Pinocchio

Gr 3–5—Sold a talking piece of wood, a lonely wood carver named Geppetto creates a boy puppet and names him Pinocchio—a naughty puppet at that. Pinocchio kicks Geppetto and runs away. He soon realizes, however, that life as a puppet is not all it's cracked up to be and decides he wants to become a real boy. One day, when Pinocchio gets into some trouble and doesn't come home right away, Geppetto goes out looking for him, get caught in a storm, and waves to Pinocchio right as he is swallowed by a great shark. Alone and friendless, Pinocchio runs afoul of a murderous Cat and Fox, an angry farmer, a giant under the sea, a little man who turns boys into donkeys. With the help of a Blue Fairy, he survives, but will he ever get his wish of becoming a real boy? Will he find his father? Does Pinocchio have what it takes to be a real boy? McMullan and Lemaitre bring their vast array of skills together in a unique way that makes this illustrated version of a classic perfect for early chapter book readers. The pictures are detailed, eye-catching, and complementary of the text. McMullan stays true to the original story while making the text simple enough for young readers to enjoy. Fans of abridged classics, fantasy, and adventure will enjoy reading this newest version of this timeless classic.—Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT