Run by Sarah Armstrong

Cas (short for Casper) has experienced some dreadful things in his short life. He is only twelve. His mum left him and his dad when Casper was just four years old. He has no real memory of her but he has so many unanswered questions. Did she leave because he did something wrong? Does she miss him? Where does she live now? Cas is left with his dad but that's when live becomes even harder because dad cannot cope. He does not buy food, he has no job and he shows no affection towards his young son. Cas is forced to scavenge for food in dumpsters. If anyone offers him the tiniest touch of affection it almost overwhelms him. Eventually Cas is sent to live with Mel - his father's sister and his aunt. She tries hard and is able to give Cas a stable home but then, unbeknown to Cas, his father wants to resume contact. Mel organises for Cas to spend a day with his father but he absolutely does not want to go. At the last minute Mel is unwell and so she sends Cas with her former partner Kimberley. 

Cas is seething so when Kimberley's car veers off the road Cas takes his chance and dives out of the car and runs away. Note the title of this book - run! Cas is now running. He thinks of the way people survive on television series like Alone. Of course he lacks skills and equipment and he knows he has put himself into a dangerous situation and then he meets three people - a father and his two daughters. They have been living in the bush for two years but why? And who are these people? Can he trust them? How will he find his way home without them? But then there is a major landslide and it seems he is stuck. 

Waking up in the middle of the night and wanting to keep reading is a sign of a great book. I started Run at about 9pm on night and by the middle of the next day I finished off the whole book. I think this action thriller will greatly appeal to readers aged 10+. It is a survival story but is it also a story about forgiveness and about 'growing up'.

Publisher blurb: Cas thought running away from home would solve all his problems. But he didn’t count on getting hopelessly lost in the tangled Australian bush. Alone and afraid, Cas has given up all hope of rescue when he stumbles upon a strange family hiding out in the wilderness. He won’t survive without their help. But when he discovers they’re also on the run – from something so big, they won’t even talk about it – he realises his problems are just beginning …

This is a fast-paced survival story that also manages to thoughtfully address themes of family and forgiveness. Set in the bush, it’s an exciting read filled with strong, memorable characters. The plot is gripping, yet written with sensitivity and an inclusive approach. Readings Melbourne

Without giving away too much that would spoil the suspense or the story itself, it really has many layers and moral dilemmas entwined throughout and will have you questioning what you would do if you were not only in Cas’ situation, but also that of Mack, Pearl and Viv. And then there are the feelings and emotions that his family and friends are going through, not knowing where Cas is, or if he is even safe. A suspenseful and fast-paced story of survival, with many twists and turns, but also a story of family, friendship, trust and belonging, and is suited to those in lower secondary and also to those in upper primary as well. Lamont

Companion reads:

The Honest Truth

Cop and Robber

Being Jimmy Baxter

The Lovely and the Lost

Sunshine

Pax

A Different Dog

Swashbuckler by James Moloney

This is the cover of the edition that seems to still be in print

This is the original cover with art by Annmarie Scott

"If you really want to know, I'm wild, I'm mad, I'm absolutely furious with him. 

Why does he have to die? And my biggest fear of all is that I'll go up to that hospital and stand next to him and I won't be able to stop myself. I'll start shaking him and yelling at him. You see, now, why I can't go up to the hospital, don't you?"

Publisher blurb: ‘Cease and desist! Stand fast and release your prisoner!’

Peter, a new boy at Park Ridge school, is thankful to be rescued from the school bullies by Anton the Swashbuckler. Even if Anton does speak in such a weird way and wears outlandish garments. After this Peter and Anton become firm friends and discover that they each have family problems. Together they turn those problems into challenges to be tackled in true Swashbuckler style.

Here is a summary from the excellent Teachers Notes: Peter, along with his mother and two younger sisters, are forced to move house after his father gambles away everything that they own. Bitter and angry, Peter finds it impossible to forgive and accept his father back into his life. In fact, in Peter’s mind, he has no father. To make matters worse, Peter is cornered on his first day at Park Ridge school by the school’s most notorious bullies. He is rescued by classmate Anton, a self-proclaimed ‘swashbuckler’, who speaks in character and dresses in costume. Most kids at school think Anton has gone completely mad. However, this colourful facade hides the painful fact that Anton’s father is dying from cancer.

