The Adventures of Pinocchio

Story

When Geppetto, a poor woodworker, receives a piece of enchanted wood, he carves it into a boy-shaped puppet. As soon as he carves its feet, the puppet, named Pinocchio, jumps up and runs out the door. The story follows the adventures of the mischievous marionette as he navigates the trials and temptations of the real world.

Why we chose it

Pinocchio is known all over the world – it is one of most translated stories ever and was adapted by Walt Disney as their second animated feature film.

Where it came from

Italian writer, Carlo Collodi (aka Carlo Lorenzini (1826-1890), was among the first authors to write stories specially for children. He first wrote Pinocchio’s adventures as a story series for one of Italy’s earliest children’s magazines, the Giornale per i bambini. Collodi was supposedly inspired by the residents of a small Tuscan village. The village is now called San Miniato Basso but, until 1924, it was called Pinocchio.

Where it went next

In 1883, the story was published in a single book and, since then, has spread around the globe. Indeed, it has become the most translated non-religious text in the world. The story has inspired countless adaptations, most famously Disney’s 1960 animated classic, Pinocchio. The original book is a lot darker than the film and the version of the story the film tells is now much better known than the original. Pinocchio has become a cultural icon and one of the most re-imagined characters in children’s story.

Associated stories

Numerous authors have been inspired by the puppets adventures, including Michael Morpurgo in his book Pinocchio (2013), told from Pinocchio’s point of view.