Mouse Dentist: Dizoutou

Author: (USA) William Steig
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: The couple of mouse dentists, Doctor DeSoto and his wife, kindly treat the fox's teeth, but the fox gradually reveals its greedy nature. Despite facing life-threatening danger, the couple completes their work with determination and uses their wit to resolve the crisis. Their love, responsibility, calm intelligence, and cleverness leave a deep impression on children! The illustrations feature animals with extremely disproportionate body sizes, which are highly engaging for children. How can the tiny mouse, Doctor DeSoto, treat the tall and cunning fox? The book is filled with humor and ingenuity, with excellent text and illustrations, and has won numerous awards.
Content Description: The couple of mouse dentists, Doctor DeSoto and his wife, kindly treat the fox's teeth, but the fox gradually reveals its greedy nature. Despite facing life-threatening danger, the couple completes their work with determination and uses their wit to resolve the crisis. Their love, responsibility, calm intelligence, and cleverness leave a deep impression on children! The illustrations feature animals with extremely disproportionate body sizes, which are highly engaging for children. How can the tiny mouse, Doctor DeSoto, treat the tall and cunning fox? The book is filled with humor and ingenuity, with excellent text and illustrations, and has won numerous awards.
Artist Introduction: Text/Art by William Steig, born in New York City in 1907. He received his higher education from the City College of New York and the National Academy of Design. At the age of 23, he began his career as a professional cartoonist, designing covers and illustrations for magazines such as The New Yorker. In 1968, he published his first children's picture book, which surprised many, as he was then 61 years old and had "reentered another industry." The following year, he was named to the Horn Book's Best Books list for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. The following year, the Caldecott Medal was also awarded to the book. After that, his works flowed continuously, and they won many major awards. In 1983, he won the Newbery Honor for Doctor DeSoto. He himself was nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1988. This "grandfather" author passed away in 2003 at the age of 95, leaving behind more than 30 works, including Doctor DeSoto, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
Review: The Golden Wisdom of Doctor DeSoto
Author: Red Shell
This is another storybook featuring a mouse as the main character. The tiny mouse dentist possesses excellent dental skills, and together with his wife, they diagnose and treat various patients, even those much larger than them, such as elephants or hippos. "Doctor DeSoto's wife helps by hanging him in the air to treat the animals." This is truly an interesting method. In the illustrations, the artist depicts the suspended scenes with a casual and distinctive style, showcasing the whimsical nature of Doctor DeSoto's dental office. Children can definitely find elements that resonate with their own imaginative ideas, satisfying their craving for creativity.
A rich and interesting children's book often has one characteristic: the illustrations are filled with many details for children to discover. In Doctor DeSoto's office, there are medical devices similar to those in our daily lives, but more importantly, there are tools used for special treatments, such as ladders and rings used to lift patients into the air. The story has just begun, but children have already experienced visual and intellectual enjoyment.
Since the doctor is a mouse, he must be quite afraid of being harmed. Therefore, a humorous and eye-catching sign appears: "No treatment for cats or any dangerous animals." This couple of mice is undoubtedly clever and kind. While serving other animals, they also remember to protect themselves well. This is one of the themes in the story, and the subsequent plot will revolve around this idea.
One day, a fox appears downstairs at their clinic. The kind-hearted mouse dentists, though worried about their safety, decide to treat the fox. After being saved, the fox schemes to eat the mouse couple, and danger finally arrives. With his clever mind and bravery, Doctor DeSoto skillfully resolves the crisis—using a special "medicine" to glue the fox's teeth together. The fox can only helplessly say, "Fichixixili."
This is a story of the weak outsmarting the strong, yet there is no hint of fear in the story. The author narrates the process of the mouse dentist treating the greedy fox with a gentle tone, and each dangerous moment is turned with lightness. For example, "Although his teeth are aching, the fox feels something delicious moving in his mouth," or "As soon as Doctor DeSoto climbs into the fox's mouth, the fox slams his mouth shut with a '' sound." These transitions make the story feel less frightening, allowing children to gradually appreciate the meticulous care of the mouse dentist in treating his patients, such as when he declares, "This cavity needs to be pulled out," and then offers to make a new tooth.
And his cleverness in dealing with the fox is equally impressive, such as when he guesses the fox's thoughts and gives his wife a stick to hold the fox's mouth open. Under the author's pen, even the fierce fox hesitates, thinking, "If Doctor DeSoto fixes the false tooth tomorrow, will it be too mean to eat him?" Meanwhile, Doctor DeSoto's wife is grinding a pure gold false tooth for the fox, and Doctor DeSoto can't help but worry, as the fox's ferocity has subtly shown through.
This series of psychological descriptions breaks the simple and subjective battle of good versus evil in children's books, encouraging children to imagine and guess what the mouse dentist will do next. Will the fox really eat them? Through thinking, children become even more immersed in the story.
Returning to the theme mentioned earlier—"while serving other animals, they also remember to protect themselves"—you can ask your child, "Actually, the mouse doctor could have stopped treating the fox, but why did they still insist?" Doctor DeSoto says, "Once I start a job, I must see it through, just like my father." And while doing good, they must also protect themselves. So, they came up with a perfect solution: while applying the medicine that would never cause toothache, they also glued the fox's teeth.
This is a perfect ending. The tiny mouse dentist couple doesn't achieve a traditional victory—they don't "defeat" the fox but treat its illness while protecting themselves. The remaining lessons or fun are left for you to share and savor with your child.