Earth Tigerlets, as Explained by Professor Xargle

by Jeanne Willis, Tony Ross

The alien Professor Xargle explains all about Earth Tigerlets, known on this planet as felines

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Childrens, Animals, Cats

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Jeanne 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.

Reviews

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner in the Dr Xargle series - this one explains the relationship of earth tiggers with earthlets. Anyone who has or has ever had a cat in their home will love the delightful descriptions of what they may have experienced. This book is worth buying just for the illustration depicting the earth tigger at the vet's, which has me giggling each time I look at it. This is another wonderful book for both children and adults. I can't recommend this series too highly.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I collect children's books whose illustrations appeal to me - these are sold off in great numbers by my local library for next to nothing (thank you, thank you dear library.)

Today I got Dr. Xargle's Book of Earth Tiggers - with Dr. Xargle explaining earth cats to the other aliens from his planet. I think this is the third book I have in the series.

I stood in the library gaffawing and hiccuping with laughter. It is hysterically funny. Not only are the words a delight, but the images are too. Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross make a fantastic partnership.

[Sally Edsall · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is hysterical, and the illustrations terrific. The under-6 crowd perhaps don't really "get it" - it requires the capacity to understand word jokes.

The picture of the mother spooning out "meatblob" (cat food) whilst wearing a handkerchief round her face is a killer! The look of dismay on the little girl's face as the "meatblob"lands on her ice cream is priceless. Perfect depiction of the gloop in tins produced for cats!

A lot of fun this book.

[Coenraad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the witty alternative view of human interaction with cats, and therefore some wry comments about human civilization. Very amusing and entertaining! It starts on the title page, already, as the book was "translated into Human by Jeanne Willis"!

Die vermaaklike alternatiewe siening van die mens se saamleef met katte, met gepaardgaande kommentaar oor ons beskawing, lewer pret vanaf die titelblad: Dr Xargle se teks is vertaal in Mens deur Jeanne Willis!

[Вика Медведь · Rating 5 out of 5]

<3

[Dee-Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I liked this more than my kids, but we all seemed to enjoy it. My ten year old son especially like the page with the different interpretations of one sentence about treading on furballs and breaking legs (you have to read it to get it).

I think if you have a cat, know a cat, loathe or love cats you would appreciate this book.

Quite a few pages resulted in short discussions of what the author was talking about ... eg earth hounds = dogs, as well as the subtle references/outcomes ... eg the fishbowl is falling off the top shelf and what is the likely outcome ... good for trying to get autistic son to think about the story (though some of it went over his head).

[Brigid Keely · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can tell this is a older book because it features lovingly rendered puckered pink cat anuses and nipples, something that probably wouldn't fly in a kids' picture book now. Oh, and it's science fiction. I remember enjoying this book when I was a kid, but the humor flies over my 3 year old's head. I'd recommend this book for a slightly older kid, 6 or so. It's a wry but loving look at cats through the eyes of an inept so-called professor. The illustrations are cute.

[Jorden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny book about cats by the point of view of aliens.

[Marg Corjay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun read!

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A silly, funny story about an alien professor teaching his students about Earth Tigerlets (cats). The why and how of their behavior and how humans interact with them.

Kooky illustrations.

[Becky Dutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is so funny. It would be a great to read to 3 to 6 year olds, or even to me!

[Christine Kenton-braden · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's wonderful. Funny and read it over and over on a camping trip once.