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A review by katykelly
Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
4.0
Didactic but pleasing translated classic story. Rather different to Disney's vision.
I have read this, but twenty years ago and I'd forgotten it completely. I thought I'd introduce it to my son (almost 8), and we read this at bedtimes as well as listening to a Librivox audio version in the car.
The basic story is recognisable for those (almost all of us) who grew up with the 1940s Disney version. There is an element of dark humour here though that Uncle Walt left out, in the opening scene in particular. Pinocchio is mischievous even as a piece of wood before he is carved, and from the first my son was rather horrified as his behaviour. From allowing his father to sell a patchy winter coat to buy a spelling book, to refusing to work for food or money, we had lots of discussions about gratitude and responsibility.
Ours was an illustrated edition, with 'plates' depicting characters and scenes, a great addition with their old-fashioned look. I also loved the chapter openings, a summary of the contents of each chapter, something my son wasn't familiar with, reminded me of even older texts.
Pinocchio learns the hard way that giving in to temptation and trying to take the easy way out won't work. His long-suffering father Gepetto, the talking cricket, Blue Fairy are all familiar, as are the donkeys on The Land of Toys, but there are also some darker incidents and moralising that make this a read that some children will find a little heavy and antiquated.
We didn't have a problem with the language or tone, my son was always happy to read a chapter, or listen in the car on the way to school. We even laughed a few times.
Lots of lessons to be learned from Pinocchio's story, and though most children will be wanting more light-hearted humour, I think many will still find themselves engaged with the character and his self-inflicted 'trials'.
For listeners age 7+ and for readers of 9 and above.
I have read this, but twenty years ago and I'd forgotten it completely. I thought I'd introduce it to my son (almost 8), and we read this at bedtimes as well as listening to a Librivox audio version in the car.
The basic story is recognisable for those (almost all of us) who grew up with the 1940s Disney version. There is an element of dark humour here though that Uncle Walt left out, in the opening scene in particular. Pinocchio is mischievous even as a piece of wood before he is carved, and from the first my son was rather horrified as his behaviour. From allowing his father to sell a patchy winter coat to buy a spelling book, to refusing to work for food or money, we had lots of discussions about gratitude and responsibility.
Ours was an illustrated edition, with 'plates' depicting characters and scenes, a great addition with their old-fashioned look. I also loved the chapter openings, a summary of the contents of each chapter, something my son wasn't familiar with, reminded me of even older texts.
Pinocchio learns the hard way that giving in to temptation and trying to take the easy way out won't work. His long-suffering father Gepetto, the talking cricket, Blue Fairy are all familiar, as are the donkeys on The Land of Toys, but there are also some darker incidents and moralising that make this a read that some children will find a little heavy and antiquated.
We didn't have a problem with the language or tone, my son was always happy to read a chapter, or listen in the car on the way to school. We even laughed a few times.
Lots of lessons to be learned from Pinocchio's story, and though most children will be wanting more light-hearted humour, I think many will still find themselves engaged with the character and his self-inflicted 'trials'.
For listeners age 7+ and for readers of 9 and above.