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Earthlets: As Explained by Professor Xargle
Professor Xargle's class of extraterrestrials learns about the physical characteristics and behavior of the human baby.
Paperback
First published March 27, 1989
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About the author
Jeanne Willis
483 books116 followersJeanne Willis was born in St Albans and trained as an advertising copywriter at Watford College. She worked for various agencies creating press adverts and TV, cinema and radio commercials. She is now a full-time writer and has published over 80 books. Her hobbies include gardening, reading (non-fiction), natural history and collecting caterpillars. Jeanne has also worked on scripts for TV, including POLLY POCKET and THE SLOW NORRIS, and a pilot TV series for DR XARGLE. She lives in North London with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 13, 2019
I have to admit, I’m pretty choosy when it comes to children’s picture books. Both the text and the pictures have to feel right. I don’t willingly accept the formulaic or the mundane; if I am not satisfied with such books myself, why should I expect that a child will be?
So even though the shop had a “two for the price of one” offer on picture books, there I was, queueing at the till with my sole purchase … only to find that Chris had nonchalantly slipped another book on the counter, saying, “That one’s for me!”
Well OK … it wasn’t his usual reading fare, but who am I to query his selection?
Later that evening, I heard him chortling over some book and looked up, only to discover it was this one: Dr Xargle’s Book of Earthlets, subtitled An alien’s view of earth babies.
The author, Jeanne Willis, has evidently taken time out from her interplanetary space hops, and spared a thought for the tiny tots back at home, who know nothing of how they are viewed by your average bug-eyed monster.
She has painstakingly reproduced a sort of traditional lesson, with a teacher (of nonspecific gender) at the front of the class, all four eyes carefully pointing forwards to the pupils, and two tentacles held aloft, bearing a pointing stick aimed towards the stars:
“Good morning class.
Today we are going to learn about Earthlets.”
A pudgy, thumb-sucking, red-faced, human moppet is pictured above the heavens.
The goofy green alien faces the class, now revealing five eyes, not four, and explaining:
“They come in four colours. Pink, brown, black or yellow … but not green”. (We forgive the oversimplification here. This is a textbook, and has of necessity to be simplified.)
The description continues, about the human young’s: “two short tentacles with pheelers on the end and two long tentacles called leggies”. The Earthlet burbles happily.
A page-turn reveals the Earthlet happily using its tentacles to hang on to the tails of two cats, who for some reason seem extremely keen to get away …
“They have square claws which they use to frighten off wild beasts known as Tibbles and Marmaduke.”
Opposite this is a picture of a nappy-clad, red-nosed Earthlet, out in the snow pushing a pram, with said wild-eyed beastie inside, and a statement about the inadequacy of the “fur on their heads”.
Turning the page, we see that Earthlets:
“must be wrapped in the hairdo of a sheep”. This is clearly true as we see the Earthlet peeping out from a voluminous mound of hairy garments, and opposite:
“Very old Earthlings (or “Grannies”) unravel the sheep and with two pointed sticks they make Earthlet wrappers in blue and white and pink.”
The teacher helpfully goes on to explain about the restricted diet Earthlets must have, which they take in through a “hole in the face”, and how they must then be “patted and squeezed to stop them exploding.”
“When they grow a fang”, of course the eating ritual has changed, and the teacher carefully describes the “prong” used to “mangle” the egg of a hen, followed by a rather messy event involving the “eggmangle and a small spade”, being placed in the Earthlet’s mouth, nose and ears. The Earthlet gets into other messy adventures during the day, but before that:
“To stop them leaking, Earthlets must be pulled up by the back tentacles and folded in half. Then they must be wrapped quickly in a fluffy triangle, or sealed with paper and glue.”
Bathtime is described in similar hilarious fashion, before a description of the Earthlets’ instantly recognisable fierce cry: “WAAAAA”, which can only be prevented by the Earthling daddy picking them up and flinging them into the atmosphere, or by the Earthling mummy “pulling their pheelers one by one” and talking about a little piggy going to market. At the end of the day the Earthlet becomes sleepy and goes to a place called “beddybyes”, and we meet the Earthlet’s toys.
At the end of “today’s lesson”, we see the teacher departing, amid a flurry of soft green heads and the odd tentacle.
But we are to meet the diminutive aliens again, as this teacher is not just a chalk and talk specimen, but one who employs dynamic progressive methods of inculcating knowledge in their charges by direct experience. Provided the alien youngsters are very good and quiet, they are promised a field trip
“The spaceship leaves in five minutes.”
