At Hilltop Hospital the doctor is a dog, the nurse a cat, the anaesthetist a tortoise, and the surgeon a hippopotamus (female). But they all talk like humans and have a nice line in wry humour. Their chief patient, Mrs Indianapolis, is an elephant, and she is having a baby - a very large baby. Son, Virtue, is not at all pleased at the prospect of a new brother or sister, and he causes considerable havoc at the hospital as a result. Amongst the fun there is gentle information about scans and theatre (Mrs I. must have a caesarean), but the main thrust of the story lies in Virtue's coming to terms with his new sister, which he does by gently touching her trunk with his. Adults will enjoy the sophisticated undercurrents. Brilliant!