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Pinocchio, the Boy
Having been asleep when he was magically transformed into a boy, Pinocchio awakes to find that no one, not even his father, Geppetto, recognizes him now that he is not a puppet and so must now figure out how to live life as a real boy on his own.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 16, 2002
76 people want to read
About the author
Lane Smith
111 books353 followersLane Smith was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but moved to Corona, California at a young age. He spent summers in Tulsa, however, and cites experiences there as inspirations for his work, saying that "[o]nce you've seen a 100-foot cement buffalo on top of a donut-stand (sic) in the middle of nowhere, you're never the same."
He studied art in college at the encouragement of his high school art teacher, helping to pay for it by working as a janitor at Disneyland. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration, and moved to New York City, where he was hired to do illustrations for various publications including Time, Mother Jones, and Ms..
Smith is married to Molly Leach, who is a book designer and designed the Smith/Scieszka collaboration.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/lanesmith
He studied art in college at the encouragement of his high school art teacher, helping to pay for it by working as a janitor at Disneyland. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration, and moved to New York City, where he was hired to do illustrations for various publications including Time, Mother Jones, and Ms..
Smith is married to Molly Leach, who is a book designer and designed the Smith/Scieszka collaboration.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/lanesmith
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
May 19, 2018
Par l'auteur de C'est Un Livre et C'EST UN PETIT LIVRE, Lane Smith nous revient ici avec un spin-off tordant, dans lequel le petit pantin de bois devenu garçon se promène en ville sans se rendre compte de sa transformation. Le tout, assez étrange, mais particulièrement savoureux, nous fait facilement embarquer dans ce récit plus que ordinaire dans lequel le conte se mélange à la modernité.
February 9, 2018
Pinocchio wakes up and doesn't realize that he was magically turned into a real boy overnight. Seeing his sick father, he decides to go out to buy soup. He tries to make money and find a job, but it takes him all day to figure out that he's human now.
A fun book to read after reading the original fairytale.
A fun book to read after reading the original fairytale.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2019
Traditional literature
K-2nd grade
This was a fun add on to the story of Pinocchio! I had never really read or watched the story of Pinocchio when I was little, but this book was a good way to have a summary of what the story of Pinocchio was about. I really enjoyed the illustrations and how it was abstract with the use of newspaper articles.
K-2nd grade
This was a fun add on to the story of Pinocchio! I had never really read or watched the story of Pinocchio when I was little, but this book was a good way to have a summary of what the story of Pinocchio was about. I really enjoyed the illustrations and how it was abstract with the use of newspaper articles.
February 15, 2023
Today I was jonesing for some Lane Smith art. I've been a fan since The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.
This is a fun take on Pinocchio. It's the day after he's been made a real boy and he doesn't know it's happened. All he wants to do is get his dad some soup, but things are kinda crazy.
The story is fun and the art is wonderful. Loved it.
This is a fun take on Pinocchio. It's the day after he's been made a real boy and he doesn't know it's happened. All he wants to do is get his dad some soup, but things are kinda crazy.
The story is fun and the art is wonderful. Loved it.
January 9, 2026
SPOILER: "It's the tooth fairy's fault"
If your familiar with the Pinocchio story then you might somehow wonder what happened after the "The End". So here is the sequel to the familiar tale with a hilarious twist. The story is good but the end feels a bit rushed, but nevertheless, I enjoyed it! Also Lane Smith's illustrations are totally awesome as usual!
If your familiar with the Pinocchio story then you might somehow wonder what happened after the "The End". So here is the sequel to the familiar tale with a hilarious twist. The story is good but the end feels a bit rushed, but nevertheless, I enjoyed it! Also Lane Smith's illustrations are totally awesome as usual!
April 19, 2021
1st-2nd folktale/modern fantasy
An interesting twist on the story of Pinocchio, it’s got an interesting but common lesson; be careful what you wish for. The illustrations are really nice and tell the story very well.
