Roberto Innocenti, 1988
Pinocchio kills the talking cricket.
Yup, Pinocchio smashes the cricket with a mallet in the original tale by Carlo Collodi. I like Disney's version, but am pretty much enthralled by Collodi's book. Unlike Disney's interpretation of a naïve and gullible Pinocchio, Collodi's puppet is a saucy, selfish, woodenheaded brat throughout most of his horrific adventures, which include being stabbed and hung by the fox and cat.
Roberto Innocenti's illustrations remain favorites of mine. They are gorgeous, dramatic watercolors that don't shrink from the violence within the tale, and also celebrate the evolution and eventual redemption of Pinocchio. Check out the atmosphere in these:
Pinocchio meets the fox and the cat.
Pinocchio is hanged by the assassins
The magical piece of wood from whence came Pinocchio.
The book is tough to come by, but be sure to see more of Roberto Innocenti's artwork at http://www.robertoinnocenti.com/
Many illustrators have tackled the irritating little puppet's story. Here are a few of my favorites, which range from early black and white engravings to lushly detailed paintings:
Enrico Mazzanti, 1883
Carlo Chiostri, 1901
Charles Copeland, 1904
Attilio Mussino, 1911
Luigi Cavalieri, 1924
Gianbattista Galizzi, 1942
And last, this inspiring, fresh illustration by Kayla Edgar, 2014.
It blew me away when I first saw it!
Please enjoy more of Ms. Edgar's amazing work at http://kaylaedgar.com/
Thanks, as always, for reading!
*Pinocchio, by Carlo Collodi, compiled by Cooper Edens,
was my source for most of the illustrations in this post. You can buy it used at
