What if the world fell over? What if my cat could speak? What if there are really people inside the television? You might think these are silly questions but to a child they are not. Dahl is the writer for children who answers all those 'what if' questions they like to ask. And as ever too, the action is abrupt and often nonsensical. Mr Hoppy is lonely and shy but he has hidden depths and resources, as have many others of Dahl's leading characters.

and it is then that the love story really begins.Īs ever, with Roald Dahl, this is a story filled with fantasy and humour. And one day, Alfie's growth handicap gives Mr Hoppy an idea. However, Mrs Silver worries about Alfie, for no matter what titbits with which she feeds him, he does not seem to grow. Many are the times Mr Hoppy has thought about inviting Mrs Silver up for a cup of tea, but he is just too shy and cannot pluck up the courage. It is Mrs Silver's balcony and Mrs Silver is Mr Hoppy's second love. If he leans over, Mr Hoppy can see into the balcony of the flat below. One of those loves is the growing of flowers and his balcony is full of tubs, pots, glorious scents and colours. Luckily, his flat has a balcony and it is on the balcony where Mr Hoppy can indulge the two loves of his life. Now that he has retired from his job and is spending a lot of time at home, he is often very lonely and the walls of his tiny abode feel as though they are closing in upon him. It is a small flat and Mr Hoppy is a very shy, solitary man.

Mr Hoppy lives in a flat in a tower block. I called it Lucy and the Beggar! In it, I wanted my hair to grow as long as Rapunzel's hair.

Y'know, I can remember Mrs Mendoza reading from Roald Dahl to the class just as though it were yesterday. As such, it makes a great introduction to the great man for children of six or seven and up. It is also missing the more radical elements in Dahl's work for older children - the naughty adult, the abuse of power, the questioning of authority. Summary: Esio Trot has the traditional Dahl hallmarks of eccentricity, surrealism, and humour.

Esio Trot by Roald Dahl