Children today are more likely to have seen the Walt Disney 1940 film version of Pinocchio than to have read the original book. That’s just one reason why The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, illustrated by Roberto Innocenti, would make a welcome addition to a child’s library. Another is the stunning, imaginative art by the renowned Italian illustrator Innocenti, who has also illustrated the Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol.
Collodi, an Italian journalist (his real name was Carlo Lorenzini) first published Pinocchio, the story of a mischievous and misbehaving wooden puppet, in 1881. This beautiful re-release will take readers young and old on an imaginative journey into another world. Pinocchio’s travels are filled with adventure he is ambushed, almost eaten by a fisherman, flies on the back of a pigeon and gets swallowed by a gigantic shark. Innocenti, one of the finest artists working in the field, created more than 50 magnificent illustrations for this handsome, high-quality edition. Children will be enthralled by his depiction of busy marketplaces, bright farmyard scenes, mysterious winter landscapes and even the inside of the giant shark.
Deborah Hopkinson’s picture book, Apples to Oregon, was recently named a finalist for the Oregon Book Award.
