Dr. Xargle's Book of Earth Mobiles

Reach for this book when your child is stuck in a rut or needs a reminder that there are many ways to look at the same thing. This absurdist comedy is perfect for children who are beginning to notice the 'rules' of the world and find joy in pointing out the silly side of everyday life. It offers a playful way to practice perspective taking, which is a core component of social intelligence. In this installment, Professor Xargle explains human transportation to his class of aliens with hilariously incorrect logic. Cars are 'metal boxes on wheels' where humans sit to breathe smoke, and bicycles are 'wobbly skeletons.' By stripping away the familiar names of objects, Jeanne Willis invites children aged 4 to 8 to use their imaginations and look at their own neighborhood through the eyes of a visitor from another planet. It is an excellent choice for building vocabulary and sparking creative thinking during travel or commute times.