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READING GUIDE

Esio Trot

by Roald Dahl · A Very Clever Tortoise Trick

About the book

Mr Hoppy lives alone in a London flat with a balcony full of flowers, and he has a quiet, hopeless crush on Mrs Silver, the cheerful woman who lives in the flat below. When Mrs Silver wishes her tortoise, Alfie, would grow bigger, Mr Hoppy hatches a very unusual plan involving a tortoise trick that only a true expert could dream up. Roald Dahl's gentle, funny story unfolds entirely in and around that London balcony, making it perfect for readers who enjoy clever schemes and warm-hearted surprises.

Why kids love it

This is a short, accessible Roald Dahl story that rewards careful reading, with wordplay that will delight children (and maybe inspire them to write backwards too). It invites readers to think about honesty, kindness, and what it means to care for someone, all while laughing at Mr Hoppy's increasingly elaborate plan. The book is a wonderful stepping stone for newly confident readers moving into longer chapter books.

Step into the world of Esio Trot

Mr Hoppy's Balcony

A narrow balcony high above a London street, crowded with plant pots in careful rows. Below, just out of reach, is another balcony — and on it, on sunny days, a very small tortoise.

The Stairwell

The cool stairwell of the apartment building echoes with footsteps. Mrs Silver's door is painted a cheerful green, and a lettuce leaf often lies forgotten on the mat.

Mr Hoppy's Living Room

A cosy room where a tortoise of quite remarkable size basks under a warm lamp. There is a small table, a comfortable chair, and — always — a fresh lettuce leaf.

Sample questions

Here is the kind of thinking Esio Trot asks for — drawn from the actual quiz:

  1. Mr Hoppy is a shy man who lives alone in an apartment.

    Mr Hoppy lives quietly by himself until his secret plan begins.

  2. Who does Mr Hoppy love from his balcony?

    Mr Hoppy loves his downstairs neighbour, Mrs Silver.

  3. What kind of pet does Mrs Silver keep?

    Mrs Silver keeps a tortoise called Alfie.

Words to know

tortoise
A slow-moving reptile with a hard shell that lives on land.
balcony
A platform with a railing that sticks out from the side of a building, often high up.
enormous
Very, very big.
crouch
To bend your knees and lower your body close to the ground.
whisper
To speak very quietly so that only one person can hear.
scheme
A clever plan, sometimes a secret one.
swivel
To turn around a central point, like a chair that spins.
pester
To keep asking someone for something in an annoying way.

Talk about it

  1. Mr Hoppy goes to a lot of trouble to help Mrs Silver. Do you think his plan was a kind thing to do, or should he have been honest with her from the start? Why?

  2. Mrs Silver talks to Alfie as if he understands her. Why do you think people sometimes treat pets like they are human?

  3. The story takes place mostly on a balcony in London. How does the setting shape what happens and how the characters behave?

  4. Mr Hoppy uses a special code to make his plan work. What does this show about his character, and how does it change the way Mrs Silver sees him?

  5. If you could give Mrs Silver one piece of advice at the beginning of the story, what would it be and why?

  6. Roald Dahl often makes readers laugh at characters who do silly things. Which parts of Esio Trot made you laugh, and why do you think they are funny?

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