Pinocchio Books

This edition stands perfectly well on its own in either language for simple enjoyment of the story and prose. It is also a useful learning resource for the intermediate to advanced student of the language. I suggest that you listen to Il Narratore audiolibro tape or CD while you read the text in Italian and then in English. The side by side page format is perfect for this technique. I am on my second iteration and I think I am actually learning. Do not let the 1883 date of original publication bother you. The language seems contemporary and the idioms are thoroughly footnoted. Be ready for a lot of passato remoto in the first and third person singular(this is after all a literary tense) and many very colorful verbs. Forget about Disney or any English language kids' editions. This is real literary fiction. The tranlator's opening essay provides social,linguistic and historical context if you're interested.

Pinocchio is a wooden pupet that wants to be a real boy.He tells everyone that he is real,but he nows that he's not real. Every time he lies his nose grows bigger and bigger.Just as his nose gets bigger a fairy god mother comes and grants his wish about being a real boy. This book is a fiction book and is out standing. Carlo Collodi makes this book a outstanding and wonderful to read. Children should love this book. I've loved this book since I was 4 years old. My parents read it to me all the time.
This book was set in a little town on a hill.Gippito is the carver of pinocchio.I truly think he did I good job at designing him. I LOVE THIS BOOK!!

Since another reviewer has already stated why this edition/transation is the best one to buy, my review will focus on the story, which is a charming allegory for children, no matter what language is used to tell it.

Children identify with Pinocchio because of all his troubles. They understand what it is like to want to and mean to do well, only to fail miserably. They are also very capable of matching his extremes of emotion. Childhood is so full of humiliations that they don't think, "Oh, what an idiot not to have gotten it by now" or "He's overreacting terribly." (In fact, these are things said about _them_.) Instead, they cheer Pinocchio, who commits blunder after blunder--and is rewarded at the end of the book, for finally getting it right.

Also endearing are the puppet's "parents," old woodcarver Geppetto and the "fairy with blue hair." Despite their scapegrace's repeated failures, they forgive him again and again, giving him countless chances to redeem himself. As for the villains who prey on Pinocchio's naivete, they are perfect representations of what children find threatening. Some characters resemble playground bullies; others are more like the monsters under the bed. The talking animals are a little exasperating, but very nice.

"The Adventures of Pinocchio" is as whimsy as Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland": in both novels, anything goes. Unlike Carroll, however, Collodi injected moral lessons into the storyline. Pinocchio does not get into one humiliating episode after another just to amuse young readers; with every mistake he makes, he learns a moral lesson.

The plot structure is "poor"--which works to the book's advantage. This is what-happens-next kind of reading. Children care foremost about what new agonies a protagonist can propel himself into, and so will like the pace.

Accept no abridgements or adaptations. There are wonderful details that are often cut out for economy--or rewritten for somebody's idea of style. For the real Pinocchio, read this book.

Professor Perella's landmark translation is a must for students of Italian. For those who have studied the language in school or on their own it is a wonderful introduction to reading original material as the translation is both literate and rather literal. It is nothing less than a masterpiece. Anyone will benefit from reading it.

The translator, the editor, the designer, everyone involved in this project deserves the highest praise... oh, and the author, of course! Of particularly worthwhile note is Perella's lengthy introduction, an essay on the story in context of Italian culture, and also noteworthy & insightful are his endnotes on his translation. This is so much more than a childrens' story (and SO much more than Disney's version) -- it is a story for all ages, all levels of students of Italian language and culture (a great aid to improve reading skills, incidentally) and all those in love with things Italian. Thank you, Nicolas Perella, for your great effort in bringing this landmark story of Italy to the English reader, in clearest, most straightforward style -- if I could give you an award, I would.

This is by far the best book I own. It is signed by animators Ollie Johnson, Frank Thomas among others.
It will truly impress you Disney friends. Great addition to your library.

I OWN THE LIMITED FRENCH SIGNED & NUMBERED EDITION OF PIERRE LAMBERTS' BOOK "PINOCCHIO". IT COMES WITH A LUXURIOUS LEATHER COVER WITH DEBOSSED IMAGE OF PINOCCHIO'S HEAD ON THE FRONT AND AN ORIGINAL SIGNED AND NUMBERED LITHOGRAPH. EVERY TIME YOU PICK THIS BOOK UP YOU GET THAT UNEASY FEELING THAT YOU MAY DAMAGE IT. YOU FEEL THAT IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE HANDLED, JUST DISPLAYED IN A MUSEUM OR ART GALLERY. THAT'S HOW GOOD THIS BOOK IS. IT'S A DREAM COME TRUE AND AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN GET TO DISNEY MAGIC. HOW A PUBLISHER COULD RISK PRODUCING THIS KIND OF QUALITY BOOK IS BEYOND ME. LUCKY FOR US, PIERRE LAMBERT MANAGED TO GATHER ALL THE IMAGES FROM VARIOUS PRIVATE COLLECTORS AND FROM DISNEY ARCHIVES TO MAKE THIS BOOK HAPPEN. WELL DONE AND I HOPE THAT HE WILL MAKE ONE ON PETER PAN!