I am exceedingly pleased that Jeanne Willis had the inspiration to translate this useful textbook for alien children into human (she is credited as the translator on the cover) and also that she was accompanied by the brilliant illustrator Tony Ross on her interplanetary travels. Tony Ross is a popular cartoonist and graphic designer, who is most famous for his illustrations to the “Horrid Henry” series of books, and also those by David Walliams. Imagine line and bright gouache works, with adults pictured in the style of Quentin Blake (famous for his illustrations to Roald Dahl book), plus pudgy wide-eyed babies and hilarious bug-eyed monsters, all his own.
It is a perfect duo, producing a superb picture book, suitable for the very young, (although many older Earthlings would doubtless enjoy the humour too). When it was first published in 1988, it was voted by “The Observer” newspaper as: The book children of all ages found the most amusing of the year.”
I doubt whether anything has changed there. Now to persuade my other half that my four year old cousin has more need of this than he has …
So even though the shop had a “two for the price of one” offer on picture books, there I was, queueing at the till with my sole purchase … only to find that Chris had nonchalantly slipped another book on the counter, saying, “That one’s for me!”
Well OK … it wasn’t his usual reading fare, but who am I to query his selection?
Later that evening, I heard him chortling over some book and looked up, only to discover it was this one: Dr Xargle’s Book of Earthlets, subtitled An alien’s view of earth babies.
The author, Jeanne Willis, has evidently taken time out from her interplanetary space hops, and spared a thought for the tiny tots back at home, who know nothing of how they are viewed by your average bug-eyed monster.
She has painstakingly reproduced a sort of traditional lesson, with a teacher (of nonspecific gender) at the front of the class, all four eyes carefully pointing forwards to the pupils, and two tentacles held aloft, bearing a pointing stick aimed towards the stars:
“Good morning class.
Today we are going to learn about Earthlets.”
A pudgy, thumb-sucking, red-faced, human moppet is pictured above the heavens.
The goofy green alien faces the class, now revealing five eyes, not four, and explaining:
“They come in four colours. Pink, brown, black or yellow … but not green”. (We forgive the oversimplification here. This is a textbook, and has of necessity to be simplified.)
The description continues, about the human young’s: “two short tentacles with pheelers on the end and two long tentacles called leggies”. The Earthlet burbles happily.
A page-turn reveals the Earthlet happily using its tentacles to hang on to the tails of two cats, who for some reason seem extremely keen to get away …
“They have square claws which they use to frighten off wild beasts known as Tibbles and Marmaduke.”
Opposite this is a picture of a nappy-clad, red-nosed Earthlet, out in the snow pushing a pram, with said wild-eyed beastie inside, and a statement about the inadequacy of the “fur on their heads”.
Turning the page, we see that Earthlets:
“must be wrapped in the hairdo of a sheep”. This is clearly true as we see the Earthlet peeping out from a voluminous mound of hairy garments, and opposite:
“Very old Earthlings (or “Grannies”) unravel the sheep and with two pointed sticks they make Earthlet wrappers in blue and white and pink.”
The teacher helpfully goes on to explain about the restricted diet Earthlets must have, which they take in through a “hole in the face”, and how they must then be “patted and squeezed to stop them exploding.”
“When they grow a fang”, of course the eating ritual has changed, and the teacher carefully describes the “prong” used to “mangle” the egg of a hen, followed by a rather messy event involving the “eggmangle and a small spade”, being placed in the Earthlet’s mouth, nose and ears. The Earthlet gets into other messy adventures during the day, but before that:
“To stop them leaking, Earthlets must be pulled up by the back tentacles and folded in half. Then they must be wrapped quickly in a fluffy triangle, or sealed with paper and glue.”
Bathtime is described in similar hilarious fashion, before a description of the Earthlets’ instantly recognisable fierce cry: “WAAAAA”, which can only be prevented by the Earthling daddy picking them up and flinging them into the atmosphere, or by the Earthling mummy “pulling their pheelers one by one” and talking about a little piggy going to market. At the end of the day the Earthlet becomes sleepy and goes to a place called “beddybyes”, and we meet the Earthlet’s toys.
At the end of “today’s lesson”, we see the teacher departing, amid a flurry of soft green heads and the odd tentacle.
But we are to meet the diminutive aliens again, as this teacher is not just a chalk and talk specimen, but one who employs dynamic progressive methods of inculcating knowledge in their charges by direct experience. Provided the alien youngsters are very good and quiet, they are promised a field trip
“The spaceship leaves in five minutes.”
