Gub-Gub the pig was one of the first animals with whom Doctor Dolittle learned to talk and appears in most of the books.

This book features stories from and about Gub-Gub's attempt to write an encyclopedia of food.

The frontispiece of the book introduces "An Encyclopedia of Food in Twenty Volumes", going on to explain that "Prof. GUB GUB Announces that Owing to the High Cost of Living the other 19 Volumes of this GREAT WORK have been Temporarily Postponed".

As Gub-Gub deals patiently with his raucous animal friends, they are drawn into his world and find out such vital information on the food map as where King Alfred burnt the cakes.

The book readable is by adults as well as children, who will possibly better appreciate the value and practicality of the gingersnap hygrometer.