Quite simply, the most beautiful book I own

If you look for Disney history, it is a must.
If you look for animation resources, this is a must.
If you look for a well-made book, this is a must.

Great on the coffee table, on any shelf, and even better, in front of you...
All this goes for Lambert's Mickey Mouse and Blanche Neige (Snowwhite) books, as well! Get them, and hope he makes some more...

Pinocchio is widely accepted as being Disney's most 'complete' film from Disney's golden 30's and 40's era, and this book does it wonderful justice. Enormous and heavy, it contains superb quality images, many of which are fold-outs (like the fantastic background plate of Pinocchio's village seen in the film). There's even an imitation 'cell' at the beginning of the book with Jiminy Cricket. It's expensive but really is a thing to treasure - most of the large format pictures are frameable works of art in their own right. Text is kept to a minimum to leave room for hundreds of glossy pictures that really leave you in awe at the amazing level of art the Disney company had reached, even back there in the early forties. If you're a fan of the film's art and animation then look no futher -you must have this book - it's a beauty, just like the movie.

I have to say, my only previous experience with the story of Pinocchio is through the Disney classic cartoon...and boy is this a LOT different than the Disney version! I'm not saying that's a bad thing...far from it in fact, I was just surprised at how selfish and, well...disobedient this little wooden boy was. In this book, Pinnochio isn't a naive boy who gets led astray; he's a selfish, lying, bad-tempered puppet who (for the most part) can't see past his own immediate wants and needs. He constantly makes bad decisions based on spur of the moment desires without thinking about any long term implications. Naturally, he's apologetic and supremely sorry when he gets caught or something bad happens to himself or others as a result of his actions, but he doesn't seem to learn very quickly from these lessons and must repeat them many, many times before he finally "gets it." Similarly, Geppetto isn't 100% of the time a kindly old man; he too has his moments of anger with Pinocchio's behavior. Even the Blue Fairy isn't as kindly and beneficent as Disney made her...she too isn't above pulling a nasty prank or two to show Pinnochio the error of his ways. I think these personality elements resonate with young readers...I think we can all admit that most children push the limits, do things they know they are not supposed to and generally find disobeying to be more fun than obeying (at least at times)...and in that way, Pinocchio is the embodiment childhood. He does all the things they've been told not to and reaps the rewards or pays the price for it! I think that is what makes this a timeless classic that has been loved for generations. I think that there are a lot of dark humor and plot points in this book (the blue fairy's death, Geppetto's getting lost as sea, the attempted assassination of Pinocchio, etc.), that it's effective and riveting (especially for young readers) and enjoyable...it also makes his final transformation into a real boy all the more rewarding when it finally happens. I have to admit I enjoyed reading this far more than ever enjoyed watching the Disney cartoon version. Overall, it's a rich, dark, and sometimes humorous tale that is illustrated wonderfully in this version by Gus Grimly. I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys reading the non-sanitized versions of Grimm's Fairy Tales (and other similar stories). It has all the familiar plot elements of the one we grew up watching (in America, at least) but is a much darker story than Disney gave us. I give it 4 stars and I would definitely buy it for my permanent library.

I absolutely LOVED this book. The story is a classic. Collodi words paint beautiful pictures in your head and with an awesome sense of humor. The morals of the story are priceless. Reading the book actually made me want to be a better person! Sounds kind of silly, but it's true. It's beautiful! And I absolutely love Gris Grimly's illustrations. He has such a unique style which adds to the fantasic air of the story. It's a very good, fun book. Highly recommended if you're looking for a dark adventure with a moral :)

My two 8-year-old girls are enjoying hearing me read one chapter a night of Pinocchio. The vocabulary is just a tiny bit above them so it provides a good opportunity to learn new words. The Grimly illustrations fascinate them.