An interesting twist on the story of Pinocchio, it’s got an interesting but common lesson; be careful what you wish for. The illustrations are really nice and tell the story very well.
December 18, 2023
I can't remember if I actually ever read Pinocchio..I think so. I know I hated the movie, and this book makes for a more tolerable version of him. Loved the art and the follow up to such a classic in children's literature.
August 7, 2017
There are few things finer than a great book by Lane Smith, especially when he's both writing and illustrating the tale.
December 4, 2017
This book would be good for my readers who do not want to read because it is fashioned into a book that is easy to read and is a spin off the beloved Disney creation.
September 29, 2019
Genre: Modern Fantasy Grade: K-3
This book had been interesting by how Pinocchio had been a wooden boy one day and the next day he had become a real boy, all because of the blue fairy.
This book had been interesting by how Pinocchio had been a wooden boy one day and the next day he had become a real boy, all because of the blue fairy.
January 28, 2023
I don’t think I’ve ever read a lane Smith I didn’t like. Such funny visual humor. The shapes of his people are so funny.
March 21, 2023
Very hard to follow and was too difficult for kids to follow. I thought it was the story of Pinocchio, but no.
April 7, 2010
“Pinocchio the Boy” is one of Lane Smith’s most recent books and is probably his funniest and most heartwarming books by far. This book details how Pinocchio tries to find some chicken soup for his sick father, Geppetto, but little does he or anyone knows, the Blue Fairy had transformed Pinocchio back into a boy, but did that deed while he was sleeping! This book is sure to be a classic in its own right and will amuse many children and adults.
Lane Smith’s illustrations are truly the highlights of this book as the characters look like they came out of “Olive the Other Reindeer.” Geppetto is truly a great illustrated character as he looks like the guy that the Pink Panther usually annoys in “The Pink Panther” cartoons. Lane Smith has also done a great job at narrating the story of Pinocchio in a modern twist by using phrases such as:
“This kid needs help!” said by little girl.
“I wouldn’t push it with that in-a-fish sleepover stuff.” Again said by the little girl.
I love how Lane Smith made the character of the girl to be as she is sassy yet loveable towards Pinocchio and is the only character in the book who does not appear in the original context of “Pinocchio.” Also, I love the way that she looks as she wears a box shaped hat with purple and white stripes all over her body and also the fact that she not have any eye pupils in her eyes which makes her look mysterious at the same time.
“Pinocchio, the Boy” is truly one of Lane Smith’s most touching and funniest story he ever created and it truly tells the story of the true meaning of Christmas as Pinocchio cares more about his father than anything else in the world and how people can easily make mistakes, even if they did not mean to such as the Blue Fairy’s mistake on not telling Pinocchio about her changing him back into a boy. This book is a pure delight to children ages four and over since there is nothing to object to in this book.
From my Epinions Review:
http://www99.epinions.com/review/Book...
Lane Smith’s illustrations are truly the highlights of this book as the characters look like they came out of “Olive the Other Reindeer.” Geppetto is truly a great illustrated character as he looks like the guy that the Pink Panther usually annoys in “The Pink Panther” cartoons. Lane Smith has also done a great job at narrating the story of Pinocchio in a modern twist by using phrases such as:
“This kid needs help!” said by little girl.
“I wouldn’t push it with that in-a-fish sleepover stuff.” Again said by the little girl.
I love how Lane Smith made the character of the girl to be as she is sassy yet loveable towards Pinocchio and is the only character in the book who does not appear in the original context of “Pinocchio.” Also, I love the way that she looks as she wears a box shaped hat with purple and white stripes all over her body and also the fact that she not have any eye pupils in her eyes which makes her look mysterious at the same time.
“Pinocchio, the Boy” is truly one of Lane Smith’s most touching and funniest story he ever created and it truly tells the story of the true meaning of Christmas as Pinocchio cares more about his father than anything else in the world and how people can easily make mistakes, even if they did not mean to such as the Blue Fairy’s mistake on not telling Pinocchio about her changing him back into a boy. This book is a pure delight to children ages four and over since there is nothing to object to in this book.
