The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi is novel that chronicles the many mischievous adventures of marionette named Pinocchio, who comes to life, and his creator, a poor wood-carver named Geppetto.  The character is famous for his nose, which begins to grow long whenever he tells a lie.  The plot steers Pinocchio and his father through many situations and incidents that introduce a host of memorable fairy tale characters: a Talking Cricket, the Fox and the Cat, the Fairy with the Turquoise Hair, an Owl, a Parrot, and so on.  The story began life in 1881-2 as a serial in Il Giornale per i Bambini in Rome, the first Italian newspaper for children, and became an instant hit. It originally ended with Pinocchio’s being hanged for his many transgressions. The second half was added at the request of his editor, in which Pinocchio is rescued by the “Blue Fairy” and turned into a real boy who acquires a deeper understanding of himself.  The completed tale was more suitable for children, became a cornerstone of children’s literature and inspired hundreds of adaptations, most notably the classic animated film by Walt Disney.  It has been translated into over 240 languages, making it one of the most translated and widely read books of all time.

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