Pinocchio - Fast Reading of Classical Literature for Primary School Students

Author: (Italian) Collodi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: From the beginning, "There was a king!" my little readers will blurt out. "No, children, you're wrong. From the beginning, there was a piece of wood." This wasn't a fine piece of wood but the ordinary kind found in a pile of firewood—used to start fires and keep warm in winter. On a fine day, this piece of wood happened to come into the workshop of an old carpenter named Antonio. Because the old carpenter's nose tip was red and purple, shiny like a ripe cherry, everyone called him Cherry Master. Cherry Master was delighted to see the piece of wood and rubbed his hands together, muttering softly, "This piece of wood has come at the right time. I'll use it to make a small table leg." He immediately grabbed a sharp axe and was about to shave off the bark and trim the branches. Just as he was about to strike the ax, his hand froze above his head. He had heard a very faint voice pleading, "Don't strike me so hard!" You can imagine how surprised the kind Cherry Master must have been! He looked around the room, puzzled, trying to see where the sound was coming from, but he couldn't see a single person! He raised the axe again and struck the piece of wood hard. "Ouch! You hurt me so much!" the same faint voice complained, shouting this time. This time, Cherry Master was truly stunned, his eyes popping out, his mouth wide open, his tongue sticking out to his chin, like a giant stone statue of a fountain. When he could finally speak again, his voice was still trembling and stammering, "Where did this tiny voice come from? There's no one else here. Could this piece of wood be mimicking children, crying and shouting? I don't believe that. Look at this piece of wood—it's no different from other wood, used for burning the little stove and cooking beans!" Terrified, he began humming a little tune to steady himself. He put down the axe and picked up a plane, intending to smooth the wood, but as soon as he started, the tiny voice spoke again, and this time it was laughing. "Please spare me! You're tickling me so much!" This time, Cherry Master was struck as if by lightning, his vision went black, and he fainted. When he came to, he found himself sitting on the ground. His face had changed, and even his usually purple-red nose tip had turned ashen. Just then, someone knocked on the door. "Come in," the old carpenter said, too weak even to stand. A cheerful little old man entered the carpenter's shop. His name was Geppeto, and he was nicknamed "Cornmeal" because his yellow wig looked like cornmeal. But when neighborhood children wanted to tease him and he got angry, his nickname was "Cornmeal." "Hello, Master Antonio," Geppeto said. "Why are you sitting on the ground?" "I'm teaching ants arithmetic!" "Oh, you'll surely succeed!" "Thank you! Geppeto, what brings you here?" "My two legs, Master Antonio. You know, I came here to ask for your help." "I'm happy to help you," the old carpenter replied, using his knees to push himself up and stand. "This morning, I suddenly had ten ideas."