Swashbuckler was published in 1995. When I saw it in a school library recently I thought it would be very interesting to revisit this book as I remembered really enjoying it and also I think I have referenced it here on this blog several times as a companion book.

Has this book stood the 'test of time'?

Yes and no. The actual plot certainly has but possibly some of the reference feel outdated - such as watching videos; going to the video shop; using a camcorder; and there is one reference to smacking a child. None of these tiny things though, will reduce enjoyment for a reader.

What I liked about this book:

• It is fairly short with only 83 pages however the print size is too small. If this book is ever reprinted, I would like to see a larger font.
• The characters in this story are so well developed especially Peter.
• The 'authentic' weird way Anton speaks means this book would be good to read aloud. I will look for an audio book version. Here it is.
• There is a sequel so if young readers aged 9+ enjoy Swashbuckler they are sure to want to read about the two bullies Buzzard Breath and Brains and hear their perspective on the school rose bush vandalism.
• I like the cover of the newer edition.
• Both boys have different life struggles, but both need to find a way to forgive, in this case, their fathers.
• The issues raised in this book about terminal illness and an addiction to gambling are just as relevant today.
• The ending is very sad (I cried), but it is also realistic. Yes, there is a good outcome for Peter with his dad, but it is not a saccharine or silly happily ever after. 

Swashbuckler was part of a series from University of Queensland Press called Storybridge. All these years later I think short, action stories like this are needed especially for upper primary aged boys. I found this list of titles. I remember enjoying Sally Marshall's Not an Alien by Amanda McKay; Nathan Nuttboard Hits the Beach by Anthony Eaton; and I adored (still adore) The Big Bazoohley by Peter Carey. James Moloney also wrote one of my BEST ever Grade six read aloud titles - The Pipe - from the After Dark series. In 2014 I read Disappearing Act and I loved his Aussie Bites title Moving House. 

Swashbuckler won the CBCA Younger Readers category in 1996. I was interested to see James Moloney's book made several of the older readers short lists 2009 Kill the Possum; 2006 Honour title Lost Property; 2004 Black Taxi; 2001Touch Me; 1997 winner A Bridge to Wiseman’s Cove; 1996 The House on River Terrace; 1995 Honour title Gracey; 1994 Honour title Dougy and in 1999 the sequel to Swashbuckler - Buzzard Breath and Brains was a Honour title. You can see many of the covers here and read more about James Moloney.

Read more here

The Young Vikings

RIP Nanny Tobbins by Lucie Stevens

I don't often read 'ghost' stories because it is one of a very few genres that I do not really enjoy but the author of this book Lucie Stevens spoke at a recent conference held here in Sydney at our State Library and her brief author talk intrigued me (which I am sure was her intention).

Since I am not an expert on middle grade ghost stories I may be generalising but I thought that usually a ghost had a reason for their return. Coming back to right a wrong or assist a person from when they were alive. The young girl in this story Albertine Waldblumen had no concept of death (she is very young and naive). Adults have protected her from this.  We learn her father first off won't take her to Nanny Tobbins funeral and then we also discover she is not allowed to go near the churchyard cemetery. I suspected, correctly, that she had never seen her mother's grave. Poor child believes her mother is flying in the sky with the angels and so she spends a lot of time looking up hoping to see her. So why did Nanny Tobbins return? I guess she may have returned to help Albertine discover the truth about death or to help her in some way to cope with her new Stepmother and changing relationship with her father but that all feels a bit too vague.

