Reviews

Most children today know Pinocchio as a cherub-faced Disney creation brought to life by a wish on a distant star. Adapted from Collodi's 1883 work, this sparkling edition reintroduces a much more intriguing hero--``a piece of wood with a mind of its own.'' Under the ministrations of the long-suffering Geppetto, this troublesome twig is refashioned into ``a grand puppet.'' A brisk tale of adventure ensues, told with sly humor, merriness and a good dose of morality. Dynamic illustrations carry a suggestion of animation, while an unusual dappling technique adds a solid warmth. Pinocchio is depicted as a taper-nosed Pierrot, vacillating between hope and delusion as he rushes headlong from one bad decision to the next. With his unusually long proboscis, he is both a figure of fun and an endearing protagonist. Sometimes captured as a nightmare vision, always fantastical, a dreamy atmosphere suffuses this work, while carnival colors reinforce the sense of madcap adventure and fun. All ages. (Sept.)

K-Gr 3‘Although originally a full- length book, the thread of Collodi's story (via Disney) is what has become embedded in our culture, and that thread is what Metaxas chooses to retell here. He focuses on some of the best-known characters and portions of the tale, smoothly leading Pinocchio from one episode to the next. Some of the macabre moments have been altered: Pinocchio chases away the talking cricket rather than squashing it, and the Blue Fairy rescues the puppet from two assassins rather than leaving him to be hanged. Ajhar's muted watercolor illustrations support the text well, and the portrayal of Pinocchio is especially appealing‘he has a pathetic and puzzled expression on his face for most of the book. While Metaxas and Ajhar have done a good job, the accompanying audiotape is the crowning touch. Danny Aiello's honey-and-gravel voice adds dimension to the text, and the merry music of Les Misérables Brass Band provides perfect punctuation for the hapless puppet.‘Donna L. Scanlon, Lancaster County Library, PA