| Author: | Jeanne Willis |
| Illustrator: | Tony Ross |
| Language: | English |
| Publisher: | E. P. Dutton |
| Pub Date: | 1988-2004 |
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 (1990), 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.[1]
All seven books were published in hardcover editions by Andersen Press. The original series was published in British paperback editions by Red Fox (Random House) 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.
A 13-episode television series was produced by CINAR 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 (the adults being called Queegs).
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 number | Episode name | Topic | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Earthlets | Infants | 26 February 1997 | |
| 2 | Earth Hounds | Dogs | 5 March 1997 | |
| 3 | Earth Mobility | Transport | 12 March 1997 | |
| 4 | Earth Weather | Weather | 28 July 1997 | |
| 5 | Earth Thingummies | Gadgets | Unknown | |
| 6 | Earth Jobbery | Careers | Unknown | |
| 7 | Earth Nicety | Manners | Unknown | |
| 8 | Earth Relativity | Family | Unknown | |
| 9 | Earth Snacky | Food | Unknown | |
| 10 | Earth Trendy | Fashion | Unknown | |
| 11 | Earth Furnishy | Furniture | Unknown | |
| 12 | Earth Sport | Sport & Fitness | Unknown | |
| 13 | Earth Tiggers | Cats | Unknown |