Pinocchio

A listener will be swept along at a fast pace from the first day that Gepetto carves his puppet from a piece of wood. With many adventures along the way which prove to be dangerous as well as important lessons, this story has a strong moral fibre which encourages people not to tell lies or risk humiliating consequences! Also a touching tale of a creation who is deserate to be deemed human - 'a real boy', this story can also be interpreted as having racial and social aspects which are incredibly appropriate in modern times, too. A classic story, expertly told.

Publishers Weekly

Innocenti's luminous interpretation of Collodi's tale carves the action out of 19th century Italian landscapes. Clearly shown as a mocking marionette, this Pinocchio races through cobbled city scenes and then throws himself prostrate at the personal fairy whom he has most recently wronged by his hasty, thoughtless behavior. And when he becomes a real boy, the transformation is resounding: left slumped on a chair is the body of a puppet; readers may marvel that what lies so lifeless in that scene was the source of so much trouble earlier on. Enchantment reigns in the pictures, each a perfect elaboration of the text. Innocenti and Collodi are equally at home in a place where puppets have life beyond human hands, and where souls may die and live again, resurrected by the power of love. All ages. (Oct.)

Nicholas J. Perella is Professor of Italian at the University of California, Berkeley.

Rebecca Burns is editor-in-chief of Atlanta Magazine, which has won numerous regional and national awards under her direction.