Children's book: Esio Trot

Overview
"Esio Trot" is a small, gentle tale of affection and ingenuity written by Roald Dahl and published in 1990. The title is a playful reversal of the word "tortoise," a clue to the book's central object and its whimsical approach to language and trickery. With Quentin Blake's characteristic drawings adding warmth and humor, the story blends romance and comedy in a format accessible to children while also appealing to adult readers.
The narrative centers on quiet, solitary characters whose lives are brightened by a tender, cleverly arranged deception. Dahl's spare, affectionate prose turns an unlikely premise into a cozy, moral fable about patience, longing, and the lengths someone will go to for love.

Characters
Mr Hoppy is a shy, unassuming bachelor who watches life from his armchair and cherishes the small pleasures of ordinary existence. He admires his neighbor, Mrs Silver, from afar; she is kind, gentle, and devoted to her pet tortoise, Alfie. Mrs Silver's affection for Alfie and her wistful desire for him to grow larger become the hinge on which Mr Hoppy's plan swings.
Alfie the tortoise is both a character and a catalyst: his slow, steady presence symbolizes constancy and domestic comfort, making him the perfect focus for a scheme that is as much about companionship as it is about physical transformation. Supporting characters and the community are sketched lightly, keeping the spotlight on the intimate triangle of Mr Hoppy, Mrs Silver, and Alfie.

Plot
When Mr Hoppy learns that Mrs Silver longs for Alfie to grow, he devises an elaborate but gentle ruse. Rather than trying to change himself or confess his feelings directly, he arranges to make Alfie appear to grow through a series of carefully timed substitutions and a bit of stagecraft. The scheme involves procuring a sequence of progressively larger tortoises and enacting circumstances that persuade Mrs Silver that the increases in size are miraculous.
Dahl treats the unfolding plan with comic seriousness: Mr Hoppy's patience, attention to detail, and earnestness are the source of the story's humor and heart. The ruse succeeds in making Mrs Silver happy, and as she celebrates Alfie's supposed growth, a friendship between her and Mr Hoppy deepens into genuine affection. The resolution focuses less on exposure or punishment than on the mutual warmth that results, leaving readers with a sense of comfort and satisfaction.

Style and Tone
The prose is understated and wry, with Dahl's knack for combining everyday observations and whimsical inventions. Quentin Blake's illustrations punctuate the text with lively, expressive line work that complements the gentleness of the story. The tone is playful without being mocking; the joke is directed at human foibles rather than at anyone's expense, creating a mood that feels both mischievous and tender.
Language plays a small but important role: the backward title, the ritual of words Mrs Silver is led to repeat, and Dahl's rhythmic sentences all contribute to a fairy-tale quality that is grounded in domestic realism. The result feels modern and old-fashioned at once, like a folktale retold on a sunny suburban street.

Themes and Reception
At its heart, "Esio Trot" is about longing, the ethics of deception used for kindness, and the delight of small domestic miracles. The story examines loneliness and the human desire to be seen and loved, suggesting that a little creativity and courage can bridge emotional distances. Readers often respond to its warmth and the moral ambiguity of Mr Hoppy's trick, something playful and forgiving rather than punitive.
Critics and readers have praised the book for its charm, humor, and the gentle way it handles adult themes in a children's format. Its popularity endures as a compact, affectionate tale that celebrates imagination, the comforts of companionship, and the small, elaborate gestures people make for those they care about.