Back to Nanny Tobbins (real name Nanette) who was indeed a nanny to Albertine (nick name Bert) we never actually find out about the Great Exhibition of 1851 but alas as Albertine and her new stepmother set off to attend this amazing event the story quite suddenly ends. I was very disappointed not to read about the sights and wonders through Albertine's eyes. Here is some information about The Great Exhibition aimed at youger readers. How did Nanny Tobbins die? It was a horse-riding accident but we are given no further details. I kept wondering if Albertine perhaps saw the accident or worse if she was in some way involved.  One of the gruesome aspects about this ghost is the way her head is not quite attached to her body. She also seems to attract lots of moths but just why this happens is never explained. At night Albertine is locked inside her room - I did find that quite distressing and I desperately hoped the would not be a fire in their house.  

Only Albertine can see the ghost of Nanny Tobbins, but her precious dog named Quiver seems to sense when she is here. There are a number of stereotypes in this story - the evil stepmother; the absent father; the fearful and bumbling servant; and the warm-hearted cook who makes fabulous foods for little Albertine. Of course, the spooky moments happen at midnight. The author Lucie Stevens did say she was thinking of the classic book Mary Poppins when she wrote the short piece as part of an assignment that then led to this longer novel. 

Was there really elephant at The Great Exhibition? Yes and No.  Not a living one but there was a taxidermy one. 

Image source: Victoria and Albert Museum

You can hear Lucie Stevens talk about her book here on the Podcast Your Kids Next Read (start at 15.60). RIP Nanny Tobbins is her debut Middle Grade Novel. RIP Nanny Tobbins will be published tomorrow! And she mentioned there will be a sequel next year and one of the books she lists as recent enjoyable reads was Little Bones. 

Bookseller blurb: When Nanny Tobbins fell off a horse and broke her neck, the grown-ups told nine-year-old Albertine she'd never see her beloved governess again. But it simply isn't true. For every night, when the clock strikes twelve, Nanny returns to the nursery. Yet in her new ghostly state, Nanny Tobbins quickly causes chaos in the household -- and the timing couldn't be more inconvenient. Albertine's stepmother is struggling to settle in, and Papa is much occupied working with Prince Albert on the Great Exhibition. To make matters worse, the grown-ups don't believe in ghosts at all, leaving Albertine to take the blame for Nanny's unruly antics. How will Albertine restore peace to her home before the unthinkable occurs?

RIP Nanny Tobbins is an easy book to read - I think it will appeal to readers aged 10+ but it may not be scary enough for the readers who love to find ghost stories that can tingle your spine. 

About the author: Lucie Stevens is a children’s writer who grew up in a semi-rural area of Dharug Country, north-west of Sydney. After working in Australian publishing houses for many years, she moved to Berlin, where she helped make education outreach programs for the UK and European Space Agencies. Now, having resettled in Gadigal Country, Sydney, Lucie works as a freelance editor for NGOs and not-for-profit organisations. She has authored and co-authored several books for the education market, on topics ranging from mudlarks to Mars. R.I.P. Nanny Tobbins is Lucie’s first novel for children.

I know I said at the start of this post that I don't seek out ghost stories but here are a few I have read and enjoyed (aimed at a similar audience to RIP Nanny Tobbins).

Out of the Wild Night

The Haunting of Charity Delafield

The Ghost of Grosswater

Her Perilous Mansion

Elizabeth and Zenobia

Not a ghost story but this wonderful book has a similar feel or setting

Withering by Sea

Just under the clouds by Melissa Sarno

"Then I brush my notebook off and stuff everything in, fishing around for my Tree Book. But it's not there. The worn leather, with its little ribbon tail is missing. I check the front pocket. I check the sleeve inside. I sit down on the wet ground and throw my backpack to it, opening it wide. I take all the withered papers out and stack them. I take each covered textbook and each notebook out. Purple, red, green, blue. I check the front pocket - a jumble of pens and pencils and paperclips, an eraser that feels like it's coated in sand and crumbs. I check the empty sleeve, I fan the colours, in a pinwheel, looking for the soft brown leather. Its gone."