Before Disney Studios produced their version of "Pinocchio" there was the original by Carlo Collodi, and it's a story everyone should read. The little wooden head didn't start out as the adorable creature you are probably used to; this is a bad boy with a deeply buried heart of gold. In fact, there is a veritable mountain of bad deeds and decisions for Pinocchio to climb out of to redeem himself and earn humanity. Collodi's dry, sly wit is what has kept this book in print since the 1800s. The author took chances and subjected his characters to torments The Mouse would never dare to draw. Fortunately for readers, the perfect tonic for erasing those whimical images is found in the twisted illustrations of Gris Grimly. One look at the cover and you know right away this is hardwood troublemaker just looking for some dilemna to jump into. Grimly's...well...grim creations find a perfect home in this tale of coming-of-age and losing-of-wood.

No matter how much you think you love your "Pinocchio" DVD, give this faithful treatment a try. You'll find yourself distressed that you have been missing out on the wickedly funny original all these years. And, you'll be a Grimly fan for life!

I can't say how surprised I was by this book. As a father of a toddler, I've began reading some of the classic children's stories for future consideration, and I was shocked at just how good this was. Prepare your child (or yourself) for a tale that is darker, comical, and so much more rich than the Disney adpatation. For children, Pinnochio has a few nice moral lessons nestled inside. For anyone else, it's a very entertaining read.

I purchased this book along with several others along the same vane for my Grand Daughters. age 2 and 4 to eventually enjoy as I know they will. I am their Gran Pa and are really looking forward to reading it to them when they are old enough. Great illustrations which go great with a twist of the tale....

But that's good. Because no matter how well-made the classic Disney movie is, the book is definitely better. It is much darker, that's for sure. Disney took some liberties with the movie to make it a bit happier for its audience. For example, Pinocchio actually bites off the paw of the cat thief, when Pinocchio is robbed by the fox and cat. Also, Pinocchio is much more devilish and naughty, which makes reading his decisions and actions aggravating and at the came time entertaining. I won't reveal much more, but I will say that although it is not a happy-go-lucky as the movie, it still has a very happy ending and contains great lessons for young (mischievous) children. Also, The edition I bought was the version with Gris Grimley's illustrations. His illustrations are a delight and absolutely fit the story. A wonderful, captivating read, with a great story/lesson.

it was about a guy that wanted a little boy so he wished and it came true. THe little wooden boy had to be true and go to school and not skip or do bad stuff to become a real boy. The lesson is don't do bad stuff to get into troble. the age level is 2nd grade. The book was good.

When you think of "Pinocchio," you automatically think of the classic Disney film. But before that came the charmingly-written classic by Carlo Collodi, now reissued by the Starscape book line alongside more contemporary fantasy.

An elderly woodcutter named Geppetto has an unusual piece of wood -- one that, when carved into a puppet, can move and speak. He names this strange puppet "Pinocchio," and has barely finished when he's arrested. Pinocchio may be able to speak and move and think for himself, but he's also a bit of a pain, as Geppetto finds when he returns home. Like any boy (wooden or not), Pinocchio has good points and bad points -- and he has some hard lessons to learn before he can gain what he wants most.

It's a charming tale, though not really of the same type as the much-beloved movie. The book is both more entertaining and a lot darker. The characters aren't perfect; they have a lot to learn and accomplish, and one entertaining scene has Geppetto and a carpenter duking it out. Pinocchio will alternately annoy and endear himself to the readers, like a real kid would. One minute you're sorry for him because he burned off his feet, and the next you want to smack him because of his picky eating habits.

The writing style is really charming, alternately humorous and serious; there isn't a lot of detail, although the illustrations may make up for that. Dry wit pervades almost every part of the book, especially the opening page. The plot definiteIy definitely is darker than the cartoon, with more scenes connected with death and violence, such as a pair of assassins hanging Pinocchio. But probably kids will be able to handle it; this is and has always been a children's book.

Gris Grimly's drawings seem, overall, to suit the story of Pinocchio -- they can be grim and a little weird, and can also be much softer and sweeter. Depends on who's in it. Some are a little jagged and surreal, while some are outright pretty. Weird? Yes. Twisted? Definitely. Fitting? Absolutely.

"Pinocchio" is an unusually good children's classic with a well-written storyline and an alternately loveable/irritating hero. Definitely worth checking out.

Great vocab. building, but the kid has to enjoy reading. The words are integrated pretty well into the story and many of them can be figured out in context, but the definitions and examples of usage on each page are great.

The Pinocchio Intermediate Vocabulary Builder is a study guide to building one's vocabulary, featuring 1,000 intermediate-level vocabulary words such as "reminiscent" and "idiosyncratic" that appear on the PSAT and SAT tests. All words are present in context in a continuous story, and straightforward definitions plus sentences that clearly illustrate their usage. An excellent, easy-to-use vocabulary building that applies the power of storytelling to impress meanings into memory.

Trust me, my nose will not grow by telling you that this book is an absolute must read.

