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Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Genre: Children's Fiction, Romance, Humour

Book Review:
''Esio Trot'' is a delightful departure from Roald Dahl's usual tales of giants, witches, and magical concoctions. This is a gentle, sweet, and surprisingly tender story about love and the lengths a shy man will go to win the heart of the woman he adores.

Mr. Hoppy lives alone in his apartment, secretly in love with Mrs. Silver, who lives below him. Mrs. Silver's only companion is a small tortoise named Alfie, and she often wishes out loud that Alfie would grow bigger. Mr. Hoppy, seizing his chance, devises an elaborate plan. He tells her about a secret language called ''Esio Trot'' (tortoise spelled backwards) and claims that whispering it to a tortoise will make it grow. What follows is a charming and humorous sequence of events involving multiple tortoises, a long fishing rod, and a whole lot of patience.

Dahl's prose is simple yet elegant, and the story moves at a gentle pace. It's a story about quiet devotion and the joy of small, kind acts. Quentin Blake's illustrations, as always, are perfect, capturing the characters' emotions with his signature whimsy. The ending is heartwarming and satisfying, proving that sometimes the simplest plans can lead to the greatest rewards.

While this book is often categorized as children's fiction, its themes of love and loneliness will resonate with readers of all ages. It's a wonderful choice for a read-aloud and a lovely addition to any Roald Dahl collection. Highly recommended for anyone who believes in the magic of kindness and the power of a little bit of trickery done with love.