This notebook is everything to Cora. It is her link to her father who died several years ago. Her father was Irish and mum has Mexican heritage. Cora's little sister lost oxygen to her brain during birth and so she has a fairly profound disability. Money is very tight and so the family of three keep having to move. As the story opens, they are living in a homeless shelter, but it is a very dangerous environment. After they are robbed, they move in with mum's friend. Willa seems to have a perfect life and a perfect home and so mum just needs to move again. Cora would love to stay because it is the first place in a long time that she feels safe, but they do move this time into assisted housing. Now school is even further away. 

One thing that connect Cora to her father is the drawing in his notebook of a tree he called The Heaven Tree. Cora finds the tree down by the canal. She is determined to climb it but there are no low branches. The only way seems to be through the window of a disused factory. This will be very dangerous. 

Little Adare loves cats. There is a stray cat that hangs around near the tree and near the canal. On the day Cora loses her dad's tree notebook, little Adare goes missing. Can Cora put all these puzzle pieces back together and find her little sister in time?

This is a debut novel for Melissa Sarno. Kirkus say ages 10-14 so I have listed this as a senior primary novel. Just Under the Clouds was published in 2019 but it is still available. This book will appeal to thoughtful readers who have good reading stamina and who enjoy quiet books about family relationships and children living in complex situations. 

Troubling, affecting, and ultimately uplifting, from a promising debut novelist. Kirkus

There is a delicate balance of things my readers like in a sad book. They like lots of descriptions of what life is like, but they are not as fond of the character's introspection about their situation, if that makes sense. (I spend a large part of my day involved in the nuances of what students want in a book!) This is a little slower than my students usually want, but I will probably purchase it, and this is certainly a great book to look at for most collections. Ms Yingling

Companion books - pop these titles into my sidebar:

And here are some picture books on the topic of homelessness.

This book might be in a library or available as an ebook - it also deals with the heartbreak of a disabled sister.

And this new Australian book has a World War II setting and the story centers on saving the disabled sister from capture.

Giraffe Island by Sofia Chanfreau illustrated by Amanda Chanfreau translated by Julia Marshall

Vega lives on an island with her father. Her grandfather lives nearby. The island, when viewed from above, is shaped like a giraffe.

"there's an island shaped like a giraffe - it you look at it from above or on a map and use your imagination. It has three legs and a small tail, a large body and a long neck which ends in a head. In the middle of its body is a big lake, called Giraffe's Heart. The water in that lake is as sweet as lemonade ..."

The main town on Giraffe Island is called Capital City not because it is the capital but because the word capital means head and that's where the town is located - on the head of the giraffe. I guess you can already anticipate this will be a very inventive and imaginative story. 

Vega has a special gift. She can see all sorts of fantastical animals. Her father cannot see them but luckily she shares this gift with her grandfather and he has lots of these creatures in his wonderful garden. Her father likes things to be organised and he strictly keeps to a routine - even with the sequence of their meals and he won't answer any questions about her absent mother. Verga can read his moodsby looking at his eyebrows. When they eat dinner together he draws a chalk circle around the table (this seems very curious) and he always sings a special goodnight song but just lately all of these routines have changed after a strange woman arrives. Everything about her feels cold. There's even ice forming beside her white car. Verga used to share all her school news with her father every night. She has just been given a letter from a pen pal and she is so excited about all the possibilities of a new friend but her father is so changed, and he seems so distracted that she decides it might be better not to tell him. 

At least Vega can talk to her Grandfather Hector (even though he also won't talk about her mother). On her visit Vega hears something moving under the blueberry bushes and then a boy emerges. His name is Nelson and he also goes to her school. They are in different classrooms side by side and their teacher Ms Hum runs between the two rooms to teach both groups. (I love this idea and the classroom names are also very different). Nelson is a collector and he has a special book where he keeps notes of his curious discoveries. He also carries an old tape recorder and he uses it to record laughter. He has 33 laughs in his collection.

"There was something about Nelson that made Vega want to tell him everything. He was like a hungry puppy, pouncing on everything and gobbling it up. Like a waterfall that never stopped. He never frowned when he explained something like the other children at school. And there were no clouds above his head either."

