When Tommy Stubbins finds a squirrel injured by a hawk, Matthew Mugg, the cat's meat man, informs him to get help from Doctor Dolittle, who can speak the language of animals. The Doctor is away on a voyage, but when he returns, he attends to the squirrel. Tommy is introduced to some of the strange animals in Doolittle's care, and begins his studies with Doolittle, or rather with Polynesia who teaches Tommy the language of animals.