I am exceedingly pleased that Jeanne Willis had the inspiration to translate this useful textbook for alien children into human (she is credited as the translator on the cover) and also that she was accompanied by the brilliant illustrator Tony Ross on her interplanetary travels. Tony Ross is a popular cartoonist and graphic designer, who is most famous for his illustrations to the “Horrid Henry” series of books, and also those by David Walliams. Imagine line and bright gouache works, with adults pictured in the style of Quentin Blake (famous for his illustrations to Roald Dahl book), plus pudgy wide-eyed babies and hilarious bug-eyed monsters, all his own.
It is a perfect duo, producing a superb picture book, suitable for the very young, (although many older Earthlings would doubtless enjoy the humour too). When it was first published in 1988, it was voted by “The Observer” newspaper as: The book children of all ages found the most amusing of the year.”
I doubt whether anything has changed there. Now to persuade my other half that my four year old cousin has more need of this than he has …
May 4, 2018
Mildly musing, although by "Earthlets" (i.e. babies) we apparently only mean middle class western children who all live in about the same sort of house and family and have the same clothing and toys and pets and poor behavior.
April 27, 2011
Okay, class, today Professor Xargle will tell us about those peculiar, amusing and bewildering creatures, the Earthlets. Special attention will be given to the infant Earthlets and the ways in which its parental unit cares for it throughout the day.
This is a quirky but fun little read. Since Horace Miner's "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema" was one of my favorite pieces in my early college years (ah, Cultural Anthropology!) I am already kind of a fan of books that show "us" as "them" and how others might interpret our "normal" behaviors. Of course, Willis' story is a much more "lightweight" version of that, but I think it will amuse kids while also providing a subtle but valuable message. This would probably be an especial hit with children who have a baby brother or sister.
This is a quirky but fun little read. Since Horace Miner's "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema" was one of my favorite pieces in my early college years (ah, Cultural Anthropology!) I am already kind of a fan of books that show "us" as "them" and how others might interpret our "normal" behaviors. Of course, Willis' story is a much more "lightweight" version of that, but I think it will amuse kids while also providing a subtle but valuable message. This would probably be an especial hit with children who have a baby brother or sister.
September 3, 2020
I first encountered this book back in the early 90's. Thought it was hysterical! Discovered a couple of things: Preschoolers and toddlers didn't get the humor and older children were embarrassed to death by the story! Obvious reasons, really, Pre and Tods were still too close to the source material and older children, while a bit further away, could still remember it well enough to be mortified by it MAYBE remembered of them! Parents and daycare providers thought the book was hysterical and the book was a revolving door in circulation! Bonus! So I always included it new baby displays for the parents (or expecting) for a good laugh. Illustrations were humorous. Books about 30 years old now, but it just never gets old!
September 22, 2018
Esteemed Dr. Xargle gives a class on the topic: 'An alien's view of earth babies,' with amusing illustrations from Tony Ross.
Such a fun read! And a nice link to 'Beegu.'
Such a fun read! And a nice link to 'Beegu.'
October 9, 2022
One of the children was hiding under a table at work, so I decided to read this lovely book before talking them out. I think I made the right decision!
Loved it as a small child and it was a nice nostalgia trip to rediscover it in the school library.
Loved it as a small child and it was a nice nostalgia trip to rediscover it in the school library.
February 3, 2018
A rare, genuinely funny children's book, where the picture book format hits the spot with child and grown-up with a heady mixture of slapstick, sly satire and vivid illustration - the ending is just superb. Put simply, it's an alien's explanation of infants and their world, misinterpretations abound in a laugh out loud, absurd yet strangely truthful, way. It strikes me (perhaps too earnestly) that the book is absolutely perfect for the situation where an elder child, used to being "special", finds it difficult to adjust to the arrival of a baby sibling. Get them laughing at this (in other words, at themselves) and things will turn out alright.
February 5, 2018
This book is incredibly silly and also a must read! 😂. Find your best alien voice and read it to your children. If there is such a thing as a piglet or an owlet...why wouldn’t we use the term “earthlets”? You will get all sorts of dubious information about what a baby needs, does and wants. Lots of smiles for your child while reading...especially of he or she has spent the last 16 months learning how to be a big brother or sister.
June 19, 2019
Professor Xargle explains to his class the basic lessons, and the finer points on Earthing child care. The insight given is a must read for the new parent, brothers, sisters, and babysitters alike. This book covers topics from bathing to diet, and all things in between.