Mark Phillips ingenious concept of combining America's favorite tales, with a vocabulary building premise is back. This time for the intermediate vocabulary level with the story of Pinocchio.

Everyone knows and loves the story of Pinocchio. As a result, when reading this book, you do not feel like you are doing any work to learn new words. It's like studying without the tediousness of study. You will be amazed how words seemlessly enter your everyday usage. Also, after you have read Mark Phillips' books, you will notice when reading other things you suddenly have a new level of comprehension thanks to a vaster vocabulary breadth.

Do yourself a favor and buy one of these for yourself and every child in your family today. You will find them incredibly enjoyable, and will learn to master words that will serve you for the rest of your lives.

We love Disney and we love the Little Golden Books, so we couldn`t be more happy with this box. The stories have exactly the right length for a bedtime story and we read one almost every day.
The drawings are wonderful to look at and the hard cover prevents them from being torn.

I ordered a bunch of items on Amazon the same time as this; this arrived first, packaged, perfect.

It's hard to beat these old classics. Packaged together in a paper slipcase just like a DVD box set, these six Little Golden Books are exact reproductions of titles published in the 1940s and 1950s, with those same sweet stories, charming if somewhat muddy illustrations and, of course, cheap little cardboard covers. But quality issues aside, they're perfect for kids to spread out on the floor, read in bed or, of course, have read to them. One book, "Walt Disney's Mother Goose," is a collection of 32 short nursery rhymes illustrated with comparable scenes from Disney films and cartoons. It includes such rare tales as Bobby Shaftoe, Cross Patch, Deedle Deedle Dumpling, Jumping Joan and Little Betty Blue.

If you love the art in these books you should also check out Walt Disney's Classic Storybook. It's a keepsake hardback with most of these same stories and illustrations (and many more), but it's printed beautifully on quality gloss paper. In it, these illustrations are just stunning, with crisp lines and vivid colors.

It is a great classic story. The art-pictures in this book are made by Roberto Ciabani who was designated "Magnificent Master" of Florence and he is a Tuscan. I really loved the pictures in this book and my son loved the story. It is for all ages!!!

My daugher loved this book. She used to tell me every night, "Let's read Pinocchio". It's a great book. We liked the art.
Amy Wilcox

I gifted it to a 37 yrs old and he just loved it!
Great pictures. Good quality in general

This is a lovely book. I have purchased several copies for grandchildren. All of Cooper Edens books are great resources for collectors of great illustrators,but can be confusing to small children who can't understand why characters look different on every page.I still buy all of his books for myself and will for my grandchildren when they are older. Pinocchio, because he is wooden is recognizable in all his different renditions. I believe my five year old grandson will love this book as I do. While Disney was a fixture of my childhood and I do want my grandchildren to see these films so different from modern children's fare, it is very important to me that they read at some time the full texts of "Pinocchio"," Peter Pan", "Alice in Wonderland" and of course Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, Perrault and Aesop. Children will read if they are read to often. I can't wait to share Mark Twain and Dickens with my babies. Now please Mr.Edens, Give us a collection of the wonderful illustrators of "The Waterbabies" with the full text!

Because of the dumbing down of the Pinocchio story in the U.S. since the late 1930's, augmented by the continuing dominance of the Disney version, modern American readers, child and adult, are missing out on an important reading experience popularly enjoyed during the first four decades of the 20th century. The Wunderlich/Morrisey book describes and analyzes the former richness and ubiquity, and the subsequent adulteration, of the original Pinocchio version in America.

This book belongs in the library of every academic institution where literary and cultural studies are important. It should also be accessible in public libraries to enable parents and teachers to discover, or rediscover, a rollicking and many-layered story to share with children.

Finally - a comprehensive analysis and history of one of the most important children's books! If you think you know Pinocchio, think again. Pinocchio Goes Postmodern is THE exhaustive study of the great literary puppet. From Carlo Collodi's (pen name for Carlo Lorenzini) original late 19th century tale to its many 20th and 21st century spin-offs, from the original's illustrations to its inspired copies, to Disney's version and beyond, Pinocchio Goes Postmodern enlightens with its expansive chronicling of the fabled Pinocchio story in its myriad manifestations.

Wunderlich and Morrissey are, in my estimation, the world's preeminent Pinocchio scholars. (Hollywood and Global Cinema take note: If you are going to tackle a celluloid rendition of this tale - animated or otherwise - you need this team aboard as consultants.) The former is a professor of sociology at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, the latter, a professor of English at SUNY Plattsburgh. Wunderlich had already written a Pinocchio Bibliography before tackling this endeavor. Morrissey has written at least one Pinocchio-inspired play. Both have written many articles and given many talks on the subject for over twenty years. Pinocchio Goes Postmodern benefits from these scholars, not only because of their seemingly exhaustive knowledge about Collodi, Pinocchio and their literary children but because they are able to approach the material from both sociological and literary vantage points.

