Dr. Xargle


Dr. Xargle is a series of children's picture books written by Jeanne Willis and illustrated by Tony Ross; the original six books were published by Andersen Press from 1988 to 1993. It features an alien perspective on human civilization, especially the life of British children and their families. Alternatively, Dr. Xargle is the main character, an alien who studies Earth and teaches schoolchildren about it. Sometimes he takes them on field trips to Earth in human disguises. Finally, Dr. Xargle is a 1997 British television series based on the original books.
For the third book in the series, Dr. Xargle's Book of Earth Tiggers, Ross was highly commended runner up for the annual Kate Greenaway Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject.

Books

All seven books were published in hardcover editions by Andersen Press. The original series was published in British paperback editions by Red Fox within a few years. In the United States, the books have titles such as Earthlets, as explained by Professor Xargle—the first book, published by E. P. Dutton in 1989.Dr. Xargle's Book of Earthlets Dr. Xargle's Book of Earth Hounds Dr. Xargle's Book of Earth Tiggers, A.K.A Earth TigerletsDr. Xargle's Book of Earth Mobiles Dr. Xargle's Book of Earth Weather Dr. Xargle's Book of Earth Relations Dr. Xargle Stories, an Audiobook collection of all the books except SleepoversDr. Xargle's Book of Earthlet Sleepovers, a limited edition picture book written to provide support for children who wet the bed

Television series

A 13-episode television series was produced by CINAR Films and King Rollo Films, and broadcast in 1997: Dr. Xargle and his students are animatronic puppets, while the students' lessons about Earth are animated.
Unnamed in the books, the planet was identified as Planet Queeg, and the children were called Queegles. It is unclear whether their species is named Queegle, or this is the name for their infants.

Characters

  • Dr. Xargle: Voiced by Willie Rushton, who died shortly after his lines were recorded.
  • Xamster
  • Matron
  • Monitor
  • Cute
  • Rebel
  • Tardy Queegle
  • Famished Queegle
  • Nigel Spume, a human reporter trying to prove the aliens' existence.

Episodes

Each of the 13 episodes had a duration of approximately 30 minutes.
Several episode broadcast dates, as well as the episode order, are currently unknown.

There was also a break in broadcasting that has not yet been accounted for.
Episode numberEpisode nameTopicOriginal airdate
1EarthletsInfants26 February 1997
2Earth HoundsDogs5 March 1997
3Earth MobilityTransport12 March 1997
4Earth WeatherWeather28 July 1997
5Earth ThingummiesGadgets4 August 1997
6Earth JobberyCareers11 August 1997
7Earth NicetyManners18 August 1997
8Earth RelativityFamilyUnknown
9Earth SnackyFoodUnknown
10Earth TrendyFashionUnknown
11Earth FurnishyFurnitureUnknown
12Earth SportSport & FitnessUnknown
13Earth TiggersCatsUnknown