- Dr. Xargle
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Cover of Dr Xargle's Book of Earthlets; art by Tony Ross
Dr. Xargle (pronounced /ˈzɑrɡəl/) is a series of children's picture books written by Jeanne Willis, with illustrations by Tony Ross. It involves the eponymous alien professor teaching a class of children on his home planet, telling them about the unique observations he has made of Planet Earth and its inhabitants. Sometimes he will take the students with him on field trips to Earth.
Hardback and paperback editions were printed, by Red Fox Picture Books and Andersen Press. Dr. Xargle's Book of Earth Tiggers was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1990.[1]
Contents
Books
- Dr. Xargle's Book of Earth Hounds (1988)
- Dr. Xargle's Book of Earthlets (1990)
- Dr. Xargle's Book of Earth Mobiles (1991)
- Dr. Xargle's Book of Earth Tiggers (1992)
- Dr. Xargle's Book of Earth Weather (1992)
- Dr. Xargle's Book of Earth Relations (1993)
- Dr. Xargle Stories (1999), an Audiobook collection of all the books except Sleepovers.
- Dr. Xargle's Book of Earthlet Sleepovers (2004), 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 Inc 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).
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 number Episode name Topic Original airdate 1 Earthlets Infants February 26, 1997 2 Earth Hounds Dogs March 5, 1997 3 Earth Mobility Transport March 12, 1997 ? Earth Weather Weather July 28, 1997 ? Earth Thingummies Gadgets Unknown ? Earth Jobbery Careers Unknown ? Earth Nicety Manners Unknown ? Earth Relativity Family Unknown ? Earth Snacky Food Unknown ? Earth Trendy Fashion Unknown ? Earth Furnishy Furniture Unknown ? Earth Sport Sport & Fitness Unknown ? Earth Tiggers Cats Unknown References
External links
Categories:- British children's picture books
- Series of children's books
- British animated television series
- British children's television programmes
- 1997 television series debuts
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