From my Epinions Review:
http://www99.epinions.com/review/Book...
November 5, 2010
This delightful story picks up where the classic novel ends...after a clever one page, tongue-in-cheek summary of course. However, it seems Pinocchio was changed into a real boy while he slept. When he wakes, he is completely unaware of his transformation. So as he ventures into town to earn a little money to buy soup for Geppetto, sick with a cold from spending a night in a fish, Pinocchio doesn't understand why everybody is reacting so oddly toward him.
They boo him off the stage when he attempts a puppet show where previously he was a big hit. They think he's lying when he tells them about his little nose problem. He is even scoffed at by his talking cricket who doesn't recognize him. Luckily a little girl takes pity on this boy who she can only assume has a few loose screws and befriends him.
Told in very minimal text, this book is deceptively advanced. The humor in this book is very subtle, yet extremely witty and sophisticated. Older children will certainly appreciate the jokes more than the younger ones. However, every one is sure to love the illustrations. Lane Smith, best known for his award winning illustrations for Jon Scieszka's The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs and The Stinky Cheese Man, is a master at playing with perspectives and styles. There is so much to see and admire in every illustration that you could literally spend hours staring at them.
They boo him off the stage when he attempts a puppet show where previously he was a big hit. They think he's lying when he tells them about his little nose problem. He is even scoffed at by his talking cricket who doesn't recognize him. Luckily a little girl takes pity on this boy who she can only assume has a few loose screws and befriends him.
Told in very minimal text, this book is deceptively advanced. The humor in this book is very subtle, yet extremely witty and sophisticated. Older children will certainly appreciate the jokes more than the younger ones. However, every one is sure to love the illustrations. Lane Smith, best known for his award winning illustrations for Jon Scieszka's The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs and The Stinky Cheese Man, is a master at playing with perspectives and styles. There is so much to see and admire in every illustration that you could literally spend hours staring at them.
January 18, 2017
So what happened to Pinocchio after he became a real little boy? Taking up where Mr. Collodi’s story finished, Mr. Smith’s Pinocchio is a caring, compassionate, game if slightly clueless little boy rather than the rebellious and surly creation that Collodi portrayed.
Featuring Mr. Smith’s zany but sharp cut-out illustrations, this story pushes Pinocchio away from 19th-century Italy to a contemporary world, one that has skating rinks, clothing stores, puppet theaters and enormous outdoor screens that you might find in Times Square. There are even sly references to cartoonists and Collodi himself if you look carefully.
Pinocchio’s efforts to help his ailing father are sweet, comical and endearing. He doesn’t realize that he’s been made into a real, live flesh-and-blood boy (the silly Blue Fairy changed him while he was sleeping) and doesn’t understand why no one appreciates his efforts to work as a puppet or wooden statue. I don’t think Herschabel was necessary as a character, though. She just basically trailed after Pinocchio, commented about his foolish antics and provided the Blue Fairy with a daughter. She didn’t really help at all and I’m thinking the book could have managed without her.
Other than that, the story is charming and a credible sequel to Collodi’s classic novel about a mischievous wooden boy. It’s a tender story with a sweetly happy ending.
Featuring Mr. Smith’s zany but sharp cut-out illustrations, this story pushes Pinocchio away from 19th-century Italy to a contemporary world, one that has skating rinks, clothing stores, puppet theaters and enormous outdoor screens that you might find in Times Square. There are even sly references to cartoonists and Collodi himself if you look carefully.
Pinocchio’s efforts to help his ailing father are sweet, comical and endearing. He doesn’t realize that he’s been made into a real, live flesh-and-blood boy (the silly Blue Fairy changed him while he was sleeping) and doesn’t understand why no one appreciates his efforts to work as a puppet or wooden statue. I don’t think Herschabel was necessary as a character, though. She just basically trailed after Pinocchio, commented about his foolish antics and provided the Blue Fairy with a daughter. She didn’t really help at all and I’m thinking the book could have managed without her.
