Reviews

Iassen Ghiuselev brings the famous puppet-turned-boy to life in Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio, trans. by Carol della Chiesa. His b&w drawings possess the detail and craftsmanship of woodcuts, his paintings a psychological depth that reaches far past the story's events, such as one of Pinocchio hanging from a tree, as if lynched. Theatrical lighting creates a chiaroscuro effect. (Mar.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Gr 1-4-There is an audience for picture-book adaptations of Pinocchio-those looking for something between Carlo Collodi's bitter and darkly violent original tale and Disney's frothy and sugarcoated story. Unfortunately, this version won't satisfy any taste. The retellers have shortened the text to make it more accessible to young children, and much of the sense of drama and adventure has been lost, as has Pinocchio's gradual moral transformation. The streamlined story's abrupt transitions from scene to scene are jarring and may confuse readers, as when Pinocchio wakes to find his feet burned off. Key scenes are completely omitted. Children are shown neither his bouts of remorse nor his appreciation for those who have been kind to him, leaving only the image of a selfish, lazy, and superficial boy/puppet. Collodi's obvious moral lessons are nowhere to be found here. Philpot's cartoon-style watercolors have a competent, but commercial, feeling-as uninspired and bland as the text. Those looking for an adaptation that honors the spirit of the original tale should consider Ed Young's Pinocchio (Philomel, 1996).-Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.