals threatening to mice. What to do, then, when a weeping and wailing fox shows up for treatment?. . .There is great wit and good fun in the illustrations.” —Starred, Booklist

Awards

  • Boston Globe-Horn Bk Award, Honor Bk
  • IBBY Honor Books
  • The New York Times 10 Best Books of the Year
  • NYTBR Notable Children's BOTY
  • Booklist Editors' Choice
  • Newbery Honor Book
  • School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
  • ALA Notable Children's Books
  • IRA-CBC Children's Choices
  • Booklist Best Books of the '80s
  • Boston Globe - Horn Book Award
  • School Library Best Books of the Year
  • Horn Book Magazine Fanfare List
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