Together Vega and Nelson begin collecting facts. Vega's pen pal lives with a circus troupe. Vega's grandfather Hector seems to have a connection with circuses. They closely examine an old photo of Vega's mum and find more hints. Then Vega and Nelson they decide they need to make the journey to the mainland because Janna, the pen pal, and her circus will be performing there. Vega has never taken the long ferry trip across the open sea but there is no need to worry because Hector has the most amazing car called a Muffinmobile. Yes it does make muffins, but it can also travel on land and on the water. The journey is wild but they do arrive at the circus eventually. That is great but Dad and Viola (that freezing cold woman) have followed them. Vega is sure she will uncover the truth about her mother and her past by asking questions at the circus but they have to hurry and so far none of the performers, interviewed mainly by Nelson, seem able to help.

You have already worked out this is a quirky book. The lake tastes like lemonade. In the town where Vega lives there are a number of disused factories. Think about these hamsters!

"Many of the buildings' windows were broken and you could glimpse old, rusted machines inside that no one knew how to use anymore. Rats and voles had built nests inside the furnace and control rooms, and escaped hamsters used gears and old conveyor belts as exercise equipment."

I love the names of the animals invented for this book: frudbimbles, spoonlurks, fasterer, trunktoothed rumpling and fourfentipedes. The black and white art in this book is also very special - it reminded me of the drawings by Judith Rossell in her Withering-by-sea books. You can see the illustrations here. 

You can read Chapter Two here. 

There were two things that drew me to this book when I saw it on the shelf at a local book shop - Three Sparrows.  Firstly, the publisher is Gecko Press - they always deliver fabulous books. Secondly when I saw the words "winner of the Finlandia Junior prize" on the back cover I knew this was a translated book. If you think about book translation, especially of a novel like this with over 200 pages, the book has to be worth this process. I have no language skills but I can appreciate that it must take hours and hours to translate a book - maintaining more than the words - keeping the spirit and essence of the story. Read more about the translation of this book here. This book originally comes from Sweden.  I have included the cover at the bottom of this post. When I see a book has been translated I usually discover a fabulous story - that is certainly true of Giraffe Island. 

I highly, highly recommend Giraffe Island. It would be a perfect book to read aloud to your child or to a Grade 4 or 5 class. 

This is the first children’s novel for primary and Intermediate readers that I have read for at least a year and I can assure you that you will not read a better story this year. It is a fantasy adventure mystery story with a dose of magic thrown in. ... Once you start will will not put it down. Bobs Books Blog

Full of magical realism, this story is fun to read, fascinating to look at and will capture your imagination. This is a book that is all about family, love and friendship. Giraffe Island was the winner of the Finlandia Junior Prize and was nominated for the Nordic Council Children’s Young People’s Literature Prize. It deserves a place on your bookshelf and in your heart; it is a truly magical read and I am so glad that I got to read it. Just Imagine

Publisher blurb: Far away in the middle of the sea there is an island shaped like a giraffe. Nine-year-old Vega lives there with her father and grandfather—a gardener and former ringmaster. Their shed—the Paraphenalium—is filled with every possible thing you didn’t know you needed. Vega’s bathroom is home to a gray bear with shampoo-lathered fur, and every day she talks with the asphalt beaver and crosswalk zebra on the way to school. Her best friend is Nelson, who observes things others don’t notice and keeps a notebook of mysteries and facts. Vega and Nelson set out to save Vega’s father and find her mother in a search that leads them to a unique circus and unexpected answers.

Companion book:

The What on Earth Institute of Wonder

The Falling Boy by David Almond

"There were battered faded signs. KEEP OUT. NO ENTRY. 

BEWARE DANGER OF DEATH. One had a silhouette of a falling boy on it."

"Beyond it was the wasteland - shrubs and scrawny trees and brambles and rubble and dusty ground. And old tombstones, lopsided, broken, lots of them topped to the earth. Then the chapel itself. Ancient, crumbling. The roof was shattered and the spire was nearly gone. Most of the windows were bricked up, the huge front door had bars and boards across it."

