Pinocchio

McEwan's version of the classic tale is not only graphically arresting, it's fairly true to Collodi's original serial. Without sentimentality, the wildly inventive story of the bad boy turned good has been retold in simple, readable language. Though the book generally employs traditional format--with illustrations that occupy most of the page and few lines of text--many pages of its unusual layout contain dauntingly large amounts of copy. Reminiscent of Japanese cartoon art of the 1960s, McEwan's illustrations are eye-catching and imaginative. His least complicated drawings and those that decorate the borders of each page are the most appealing, as others tend to be crammed with so many colorful elements that specifics are hard to discern. And, though they have little to do with Pinocchio, the book's gorgeous, tricolored endpapers are a compelling invitation to the visual delights within. Ages 5-8. (Oct.)