Carlo Collodi

Tania Zamorsky

An abridged retelling of the adventures of the puppet boy whose nose grows whenever he tells a lie. Includes discussion questions.

Pinocchio

Pinokkio

Taryn

‘It’s not me that got myself swallowed; it’s him that swallowed me!’ ~ Pinocchio 

…and a sweet and gentle voice, like that of a cat winning over the tenderhearted mistress of the house. 

‘Everything that’s lost in this wood always gets found.’ ~ Fairy

‘When a corpse weeps, it’s a sign that he is beginning to recover.’ ~ Crow

‘My boy, never trust those who promise to make you rich between lunch and supper.’ ~ Talking Cricket 

It is impossible to describe the puppet’s joy; you will just have to imagine it for yourself. 

‘As for me, and I tell you this in confidence, I haven’t the slightest desire to study, because I have more fun chasing after butterflies and climbing trees to take the baby birds from their nests.’

A wooden puppet full of tricks and mischief, with a talent for getting into and out of trouble, wants more than anything else to become a real boy.

The adventures of Pinocchio

Sarah Sammis

I've read the Collodi novel once before when I was a teenager and I remember being put off by both by Pinocchio's arrogance and the surrealism of the world in which the marionette lives. Were it not for Roberto Innocenti's gorgeous illustrations I would have set Collodi's story aside without finishing it.

Like so many of the classics from the late 1800s, Pinocchio was serialized in Il Giornale dei Bambini (Children's Journal), starting in 1880. Each installment was a short allegory to teach children how to be independent thinkers (Wiki). Keeping in mind the method of publication and the reason behind it helps to put the disjointed nature of the chapters and the surreal world into perspective. Innocenti's illustrations then bring this world to life.

E. Harden

Gioia Fiammenghi

felicity yoon

Full of Morals, in every bits of the plot or adventure of Pinocchio, Collodi points out the moral lesson. But will it be suitable for kids? It is too dark for the kids to endeavor. Even though some proclaim that kids are not that innocent, I don't think they wouldn't be as sinful as Pinocchio to murder someone. 

I remembered watching the movie "Pinocchio" when I was in elementary. Back then I saw him as a child who is just like me. As a child, I also was terrified by the fact how Pinocchio changed into the donkey because of his disobedience. But the book is so much worse than that. He didn't seem to learn a lesson from his wrongful behaviours and repeating the same mistake again and again. In a way you can say that is human nature and that might be the reason Collodi wants us to see.

Adventures of Pinocchio, the [Ilustrated with Interactive Elements]

Brianna

2.5 stars

Strong morals but the constant short, episodic nature not really going anywhere outside of rehashing the allegorical elements quickly began to drag for me.

The old wood-carver Geppetto decides to make a wonderful puppet which can dance and turn somersaults, but by chance he chooses an unusual piece of wood - and the finished puppet can talk and misbehave like the liveliest child. But Pinocchio is brave and inquisitive as well as naughty, and after some hair-raising adventures, he earns his heart's desire.

Monica

It was an interesting read. All I knew from Pinocchio was what I had seen in Disney's movie, which is not so accurate is we compare it with the book. I found Pinocchio far less lovable and indeed a very, very naughty boy. Also, Gepetto is a very cute character in the movie... but at the beginning he is not so in the book. Also, things that should be very surprising seem to be very normal in this little book. Of course, it is a kids book and kind of a fable in the sense of teaching morality and so on. But in fables it is normally just animals, while here it is animals, humans and a marionette. I was just very surprised that no one was! Anyway, it is a children's classic and a very fast book to read.

The Adventures of Pinocchio, Italian title Le avventure di Pinocchio: storia di un burattino (“The Adventures of Pinocchio: The Story of a Puppet”), classic children’s novel written by C. Collodi that first appeared in serial form in 1881 in the Giornale dei bambini (“Children’s Magazine”) and was published as a book in 1883. It tells the story of the little marionette who wants to be a real boy, and it is perhaps best known as the basis for the 1940 Disney film.

Pinocchio

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