It is the summer holidays. Obviously these warning signs mean nothing to the local kids. In fact they have meant nothing for several generations as the graffiti inside attests. The kids call this place the Chapel of Doom. There had been plans to use it for a restaurant or a club or a community centre or a museum or even restore it as a church but nothing had happened for decades.

Joff does have a lot going on in his life - high school starts soon and worse dad is very ill. 

"I wanted this stupid rotten time to be over. I wanted to feel happy and strong like I used to feel. I wanted to be the proper Joff Johnson again."

David Almond explains he was going through his own cancer journey when he wrote this book which is dedicated to a hospital where he lives in Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

I did keep thinking something dreadful was going to happen (you need to read this book to see if I was right). David Almond gave me some serious story hints such as crows flapping out through the shattered roof as Joff enters the building. Then we read that his dad told him there used to be a golden angel on the spire but it had flown away years ago. And then these words which gave me a jolt:

"There were painted scenes high on the walls from when the church was in use. ... You could just about see the saints with bits of their halos, and angels with bits of their wings, and fragments of Heaven though God disappeared long ago."

There is also the mystery of Dawn's deceased brother. 

David Almond writes books that, while not too difficult to read, contain very deep themes that are sure to give readers plenty to think about long after the book is finished. No wonder he won the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Medal. I was left with some unanswered questions in this book - but that is a good thing - readers do not need to have all the answers. I also felt a lot of internal tension reading this book - expecting a dreadful outcome - maybe I was wrong to feel this?

I wanted to compare The Falling Boy with Skellig.

I read Skellig decades ago. It was published in 1998 and so I am sure my memories are fragmented and incomplete but I did keep thinking there are links between this newest book by David Almond - The Falling Boy and Skellig (winner of the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Children’s Book of the Year Award). 

• Both stories feature a lonely boy - Michael in Skellig and Joff in The Falling Boy
• A loved family member has a serious illness - Michael's sister in Skellig and Dad in The Falling Boy
• The boy makes friends with a girl - Mina in Skellig, Dawn in The Falling Boy
• The girl has a role in healing the boy or helping him navigate difficult times
• There are issues of bullying
• The setting in both books include an old disused building - in the Falling Boy it is an old church
• The ending of both books leave readers with a sense of hope and renewal

The Falling Boy blurb from the author page: Nothing is the same for Joff this summer. His dad is ill, his mam is working, there’s a new kid in town. He can’t wait to escape each day and explore with his dog Jet. But there’s one place he’s not allowed to explore. Above the town sits the Chapel of Doom, ancient and crumbling, with its warning signs and the legend of the Falling Boy. And when Joff’s adventures take him beyond the boundaries he discovers something unexpected, something truly magical …

There are at least two falling boys in this new novel from David Almond. The first appears in silhouette on the danger sign as Joff approaches the ruined Chapel of Doom above his village. The second is Joff himself, on the verge of secondary school, tumbling and flailing into a pit of confusion and despair as his beloved dad (perhaps a third falling boy?) undergoes treatment for cancer. If you have read any of Almond’s novels before, you might know how this might work out. Books for Keeps

The Falling Boy is about Joff, a boy in the north-east whose Dad is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer of the colon. Joff has friends, he has an enemy, and he meets a girl who doesn’t quite fit in. It is the start of the summer holidays, and Joff spends time visiting an abandoned chapel – the Chapel of Doom – the one he went to with his Dad before he fell ill, and plays there. This is where the title of the book comes from, as the chapel is rumored to have been the site of a boy falling to his death, and is now an angel. A myth? A legend? Just Imagine

Here are some books I previously mentioned for readers to explore after Skellig:

The Amazing Mind of Alice Makin

Angel Creek

The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi illustrated by Greg Hilderbrandt

Any copy of Pinocchio in English is a translation from the original story written in 1883 by Carlo Collodi whose real name was Carlo Lorenzini. His pen name, Collodi, refers to the name of the village where his mother was born. Every time I pick up a copy of Pinocchio I check to see the name of the translator. Often this is not mentioned. My copy featured today says: text adapted and abridged by Elizabeth Haserick.

