I remember this book from my childhood and was delighted to be ableto find it on Amazon and read it to my children, who love it aswell. The clever mouse dentist and his wife know they shouldn'ttreat the fox, but are too kind-hearted to turn away a creature inpain. But they think of a plan to make sure he doesn't eat themafter the treatment! Very funny text and pictures. Agem.
William Steig's books are very funny both to adults and children,which is an amazing accomplishment if you think about it.
The story involves a mouse dentist, Dr. DeSoto, who has a foxpresent himself for dental work. Normally Dr. DeSoto doesn't workon carnivorous patients, but he feels sorry for the fox, who has atoothache. Even while Dr. DeSoto is fixing the fox's tooth,however, the fox is thinking about what a tasty treat his dentistwill be.
The humor lies in William Steig's use of language -- he is wellknown for not talking down to children, but slipping in somewonderful "big words" that children love to hear and that increasetheir vocabularies painlessly.
I can't imagine anyone not finding this book entertaining. WilliamSteig will be greatly missed.
