The Adventures of Pinocchio

Introducing a whole new generation of readers to this timeless classic, an inventive giftbook edition transforms the story of a wooden puppet, who desperately wants to be a real boy, into a hilarious adventure.

Grade 1-4-There is an audience for picture-book adaptations of Pinocchio-those looking for something between Carlo Collodi's bitter and darkly violent original tale and Disney's frothy and sugarcoated story. Unfortunately, this version won't satisfy any taste. The retellers have shortened the text to make it more accessible to young children, and much of the sense of drama and adventure has been lost, as has Pinocchio's gradual moral transformation. The streamlined story's abrupt transitions from scene to scene are jarring and may confuse readers, as when Pinocchio wakes to find his feet burned off. Key scenes are completely omitted. Children are shown neither his bouts of remorse nor his appreciation for those who have been kind to him, leaving only the image of a selfish, lazy, and superficial boy/puppet. Collodi's obvious moral lessons are nowhere to be found here. Philpot's cartoon-style watercolors have a competent, but commercial, feeling-as uninspired and bland as the text. Those looking for an adaptation that honors the spirit of the original tale should consider Ed Young's Pinocchio (Philomel, 1996).
Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. This retelling of a classic story raises a question: does modernizing and truncating the story to popularize it, lose the essence and charm of the original? The answer, of course, is, "It depends on how it's done." The classic, illustrated by Attilio Mussino, is 310 pages. For his picture-book-size, 96-page version, the editors have cut episodes, minimized details, and abbreviated the dialogue. Eliminated are such elements as the Land of the Busy Bees and notes to the reader, and nicknames have been updated (the Lovely Maiden with Azure Hair is now the Blue Fairy). The emphasis is on the magical aspects of the tale, and the heavy moral tone of the original has been replaced by a more child-friendly approach. The new full-page, turn-of-the-century-style illustrations, in watercolor, ink, and paint wash, are lively, spirited, and appealing. Certainly, the editorial changes bring a smooth flow to the story, and the attractive new look, with large print, will entice the young audience to whom Pinocchio's escapades most appeal. Isn't that what retellings should do? Julie Cummins
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