The text provides an overview of creator Collodi's life and work prior to Pinocchio, as well as a publication history of the original. Later chapters expand on the publication history of Pinocchio and trace the manner in which Collodi's story has been re-told, appropriated, outright stolen, bastardized, rescued and recovered by a plethora of storytellers. The best of these amalgamations capture the true spirit of the original tale and continue to make it both a learning experience in the context of amusing storytelling. The best of the Pinocchio spin-offs also continue to focus on the growth of the "I-ness" (to borrow Robert Coover's terminology from his adult sequel, Pinocchio In Venice) within the principal character. In spite of its detractors and countless rip-off artists, Collodi's original Pinocchio tale is a beautiful children's bildungsroman that does not shirk from strong lessons. The novel emphasizes that the so-called "real world" can be a cruel and dangerous place. You can get lost in it but it. And it can change you for better or worse. How we cope in the midst of harsh lessons and times of peril often speaks loads about us because these are often the moments that transform us into stronger human beings and give us a better understanding of ourselves. Indeed, Collodi's Pinocchio remains, in its own way, one of the most important of existentialist tracts.

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of Wunderlich and Morrissey's text, however, is not its incredible thoroughness regarding its core subject matter, but its attempt to rescue the original story from obscurity and reacquaint contemporary readers to the power and messages imbedded there. Disney probably did the most damage in terms of turning Pinocchio into a cutesy children's tale. (Moreover, the sociological and moral lessons imbedded in the Disney version are skewed. For example, nobody is economically destitute in the Disney (World) view and if you disobey your parents and guardian angels - even if they look like crickets - you're going to wind up a demon-like, gambling, heathen. Period.) Although Collodi probably kept adults in mind as he was penning his book, his text is unquestionably first and foremost a children's story. The author made sure his story remained focused on depicting sincere versions of the tough trails - and trials - children must travel on their journey to adulthood. Why there have been countless watered down retellings of the story may best be summed up by an overview of our postmodern culture: our obsession with keeping things light and easy, our manic infatuation with consumerism, our attempt to turn life into one long visit to Pleasure Island. Most damaging of all, perhaps, is a turning away from the importance of cultivating an intimate knowledge and ongoing study of the self. Self-study is not narcissistic behavior, but necessary in order to gain authenticity in a largely inauthentic and superficial world.

Pinocchio Goes Postmodern is not only a fun book to read, it's a tremendous reference tool that belongs in the library (public and private) of anyone concerned with the history of great children's literature and great texts in general. Wunderlich and Morrissey present their material in an accessible, friendly style. Their knowledge of and enthusiasm for their subject matter will make you want to keep turning the pages as quickly as you can read them - and then race to go re-read Collodi's original Pinocchio and re-discovery its joys and wonders.

I came across this book recently at a used book sale and was delighted with my find. As the daughter of an Italian mother, I was reared with the original Collodi work of Pinocchio. In this translation, the author has explained some of the mysteries of this wonderful children's tale that befuddled me for most of my childhood. The footnotes, though wordy, can be ignored and the story just sails on. Reading the footnotes, however, sheds light on many of the trials of Pinocchio that have heretofore been cause for wonder.

I had the extreme good fortune to find this book in a used bookstore about 10 years ago. If you already love Pinocchio, you`ll definitely want this: if you`ve never read it, Teahan`s annotated version is a great place to start. He has done his own translation of the story, endeavoring to make it accessible while also retaining its distinct Italian/Tuscan flavor. The detailed notes he provides really do enhance one`s enjoyment of the story. If you are reading the book to a child, you can skip the notes, but it would be easy to simply adapt some of them into explanations for the child`s questions. For example, a young reader will not be interested in the political satire that Collodi has inserted into parts of Pinocchio, but he/she might be quite interested in the games played by the kids in the Land of Toys, or want to know about the very different foods {cornmeal pudding and chickpeas, to name a few} eaten by the book`s characters. Teahan`s wealth of information enhanced the original story enormously for me. Did you know that it`s always Thursday or Sunday in the Land of Toys because Tuscan children used to get those days off school? That Collodi uses predatory animals like foxes and magpies to symbolize the corrupt, power-loving upper classes of 19th century Italy? That the Cat in the famous Cat/Fox duo is male in some translations, female in others? Maybe I`m just a hopeless completist, but info of this nature makes Teahan`s fresh look at an already entertaining classic even better! Let`s hope this one gets into print again.