July 15, 2011
An alien instructs his class on strange and interesting facts about little baby earthlets. Very cute book.
September 1, 2023
Well I wasn't expecting that a book about an alien's point of view would involve describing babies (earthlets) as coming "in four colors, pink, brown, black, or yellow...but not green." My third graders thought certain pages were fun and it may have helped with my lesson, but I won't be using it again. Never thought I would say this but thank goodness for jaundice, otherwise I'd have a lot harder time explaining why a baby would be described as yellow.
October 23, 2017
Hilarious!
June 19, 2018
An alien teaches a class of aliens about earthlings, in a funny way.
August 6, 2018
The description of a human baby (earthlet) through the eyes of an alien professor.
December 19, 2018
Alien teaching his peeps how to act like a human is actually showing children how to live life one would suspect. Quite engaging and humorous in parts, a decent brief read.
December 24, 2019
I just found this. It was from my aunt and uncle for my first born. Very nice.
February 7, 2021
Love this funny “take” on babies, as described by aliens. Reading to my first graders, everyone was giggling as they heard how babies catch the pets and eat and sometimes leak!
March 27, 2022
Not so keen on this one.
August 10, 2022
Funny
February 13, 2023
Just a perfect combination of writer and artist. So fun and I'm sure children will love it :D
January 8, 2024
Apparently Sam loved this as a child. Reading it as an adult, I definitely did not love it.
June 4, 2024
All true facts!
November 28, 2024
I enjoyed it. Reminds me of the Strange Planet comics, it was cute and funny how the babies were described. Illustrations were nice too.
January 30, 2025
Hilariously funny!
October 23, 2024
This is my boss' favorite children's book. It was cool
July 2, 2013
Professor Xargle talks about humans in their point-of-view/perspective. Very interesting to learn about these Earthlets and what they do.
This is a great book to teach about point-of-view and to allow for the students to understand the outsiders view on things. They have misconceptions about Earthlets and think they understand. The students will then retell the story using the real human words and meanings of humans so we can clear the misconception and teach the students of Professor Xargle the real meaning of Earthlets. We can also think about how the aliens may describe other creatures on planet earth. A book for EYFS/ KS1.
This is a great book to teach about point-of-view and to allow for the students to understand the outsiders view on things. They have misconceptions about Earthlets and think they understand. The students will then retell the story using the real human words and meanings of humans so we can clear the misconception and teach the students of Professor Xargle the real meaning of Earthlets. We can also think about how the aliens may describe other creatures on planet earth. A book for EYFS/ KS1.
July 3, 2013
I read this book with my Year one class. It is about an alien teacher who is teaching his students about babies, who he refers to as Earthlets. Dr Xargle mostly describes what babies do, such as cry, eat and sleep. There is lots of description in the story, describing nappies as paper bags and feet as tenticles.
However, my class did not enjoy this book and found the story rather boring. While the book is not the most exciting, it can be used to introduce metaphors and similies to upper Key stage 2. Personally, I would not recommend this book but I can see how it can encourage children's imaginations and perhaps consider different perspectives.
However, my class did not enjoy this book and found the story rather boring. While the book is not the most exciting, it can be used to introduce metaphors and similies to upper Key stage 2. Personally, I would not recommend this book but I can see how it can encourage children's imaginations and perhaps consider different perspectives.
October 28, 2013
The book is about an alien teacher, professor Xargle, teaching a class about human babies. Professor Xargle describes what babies look like and do, and how humans raise their babies. The text is from an “outsiders” point of view and contains funny misconceptions that any outsider may have if they visited planet Earth. This would be a great book for younger students to learn about different points of views, and for older students when they are learning about stereotypes and sensitive to preconceptions.
Interest Level: K-3rd grade
Lexile Level: 350
Genre: Science Fiction Picture Book
Themes: point of view, stereotypes, understanding one another, aliens
Interest Level: K-3rd grade
Lexile Level: 350
Genre: Science Fiction Picture Book
Themes: point of view, stereotypes, understanding one another, aliens
January 5, 2017
Toooo funny. Love the perspective taking of aliens observing what we as humans do and how bizarre we might look to alien observers- e.g. Rubbing fat (suntan lotion) until we are cooked on one side and then flipping. Great for teaching the idea of perspective taking in a humourous way to late primary or junior students. Oops I might be thinking of Dr Xargles book of Earth Weather. There are several Dr Xargle books. They are all basically looking at what humans do from an alien perspective.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews