Esio Trot [Paperback]

Roald Dahl (Author), Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

Book Description

Mr Hoppy loves Miss Silver, who loves only Alfie, her pet tortoise, until Mr Hoppy discovers an ancient spell calling for one hundred and forty tortoises. By the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Reprint. 50,000 first printing. PW. C.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This celebrated, splendidly matched author-illustrator team here present a 64-page love story that is equally sweet and silly. For years, Mr. Hoppy has leaned over his balcony rail to gaze longingly at Mrs. Silver, who lives one floor below him. But all of her attention and affection is showered upon her pet tortoise, Alfie. Although the creature seems content, his devoted owner is concerned because he has gained a mere three ounces in the 11 years she has owned him. When the distressed Mrs. Silver tells her neighbor that she will be his "slave for life" if he can find a way to make Alfie grow, the determined Mr. Hoppy devises an elaborate scheme to make her think the tortoise is growing. (Since tortoises, according to Mr. Hoppy, are backward creatures that "can only understand words that are written backwards," his exhortation to the pet begins "Esio Trot"--which is "tortoise" reversed.) It is a happy Hoppy who gets all the credit--and Mrs. Silver's hand. Adults and older children will appreciate Dahl's superior storytelling skills, and will chuckle at Blake's animated, cartoony drawings. But the book's length and subtle humor make it less suitable for beginning readers. All ages.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-- What is this? A love story by Dahl? By the master of the malign, the nabob of the nasty, the king of the coarse, the baron of the body function? Can it truly be he? Well, in a word . . . yes--it can. And to those who still disbelieve, it's a sweetly insouciant love story at that. For years, old Mr. Hoppy has loved his neighbor, Mrs. Silver, a widow who, alas, only has eyes for her pet tortoise, Alfie. The details of how her wish that Alfie would grow a little faster inspires Mr. Hoppy to win the widow's heart will not be divulged here (but it has something to do with the fact that "Esio Trot" is "tortoise" spelled backward). There's not much room for character development in this slender story, but Blake's jauntily scribbled illustrations are--as always--the perfect comic complement and manage to give even Alfie a personality. --Michael Cart, Beverly Hills Public Library
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (November 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140360999
• ISBN-13: 978-0140360998
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,226,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Expendable Alfie, February 26, 2006

By 

Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Esio Trot (Paperback)

This takes no time at all to read
You're done in half an hour
It shows how far a man will go
to prove he has some power

To win the love of Mrs. S.
He pulls a clever ruse
If he can make her tortoise grow
He knows she won't refuse

Tortoises with matching shells
He plays his clever game
It takes an awful lot of work
To win his dizzy dame

ESIO TROT (spelled backwards please)
Gets larger as he'd said
And when he even shrinks it down
He gets inside her head

The moral of this leery tale's
"All's fair in love and war"
If you really want your lady's heart
Then it's worth cheating for


ADNAMA SDRAHCIR, YRAURBEF 62, 6002

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Esio Trot, May 11, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Esio Trot (Hardcover)

I read Esio Trot by Roald Dahl.I tought it was the best book I ever read. Mr.Hoppy wanted to marry Mrs. Silver. Mrs. Silver did not know that Mr. Hoppy wanted to marry her. The book is about his plan to get Mrs.Silver to fall in love with him. I liked when Tortoise number 8 got stuck in his house. I also like when Mr. Hoppy wrote in tortoise language. That was funny. My favorite part was when Mr. Hoppy had 140 tortoises!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read Aloud, June 4, 2000

By 

Lani E (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Esio Trot (Hardcover)

My second graders laughed with delight throughout the short chapter book, and gave a rousing cheer at the very end! We all enjoyed Esio Trot tremendously. This is one of my new favorites in Roald Dahl books.