Ladybird Readers Level 4 - Roald Dahl - Esio Trot (ELT Graded Reader)

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Penguin Books, Limited, Jan 30, 2020 - Foreign Language Study - 64 pages

Ladybird Readers is an ELT graded reader series for children aged 3--11 learning English as a foreign or second language. The series includes traditional tales, favourite characters, modern stories and non-fiction. Written by experts, it uses proven methods to help children learn English and grasp key grammar and vocabulary points.

  • Perfect for learning English in school or at home
  • Develops reading, writing, speaking, listening and critical thinking skills
  • Features much-loved characters and authors such as Peter Rabbit, Peppa Pig, Roald Dahl and Eric Carle
  • Eight levels follow the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (CEFR)
  • Language activities in every book provide preparation for the Cambridge English Pre-A1 to A2 (YLE) tests
  • Features free online resources including audio, answer keys, lesson plans and tips for parents


Roald Dahl: Esio Trot, a Level 4Reader, is A2 in the CEFR framework and includes practice for the Cambridge English A2 Flyers tests. The longer text is made up of sentences with up to three clauses, more past and future tense structures, modal verbs and a wider variety of conjunctions.

Mrs. Silver loves her tortoise, Alfie. Mr. Hoppy loves Mrs. Silver. Will Mr. Hoppy's big idea make him brave enough to tell her?

Visit the Ladybird Education website for more information.

About the author (2020)

Roald (pronounced "Roo-aal") was born in Llandaff, South Wales. He had a relatively uneventful childhood and was educated at Repton School. During World War II he served as a fighter pilot and for a time was stationed in Washington, D.C.. Prompted by an interviewer, he turned an account of one of his war experiences into a short story that was accepted by the Saturday Evening Post, which were eventually collected in Over to You (1946). Dahl's stories are often described as horror tales or fantasies, but neither description does them justice. He has the ability to treat the horrible and ghastly with a light touch, sometimes even with a humorous one. His tales never become merely shocking or gruesome. His purpose is not to shock but to entertain, and much of the entertainment comes from the unusual twists in his plots, rather than from grizzly details. Dahl has also become famous as a writer of children's stories. In some circles, these works have cased great controversy. Critics have charged that Dahl's work is anti-Semitic and degrades women. Nevertheless, his work continues to be read: Charlie and Chocolate Factory (1964) was made into a successful movie, The BFG was made into a movie in July 2017, and his books of rhymes for children continue to be very popular.

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