Do you have something to share? Send us your poetry, stories, school events and other reports using this form.
Charisse Shih (aged 8), St Paul’s Convent School (Primary Section)
I recommend reading Esio Trot, a charming book by the beloved author Roald Dahl. I take great pleasure in this story because the main character, Mr Hoppy, has a unique talent: he can speak the language of tortoises.
His neighbour, Mrs Silver, wants her tortoise to grow bigger, so Mr Hoppy generously shares this skill with her. In the story, tortoises are described as “backward” creatures, meaning that to communicate with them, you have to speak backwards.
For instance, the phrase “Esio trot, esio trot, teh reggib reggib!” translates to “Tortoise, tortoise, get bigger, bigger!” I found this concept fascinating.
However, it is quite clear that tortoises don’t grow bigger or more quickly just because someone speaks tortoise language. To help Mrs Silver, Mr Hoppy gets 140 tortoises and gives her a bigger one each week. Isn’t Mr Hoppy clever and witty? Spoiler alert: by the end of the story, Mr Hoppy and Mrs Silver fall in love.
This book is great for children because its ideas are surprising - imagine seeing hundreds of tortoises in a living room. It is an easy read, making it suitable for primary school students to enjoy independently.
