Esio Trot facts for kids
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First UK edition
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| Author | Roald Dahl |
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| Illustrator | Quentin Blake |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape (UK) Viking Press (US) |
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Publication date
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3 September 1990 |
| Media type | Print (hardback and paperback) |
| Pages | 62 |
| ISBN | 0-224-02786-7 |
| OCLC | 24734818 |
Esio Trot is a charming children's book written by the famous British author Roald Dahl. It was illustrated by Quentin Blake. Published on September 3, 1990, it was the very last book Dahl released during his lifetime. Unlike many of Dahl's other stories, which often feature mean adults and brave children, Esio Trot tells a sweet tale about an older, shy man named Mr. Hoppy. He tries to connect with a kind widow, Mrs. Silver, whom he secretly admires.
In 1994, Monty Python member Michael Palin read the English audiobook version of the story. Later, in 2015, the book was turned into a BBC television film called Roald Dahl's Esio Trot. This movie starred Dustin Hoffman and Judi Dench as the main couple, with James Corden as the narrator.
Contents
The Story of Esio Trot
Mr. Hoppy's Secret Crush
Mr. Hoppy is a quiet, elderly man who lives alone in an apartment. He loves taking care of his many plants. For many years, he has had a secret crush on Mrs. Silver, who lives in the apartment directly below his. Mr. Hoppy often leans over his balcony to chat politely with Mrs. Silver. However, he is too shy to tell her how he truly feels. He really wants to express his feelings, but the words just won't come out.
Alfie the Tortoise
Mrs. Silver has a small pet tortoise named Alfie, whom she loves very much. One morning, Mrs. Silver tells Mr. Hoppy that even though she has had Alfie for many years, her pet has only grown a tiny bit. Alfie has gained only 13 ounces in weight. She wishes she knew a way to make her little Alfie grow into a bigger, more impressive tortoise. Suddenly, Mr. Hoppy gets an idea! He thinks of a way to grant Mrs. Silver's wish and maybe win her affection at the same time.
The Magic Growing Spell
Mr. Hoppy tells Mrs. Silver that he actually knows a special way to make a tortoise grow bigger. He quickly writes down some words on a piece of paper. Then, he carefully lowers it down to Mrs. Silver.
ESIO TROT, ESIO TROT,
TEG REGGIB REGGIB,
EMOC NO, ESIO TROT,
WORG PU, FFUP PU, TOOHS PU,
GNIRPS PU, WOLB PU, LLEWS PU!
EGROG! ELZZUG! FFUTS! PLUG!
TUP NO TAF, ESIO TROT, TUP NO TAF,
TEG NO, TEG NO, ELBBOG DOOF.
Mr. Hoppy explains that these "magic words," when whispered into Alfie's ear three times a day, will make Alfie grow bigger and bigger. Mrs. Silver is a bit unsure, but she agrees to try it. (The words are actually "Tortoise, tortoise, get bigger bigger! Come on, tortoise, grow up, puff up, shoot up! Spring up, blow up, swell up! Gorge! Guzzle! Stuff! Gulp! Put on fat, tortoise, put on fat! Get on, get on, gobble food!" spelled backward.)
Mr. Hoppy's Clever Plan
Over the next few days, Mr. Hoppy starts the second part of his plan. He visits every pet shop in the city. He buys many tortoises of different sizes, but none that weigh less than 13 ounces. Mr. Hoppy brings all these tortoises back to his apartment. He sets them up in a special area in his living room.
Next, Mr. Hoppy builds a clever tool. This tool will help him carefully pick up the tortoise from Mrs. Silver's balcony. He attaches a handle to a long metal tube and a tiny claw at the bottom. By pulling the handle, the claw's arms gently open and close.
The Tortoise Swap
The next day, when Mrs. Silver leaves for work, Mr. Hoppy chooses a tortoise from his collection that weighs exactly 15 ounces. He carefully lifts Alfie from the lower balcony with his special tool. Then, he quickly swaps Alfie with the new, slightly larger tortoise. When Mrs. Silver returns home, she faithfully whispers the magic words into "Alfie's" ear. She doesn't even notice that a switch has been made!
Over the next eight weeks, Mr. Hoppy keeps swapping Mrs. Silver's current pet with a slightly larger tortoise. Still, she doesn't realize her pet is growing in size because of the swaps. One afternoon, Mrs. Silver tells Mr. Hoppy that Alfie seems a bit bigger, but she can't be sure.
Suddenly, Mrs. Silver notices that Alfie can no longer fit through the door to his little house! She excitedly tells Mr. Hoppy that his spell must be working. Mrs. Silver rushes inside and weighs her pet. She is amazed to find that "Alfie" now weighs 27 ounces. This is more than double his original weight!
A Happy Ending
Mr. Hoppy gathers his courage and asks Mrs. Silver if he can come down to see the amazing change for himself. Mrs. Silver is thrilled about her pet's transformation and happily agrees.
Mr. Hoppy races down the stairs, feeling both nervous and excited. He knows he is very close to winning Mrs. Silver's heart. Mrs. Silver opens the door wide and gives Mr. Hoppy a warm hug. She tells him how much she admires his magical spell. However, the tortoise is now too big for its house. So, Mr. Hoppy tells Mrs. Silver to say a magic spell that night and the next. Secretly, he replaces this tortoise with one slightly smaller during the day.
His plan works perfectly! Mr. Hoppy, feeling brave because of Mrs. Silver's warm smile, asks her to marry him. Mrs. Silver happily accepts Mr. Hoppy's proposal. She then adds that she thought he would never get around to asking!
Mr. Hoppy secretly returns all the extra tortoises in his living room back to their pet shops. A few weeks later, Mr. Hoppy and Mrs. Silver are happily married. The "original" Alfie is bought by a girl named Roberta Squibb after he is returned to a pet shop. After many years, he does indeed grow to double his size, just like Mrs. Silver had wished!
Book to Screen: The Adaptation
The book Esio Trot was turned into a BBC comedy television film. Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer wrote the screenplay. The film, titled Roald Dahl's Esio Trot, stars Dustin Hoffman as a retired man who falls in love with his neighbor, a widow played by Judi Dench. She has a tortoise as a pet. James Corden narrates the story. Filming took place in May 2014 in London. The movie was shown on January 1, 2015, and received great reviews. The Guardian newspaper even called it "a thing of wonder."
Editions
See also
In Spanish: Agu Trot para niños