So, as you can see my copy here today is both a translation, of course, and an abridged version. The actual novel of Pinocchio is 288 pages. I have not read the full book but my version today covers the main incidents. This one illustrated by Greg Hilderbrandt is long out of print but it is sure to be in many libraries. It is a long format picture book and would make a great family read aloud. 

Derived from the Italian words “pino” meaning pine tree and “occhio” meaning eye, Pinocchio’s name symbolizes his creation from a piece of pine wood by the woodcarver Geppetto. The name carries a sense of magic, mystery, and transformation, making it an enduring symbol of childhood wonder and imagination.

Pinocchio is available in many formats from board books to picture books and novels as well as ebook versions and it has been translated into 300 languages. There are also very simple versions such as one from Ladybird books. When I searched on Goodreads I found over 3500 versions of this famous classic.

The story was originally published in serial form as The Story of a Puppet (Italian: La storia di un burattino) in the Giornale per i bambini, one of the earliest Italian weekly magazines for children, starting from 7 July 1881. Near Florence you can visit Pinocchio Park. 

I found this plot summary:

Chapter 1: Pinocchio's Creation

In the first chapter, the kind-hearted woodcarver Geppetto creates Pinocchio out of a magical piece of wood. As soon as Pinocchio comes to life, he starts causing trouble and running away, setting the stage for his misadventures.

Chapter 2: Pinocchio's First Misadventure

Pinocchio encounters the cunning Fox and Cat, who persuade him to join a puppet theater. However, Pinocchio soon realizes that the puppet master intends to turn him into firewood. With the help of the Blue Fairy, Pinocchio escapes, but not without facing consequences for his gullibility.

Chapter 3: Pinocchio's Encounter with the Talking Cricket

Pinocchio meets the Talking Cricket, who advises him to be obedient and honest. Annoyed by the cricket's wise words, Pinocchio throws a hammer at him, inadvertently killing him. This impulsive act sets the stage for Pinocchio's journey of personal growth and redemption.

Chapter 4: Pinocchio's Trip to the Land of Toys

Pinocchio is lured to the Land of Toys, where children can play all day without consequences. However, Pinocchio soon discovers that the Land of Toys is a trap, turning disobedient children into donkeys. He narrowly escapes this fate but is left with donkey ears and a tail as a reminder of his foolishness.

Chapter 5: Pinocchio's Rescue of Geppetto

Pinocchio embarks on a mission to rescue his father figure, Geppetto, who has been swallowed by a giant shark. With courage and determination, Pinocchio saves Geppetto and learns the importance of selflessness and sacrifice.

Chapter 6: Pinocchio's Transformation into a Real Boy

Pinocchio's bravery and selflessness finally earn him the reward he has longed for – a transformation into a real boy. Through his journey, Pinocchio learns the value of honesty, bravery, and the importance of making virtuous choices.

I visited Italy last year. I was intrigued to see every market in Tuscany had Pinocchio puppets for sale in all sizes and price points. Then I went into a beautiful huge bookstore where they had a whole shelving bay full of different versions of Pinocchio. Here is my photo:

There are many ways you could read or use the story of Pinocchio with your class. In art you could compare all the different cover illustrations or look at the work of the famous illustrators below. This book is also a terrific example of a trickster tale. Take a look at my small Pinterest collection. As a read aloud, you could read one story incident each day. My friend from Kinderbookswitheverything shares the books that feature Pinocchio from her library. 

As you would imagine many very famous illustrators have created their own images for this famous story.

Roberto Innocenti (for older students)

Robert Ingpen (This version has 200+ pages)

Ed Young

Emma Chichester Clark

This version is retold by Michael Morpurgo and is part of a 

Reading Program called Oxford Reading Tree - Treetops

Here is a popup version due for publication in 2025:

Simon and Schuster [9781962098113]

Lane Smith