Pinocchio: The Story of A Puppet [Hardcover]

Carlo Collodi (Author), Iassen Ghiuselev (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Winner of the 2002 Independent Publisher Book Award for Juvenile/Young Adult fiction (presented at BookExpo America), this book signifies a modern link to the Pinocchio tradition with a complete and unabridged, newly translated text by Carol della Chiesa and more than 100 extraordinary illustrations in color and black and white.

New illustrations by Iassen Ghiuselev accompany his 1994 award-winning originals and are distinguished by their museum quality. The artwork meets the finest standards in book production and reclaims this time-honored story for children and adults alike. A modern classic for all ages, printed on acid-free paper, and bound in Italy, it is a treasure of a book and a gift to be remembered.

This book has also been chosen as an outstanding example of book design in the American Institute of Graphic Arts Award annual competition, and received an Honorable Mention for Excellence in Book Design in Canada by the ALCUIN Society. Illustrator Iassen Ghiuselev was the winner of the Illustrator of the Year Award at the Bologna Book Fair in 1994.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-7. The Disney version of Pinocchio is so ingrained in the American consciousness that it is easy to forget how quirky, surrealistic, ironic, funny, and, at times, very dark the original novel is. For example, Pinocchio obliterates the talking cricket early in the story with a well-aimed blow from a hammer. The unabridged text appears here, and Bulgarian artist Iassen Ghiuselev captures the events of the picaresque plot in his many black-and-white drawings as well as a number of full-page watercolors. His drawings are characterized by intricate cross-hatchings and subtle use of shadows, while his paintings, in cool colors, are filled with beautifully rendered details, such as the intricate folds of clothing. In many of the watercolors, versions of familiar Renaissance paintings, which echo the action of the story, are subtly tucked into the scene. This is a well-designed, brilliantly illustrated new edition of the classic. Todd Morning
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Simply Read Books; 2nd edition (February 18, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0968876803
• ISBN-13: 978-0968876800
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,109,488 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb edition of a truly timeless classic., March 22, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pinocchio: The Story of A Puppet (Hardcover)

The Adventures Of Pinocchio by Carol Collodi is a timeless classic, reprinted in hardcover by Simply Read Books with a newly revised text based on the translation by Carol della Chiesa. The memorable, award-winning illustrations of Iassen Ghiuselev add wonderful flavor to the engaging story of a wooden boy who longs to become human. The Adventures Of Pinocchio is a superb book to read to young children before bedtime, at the pace of one chapter a night, since it's significantly longer than the average fairy tale. A treasure of a book and a gift to be remembered.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Version of Pinocchio Out There, July 2, 2009

By 

Cyber Gypsy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pinocchio: The Story of A Puppet (Hardcover)

This book is the original Pinocchio and is a literary masterpiece. It is the perfect story for a child aged 6 and over, because Pinocchio goes through the same dilemmas and tests that all humans must go through in less obvious forms before they can reach true humanity. Until that time, Pinocchio remains wooden. It is a wonderful metaphor for children to imbibe. The humor brightens the otherwise 'horror' situations that Pinocchio finds himself in.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars No Lie, February 7, 2009

By 

Carol H. Santucci - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pinocchio: The Story of A Puppet (Hardcover)

Even though these were not the illustrations I recall from the book I read as a child, I found them captivating. The feeling was very similar to those I recall, and I am very happy to be adding this book to my little library. I gave it four stars