Pinocchio (illustrated) (New York Review Children's Collection)
K-Gr 5-The adventures and misadventures of the wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a "proper" boy are vivified in a large-size volume that pairs Brock's lively and readable translation with Testa's colorful artwork. Lazy, impetuous, and lacking even a smidgeon of common sense, Pinocchio makes one ill-advised decision after another, resulting in a series of comical consequences and fantastical mishaps that lands him in a jail cell, almost in the sizzling skillet of a giant green fisherman, transformed into a donkey, and even deep inside the belly of a sea monster. However, his heart is pure, and with the help of a patient fairy and his long-lost "daddy," Geppetto, the puppet finally learns important life lessons along with the true meaning of love. The numerous full-page paintings reflect the tale's wonder and whimsy while playing up the high jinks and humor with amusing visual details. Filled with cherry, mahogany, and oaken hues, the illustrations have the warmth and texture of inlaid wood, which, along with the sunny backdrops and seaside settings, keep the tone light. The characters-whether friend or villain-are depicted with a touch of endearing exaggeration and a twinkle in the eye. An appealing version of a classic, perfectly primed for 21st-century readers.-Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journalα(c) Copyright 2013.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.