Relativity, as Explained by Professor Xargle

by Jeanne Willis, Tony Ross (Illustrator)

Professor Xargle explains to a class of extraterrestrials how various members of families behave.

Responsibility: translated into human by Jeanne Willis ; illustrated by Tony Ross.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

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

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The funniest book I've read all week. Crazy examination of earthlings by an alien professor to his class of aliens. All misinterpretation of commonplace activity in one family. By the way, it's not about Einstein's relativity. It's about relatives and that misuse of the word kind of sets the tone for what's to come. Thoroughly enjoyable if you have that kind of sense of humor.

[Rosalyn Davey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just hilarious! My class love the Dr Xargle books!

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Xargle and his students are about to visit Earth for the first time, so they must be taught about Earth families (don't stick your hands in Earthling brothers' pockets - they're sticky and slimy!)

Okay, it's not a hard-and-fast "Humor" categorization, but this book had me in stitches! It must be the term "Earthlets" that had me going -or the description of the water coming from Earthlets' eyes when they get sad that keeps them clean. This would be a fantastic book for a story time about families or a sci-fi/space themed story time. So much fun and very funny (could do with a reprint, but it's still a great book).

[Aoife Blood]

We read this book because it is about aliens who want to learn about humans. This month we are learning about space and lots of the children have mentioned the possibility of aliens living in space. We wonder if they look like Dr. Xargle!
In History we are talking about families and how we care for one another. One thing is for sure - Dr. Xargle got lots of things about 'Earth Relations' wrong!

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

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