A funny book, written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by the magic pencil of Quentin Blake, Esio Trot is a must for all young people. The book contains a single story, without chapters, and you would be well advised to start it when you have a bit of time on hand, as you won't want to put it down till the end. The book sounds good when read aloud, too, especially some parts which go like this: Esio Trot, Esio Trot, Teg reggib reggib! Emoc no, Esio Trot, Worg pu, fupp pu, toohs pu! Egrog! Elzzug! Futts! Plug! Tup no taf, Esio Trot, Tup no taf! Teg no, Teg no! Elbogg doof! Doesn't make sense? Read again! And again! The story starts with the author's note about pet tortoises and North Africa and other things besides. Based in England, the story is about a bachelor named Mr. Hoppy, who is desperately in love with Ms. Silver, the woman living in the flat just under his own. But Ms. Silver cares for her pet tortoise and nobody else, or so it seems to poor Mr. Hoppy. And as he is of a shy nature, the most he ever manages to say to Ms. Silver is good-morning as he waters his plants above her. And then one day Mr. Hoppy finds out that Ms. Silver would like nothing more than that her tortoise, Alfie, should grow bigger. This is the beginning of Mr. Hoppy's great plan, interesting chiefly because of the hilarious way he goes about executing it....