Other than that, the story is charming and a credible sequel to Collodi’s classic novel about a mischievous wooden boy. It’s a tender story with a sweetly happy ending.
April 25, 2012
This is a story about a young wooden puppet named Pinocchio, who came to life. Gappetto, his father, is the one who carved him. Pinocchio got sent to school by his father, but instead of actually going went to a puppet theater where he was a huge hit. His friend who is a talking cricket got angry with him for not going to school. Pinocchio lied about it, and with that lie, his nose grew. Pinocchio was ashamed of his huge nose so he ran away. His father got worried and looked for him everywhere and ended up in the stomach of a huge fish. Pinocchio saved his father. Because Pinocchio saved his father he got a wish from the Blue Fairy. Pinocchio wished he was a real boy, and the Blue Fairy granted that wish while he was sleeping. The next morning Pinocchio’s father was sick and he didn’t realize that he was a boy now. He went to go buy his father some soup but realized he didn’t have any money. He was sad that his friend, the talking cricket, wouldn’t talk to him, and that the puppet theater scolded him off the stage, and that his father didn’t recognize him when he came home. After this the Blue Fairy told Pinocchio that he was a real boy, and they lived happily ever after.
May 9, 2011
I loved the first couple pages of this book, with the vignettes of Pinocchio's story. But I found as the story progressed, that it became harder to track the plot, and that the snarky humor wasn't at all being understood or appreciated by my five-year-old. He loves the story of Pinocchio, and knows it well, but this new version wasn't at all connecting with him.
I found that the illustrations and plot line were really being written for adults. The art is difficult to interpret, very mature, and the language is choppy and far from lyrical...
There were two (three) illustrations that I just loved from an artistic perspective. The first is the page when Pinocchio is standing in the snow and unfurls his long handkerchief from his pocket. I love the contrast of colors and the movement of this page. The second are two consecutive two-page spreads, starting wih Pinocchio sitting on a shelf next to a puppet, followed by the next page showing Pinocchio's realization that he has become a boy. Simple, and effective...
Anyway, wouldn't spend money on this book, and thinking that the editors who managed this book bought the story because they liked it so much themselves...
I found that the illustrations and plot line were really being written for adults. The art is difficult to interpret, very mature, and the language is choppy and far from lyrical...
There were two (three) illustrations that I just loved from an artistic perspective. The first is the page when Pinocchio is standing in the snow and unfurls his long handkerchief from his pocket. I love the contrast of colors and the movement of this page. The second are two consecutive two-page spreads, starting wih Pinocchio sitting on a shelf next to a puppet, followed by the next page showing Pinocchio's realization that he has become a boy. Simple, and effective...
Anyway, wouldn't spend money on this book, and thinking that the editors who managed this book bought the story because they liked it so much themselves...
December 19, 2015
http://owltellyouaboutit.com/2012/03/17/pinocchio-the-boy/
The point of this book is to explore what happens after Pinocchio wakes up as a boy when the fairy hasn’t told anyone that she turned him into a boy. It’s pretty amusing and cute. I really loved the illustration. I think I enjoyed that part more than the story itself. I liked the addition of a sub plot (as much of one as there can be in a children’s picture book) of the Blue Fairy and Hershabel. I think the thing for me was that I just didn’t like it as much as his other books. It’s a cute idea and it’s funny watching Pinocchio try to act like a puppet, but I prefer Lane smith’s other books.
It’s cute and worth a read if you or your kids enjoy Lane Smith’s books. It’s on the quirkier side of his humor.
