Dr Xargles book of earth tigers.
Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publications: Red Fox, Random house
Visually it stands out as the red background contrasts with the bright green alien character on the front, as well as Tony Ross's drawings.
The story is of Aliens being taught about 'Earth Tigger's, or cats, and they're general behaviour and playfulness. Except at the end, they're landing in India to see Tigers, not domestic cats!
Its part of a series, other titles include: 'Dr Xargles' book of Earth hounds', '...Earth weather', '...Earthlets' etc.
It uses playful language, calling humans 'Earthlets' etc, so the narrator is the alien teacher.
Each frame is linked with an example of their behaviour, e.g 'The Earth Tigger hate the Earth Hound', and a picture of a cat hissing and looking scared, whilst the dog looks pleased with causing mayhem.
Each page has just a short sentence or two and a image taking up most of the page, akin us concentrate on the facial features which are full of humour. The added humour is from the way the Alien is descrying the events, because the child knows that the names and what they perceive is wrong. e.g Kittens = Tiggerlets and whiskers = antennae.
Characters:
The alien teacher, not shown often but is up on a stage with a pointing stick, his head pops into frame.
His class being taught look the same, green with multiple eyes.
The 'Earthlets' are two young girls and their mother, as well as a boy with his 'Earth hound', and a man. We don't know if they're all one family as only the girls and mum show up in multiple frames with each other. Each picture they have a look of shock or disgust as the cats cause mischief around them. Of course the main characters are the cats, who look like they're most having fun when the most noise is made, and disgruntled when the Earthlets try to help them.
Locations:
Most of the locations are inside, in and around the house, (climbing curtains, playing with the fishbowl, eating in the kitchen etc) or outside (Around the bins, singing on the wall or hiding in the garden).
Format:
The book comes in different editions - hard back, smaller, arguer...as I have found with most children's books. The one I chose was a soft back, smaller version (easier to carry). Its quiet square in shape, making it good for the large pictures inside. It has a title page and inside title age with the credits. It has 32 inside pages, not including front/back cover but including inside sheets. It has 25 picture/word pages altogether.
The pages are consistent in layout, with the illustration taking up nearly the whole page in a boxed frame, and the narration at the bottom. The font is formal and easy to read, most likely Ariel or New times roman. The matter of fact tone the narration has makes it funnier in contrast with the mayhem in the illustrations.
Images + text:
If the book had no words, the images seem pretty clear in the way it's still behaviours of cats, but they would lack the lost translation that the Alien gives and the humour that comes with it.
The text and images follow each other, depicting and supporting the tale. It doesn't rhyme, but each spread follows onto another activity somewhat related to the past one e.g "Earth Tiggers grow sharp thorns. These they use to carve objects made of wood"...(following page)..."or climb steep Earthlets".
No noises are made in the use of onomatopoeia, but are described (singing) and speech ('repeat after me:"Whoops I have slipped on a fur ball and broken both my legs.")
The process that Tony Ross has used is traditional ink and watercolour, quite loosely drawn and expressive.
The colours stay the same throughout, Ross has used watercolours and as usual his characters have bright red cheeks.
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