Lofting originally intended to end the series with Doctor Dolittle in the Moon, but for some reason changed his mind and the book was published.

[2][3] The book tells the story of how the Doctor returns from the Moon.

The first half of the book covers the lives of Tommy Stubbins, the Doctor's assistant, the family of animals in England waiting for his return, and how the Doctor escaped from the Moon.

But the constant demands of his patients make the project impossible to complete, so the Doctor attempts to have himself put in jail so he will be able to write his book.

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