Pinocchio

Most children today know Pinocchio as a cherub-faced Disney creation brought to life by a wish on a distant star. Adapted from Collodi's 1883 work, this sparkling edition reintroduces a much more intriguing hero--``a piece of wood with a mind of its own.'' Under the ministrations of the long-suffering Geppetto, this troublesome twig is refashioned into ``a grand puppet.'' A brisk tale of adventure ensues, told with sly humor, merriness and a good dose of morality. Dynamic illustrations carry a suggestion of animation, while an unusual dappling technique adds a solid warmth. Pinocchio is depicted as a taper-nosed Pierrot, vacillating between hope and delusion as he rushes headlong from one bad decision to the next. With his unusually long proboscis, he is both a figure of fun and an endearing protagonist. Sometimes captured as a nightmare vision, always fantastical, a dreamy atmosphere suffuses this work, while carnival colors reinforce the sense of madcap adventure and fun. All ages. (Sept.)