The point of this book is to explore what happens after Pinocchio wakes up as a boy when the fairy hasn’t told anyone that she turned him into a boy. It’s pretty amusing and cute. I really loved the illustration. I think I enjoyed that part more than the story itself. I liked the addition of a sub plot (as much of one as there can be in a children’s picture book) of the Blue Fairy and Hershabel. I think the thing for me was that I just didn’t like it as much as his other books. It’s a cute idea and it’s funny watching Pinocchio try to act like a puppet, but I prefer Lane smith’s other books.
It’s cute and worth a read if you or your kids enjoy Lane Smith’s books. It’s on the quirkier side of his humor.
Read
December 3, 2012This story based on the original version of Pinocchio we all know, is a familiar one to all who grew up hearing fairytales. This version however, has one small twist that gives us a whole different perspective on the tale. Our Pinocchio, wakes up one day a HES A BOY!! Surprising as it is, he does not know it and runs around town trying to get help and get back home wishing he could be with his father, who when he sees him does not believe that is his little boy. The graphic illustrations, give us a clear picture of the intiernal conflict warring inside our character.
October 6, 2014
I love the classic Pinocchio story but this one is also great. I really enjoyed the layouts of some of the pages and the twist to the story. I read this book to some of the children at the child care center I workout and they thought it was the best thing ever. They definitely enjoyed the illustrations and I enjoyed the color pallet. I thought that the colors made the book calming in a way but still super enjoyable. This book has so many details to it too! I don't want to spoil the book by giving all the details away but it is definitely one to pick up when you have time!
January 24, 2015
A retelling of the classic Pinocchio. I didn't give it four or five stars because the blue fairy part fell a little flat for me. Why did she make him a real boy? Why did she do it in her sleep? Why doesn't her daughter know she works as a fairy by day? I don't know. Everything dealing with the fairy was just a little to silly. It was still a cute story. I'll just try some of Lane Smith's higher rated books. The illustrations were great.
September 10, 2016
Lane Smith imagines a clever picture-book-length sequel to this familiar tale. On the first two pages the epic adventures are reviewed in a timeline storyboard, which was handy for introducing several weeks of pre-school story times inspired by themes found in Collodi's classic and re-imagined by Disney.
Lane claims that Pinocchio didn't get the memo that he was a "real boy" as the magic transformation happened while he was asleep. And so his adventures continue...
Lane claims that Pinocchio didn't get the memo that he was a "real boy" as the magic transformation happened while he was asleep. And so his adventures continue...
October 24, 2012
Pinocchio: The Boy is a funny entertaining story for young children. It has the traditional main characters, with a twist for the newer generation. Pinocchio is use to his life as a puppet but one night Pinocchio's wish comes true to become a real boy but Pinocchio's life changes before he realize that his one wish came true.
June 27, 2016
Cute and funny. I don't think Z appreciated the humor as much as I did though. Again, I just wish these new picture books held a little more of the traditional picture book narrative. Some of the narrative would be better in a comic book and it is a little difficult to enjoy reading aloud with kids...
February 25, 2012
The only reason this gets a 3 and not a 2 is the cool artwork.
The story was lame - way over my 5-year-old's head, and pretty disjointed for an older reader (why do we get the girl's name at the very end? Random.)
The story was lame - way over my 5-year-old's head, and pretty disjointed for an older reader (why do we get the girl's name at the very end? Random.)
August 11, 2016
I usually love Lane Smith but this book just wasn't that great. I didn't like the odd take on where this Pinocchio story picked up from... especially since the ending of the original was changed to start this story.
July 29, 2016
I shutter at the regular Pinocchio story. Hated it as a child. This one is ok. Plus I really like Lane Smith' work.
August 3, 2011
There is so much to discover in this delightful continuation of the story of Pinocchio. The illustrations are cool as always with a Lane Smith book.
September 3, 2011
This story zooms up to the part where Pinocchio is turned into a real boy in his sleep. When he goes out on the town, not even the cricket will help him.
January 6, 2012
It's A Book is still my fave, but this is a quirky retelling.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews