The adventures of Pinuccio called “Pinocchio” around Europe”

PROGRAMME ERASMUS+ KEY ACTION: COOPERATION FOR INNOVATION AND THE EXCHANGE OF GOOD PRACTICES ACTION: STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FOR SCHOOL ONLY PROJECT TITLE: “ GETTING THERE ON YOOU OWM”

“The adventures of Pinuccio called “Pinocchio” around Europe”

WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY PUPILS FROM FIVE COUNTRIES IN EUROPE AS A PART OF THE ERASMUS PLUS PROJECT ”GETTING THERE ON YOUR OWN”

This book is written by pupils from: -Pilton Bluecoat C. Of E Junior School- Barnastaple-UK -Ceip El Penascal- Segovia-Spain -Skonsmons skola- Sundsvall- Sweden -Kuloisten koulu Raision Kaupunki-Raisio-Finland -Istituto Comprensivo “ XX Settembre”- Catania-Italy In this Erasmus plus project “Getting there on your own”, every country has chosen to work on a book. Our choice was “ The Adventures of Pinocchio” by Carlo Collodi. After reading the book, our idea was to create a modern character “ Pinuccio” called Pinocchio.

Italian pupils designed Pinuccio’s picture.

Pinuccio is a an animated puppet whose purpose is to keep children or lonely people company. Geppetto, a toys maker, buys a micro-chip, a sort of artificial intelligence from the Turchina enterprise to animate his puppet and it starts working and moving properly.But Pinuccio begins to disobey his father and when Geppetto threatens his creature to switch off the microchip, Pinuccio takes a train and other means of transport clandestinely to reach England.

The story was built according to the following scheme: 1^ Step/ Introduction written by the XX Settembre School students.

2^ Step/ Plot 2.1: Pino called Pinocchio arrives in England and stands in front of the statue of the Happy Prince where he meets the swallow. What kind of experience will Pino live? What will he learn?

2^ Step/ Plot 2.2: the journey continues and Pino arrives in Sweden, here he meets Pippi Longstocking with whom he will live an adventure with an happy end. He will also learn the respect of the rules and a pacific partnership.

2^ Step/ Plot 2.3: Pino sails on a ship towards Spain and during the journey he starts playing on the edge of the ship and falls in the Atlantic Ocean. In the depth of the ocean he will meets the Rainbow fish that will teach him the value of diversity and the joy to share what is most precious for us and for the common good.

2^ Step/ Plot 2.4: Pino leaves to reach Finland and there he meets the Moomins who will let him know the serenity of their family world.

3^ Step/ Conclusion: Pino, at last, comes back home and………

The Italian school Coordinator Mrs Alessandra Coco

Introduction Italy

Geppetto, a poor toy-maker who produced handmade toys, lived in Catania. He had a very bright mind and his toys were not the boring and common ones you can buy in every shop but they were original, innovative and children loved them. However, in spite of this, his business didn’t do well because the money he earned couldn’t compensate for what he spent to produce his toys.

One day, reading the newspaper, he was struck by an article about a humanoid. So, he thought about building one for himself and for other people as well, who, like him were lonely:<<A small humanoid to love and to take care of that will keep me company, cheer up my days, and in case of need, he will give me a hand>>.

That very evening he set to work and after a long night in his workshop without stopping even for a moment, at dawn his creature stood there smiling; it was perfect, now he had only to install that thing that was called

“microchip” that would allow his humanoid to move, understand and speak just like a human; he would call him Pinuccio or Pinocchio.

After breakfast, Geppetto went to the “TurchinaComputer” firm.

It was a really strange place. There were loads of devilish devices and Geppetto was looking around puzzled when a young woman popped up from the backshop. She had a nice, intelligent face, an encouraging smile, and what was very strange, short, turquoise hair. She wore a wide white gown and on the breast pocket it was written “Engineer Turchina”. << Good morning, engineer Turchina, well I need one of those tiny devices that can make a robot as big as an eleven-year boy move and speak >>.

The engineer smiled; she disappeared in the backshop and, after a never-ending minute she came back holding in her hands a turquoise little box. She opened it with a knowing look and said:<< Mr Geppetto, I know you.

I’ve always loved your toys>>. Then opening the box:<< Here you are, this is what you need>>.

Geppetto, cheered up, took out his Pinuccio from his box and handed it out to the engineer. Engineer Turchina after a long operation gave it to him :<< here you are, it’s ready>>.

The humanoid, standing on his thin legs, looked at Geppetto and said :<< Hi dad, how you are doing?>>

From that day on Geppetto’s life seemed different: Pinuccio was obedient, he went to school and helped in the shop.

Time went by and everything seemed to go right, but one day when Pinuccio was asked to go to the cellar to fetch some materials Geppetto needed, he answered:<<No, dad, I don’t feel like moving, today really, I don’t feel like it>>. <<Maybe he is tired, maybe he is ill, perhaps the microchip is not working properly, but he’ll get over it and everything will be ok again >> the good-natured Geppetto thought.

But things didn’t seem to turn out well: Pinuccio became more whimsical every day, he went to school unwillingly and didn’t study; only Alessio, nicknamed the speaking cricket, could get him to behave well.

One day, at the end of school lessons, Pinuccio suggested to Alessio:<< What about hanging around a bit before going back home?>> << I can’t>> answered Alessio << my parents are waiting for me at home to have lunch and then we’ve got a lot of homework>>.

Pinuccio shrugged his shoulders, turned on his heels and, greeted his friend with a merry “ok bye”, he headed towards the public gardens. While he was walking carefree, enjoying that wonderful hour of freedom,

Pinuccio met the eyes of two guys, Giorgio, nicknamed the Cat and Marco nicknamed the fox.

They didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a friendly or reassuring look; they walked laughing coarsely and bothering anyone passing by.

Pinuccio tried to keep out of their way; at first the two boys made fun of him, then one of them shouted at him:<< ehi, ehi Robocop do you wanna go for a stroll with us?>>. Listening to those words Pinuccio felt reassured and somewhat honoured to have been accepted as an ally from the two bullies.

From that day on things got worse: Pinuccio started to skip school and to hang around the city, to wander about with his new mates.

Meanwhile, Geppetto, unaware of everything, was summoned by the headmistress:<< Mr Geppetto, why isn’t Pinuccio coming to school ?>>. The poor man’s whole world came crashing around him, he felt guilty, had he maybe devoted himself too much to his job and neglected his son?

Back home, Geppetto waited for Pinuccio back from school and when the boy was standing before him, he said:<< I’ve just found out that you haven’t been to school for many days; I love you but if you keep behaving badly I’ll be obliged to give back the microchip and to put you in a box just like you do with an old toy.

In the meantime I’ll add a new function on your microchip. Do you see this small red light? Well, every time you’ll tell a lie or you’ll behave badly, it will turn on and your nose will get longer >>.

Pinuccio didn’t answer, it looked like he had understood, instead…

The following day, after writing a letter to Geppetto and to his friend Alessio, Pinocchio went to the station and got on the first train saying:<<I’ll go to Great Britain to seek for fortune, I don’t want to be a useless and lifeless robot again!>> and he started crying. In that

moment Alessio sat opposite him:<< Hi Pinuccio, here I am, I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leave you alone; London is too complex a city for a simple minded boy like you>>.

Chapter 2 England

Pinuccio and Alessio had been on the train for a couple of hours now; when all of a sudden a big, bold conductor came jollily making his way down the carriage. Before this, Pinuccio and Alessio had hidden from the conductor in the toilet but this time they had not been ready.

“Where is your ticket?” barked the conductor. Pinuccio could just make out his name on his uniform: he was called Bob. Pinuccio was stuttering nervously at this question but Alessio came to the rescue.

“It flew out of the window at the last stop, we tried to reach out and grab it but our hands wouldn’t reach.”

“Are you sure!” bellowed Bob. “Yes quite,” answered Pinuccio. His nose grew. He hoped the conductor wouldn’t notice and tried to cover it up with a tissue.

“What are you doing?” asked Bob. “Nothing,” lied Pinuccio. His nose grew again.

“Is your nose growing?”

“No,” his nose grew even longer.

“I am certain your nose is growing. You are lying to me.”

“No I’m not,” his nose grew yet again.

“I am not a very patient man young boy and do not like liars. So can you and your talking cricket get off my train!”

“But …”

“No ‘buts’ I want you off my train at the next stop.” The conductor marched on but not before writing himself a note of what just happened.

Alessio was not happy with Pinuccio and made him carry him all the way to London. Pinuccio had finished all the food and water they packed so was beginning to get thirsty. Lucky for them, they were in England so it was raining: they could fill up their bottles with the rain water and not suffer of thirst. Unfortunately for them they were in England so it was; cold, wet, stormy and muddy.

London was coming into sight; cars whizzing by; tall skyscraper buildings; bright-red buses; posh cars; lots of people.

Sleep stumbling, Pinuccio arrived in the metropolis with little energy left, he decided he would try and keep a low profile by not getting into trouble. So he started by wandering around, noticing a shop lined with luxurious foods and cool drinks he took himself in.

Back in Italy Geppetto gave him 50 cent per week for pocked money. He had saved up his money to come to London but spent it all on the train. Anyway he heard someone on the train having to change their money into English money.

In the shop, he was looking for the food he had back home; he thought he had found is favourite crisps (Lays) but here they called them Walkers. Water was the main thing he came for, he found some black water they call Coca-Cola; it was a big two litre bottle (donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry it was zero sugar) as he thought it would last him a while.

After he had filled up his basket, he made his way to the please pay here sign. There was a woman at the desk and she looked like your average headmistress: short, spikey hair; brown piercing eyes; wrinkles all over her forehead and glasses at the end of her nose.

“Hello,” she spoke softly, “would you like a bag today?”

“Yes please,” Pinuccio had found out that using please and thank you made his headmistress happy.

“You do know a bag costs 5p?”

“No.” Pinuccio was not used to going into shops as Gepetto would buy him what he wanted.

“Do you have enough money for all this?” The lady looked suspicious.

“Money?”

“Yes, this will not be cheap,” she had stopped scanning the items.

“Can I come back later?” asked Pinuccio.

“Yes but you will have to put your shopping back.”

“Okay thanks,” Pinuccio went to put everything back but not before making a list of everything he had. · 1 2L bottle of Coca-Cola · 12 packets of Walkers crisps · Hobnob biscuits · Soft white rolls · Nestle hot chocolate

Leaving the shop, Pinuccio thought of a plan to get his shopping back. He was going to sneak back in at night and take what was on the list.

That night, Pinuccio waited behind the shop until the coast was clear. He snuck in through the back door labelled Fire Exit. He could just make out the aisles in the darkness. Taking is list out of his pocket, he silently collected his shopping. He was going to get away. All of a sudden, the front door opened and the scent of a dog came in. Pinuccio tried to sneak through the back door but an alarm started.

A man’s voice shouted “Who’s there?”

Pinuccio was in deep trouble and he knew it. The main door was open. He raced to the outside. The security guard was a small man and there was no way he was going to catch him. His dog on the other hand was already running after him.

Pinuccio had made it outside, although he kept running and so did the dog. Pinuccio turned left, the dog turned left. Pinuccio turned right, the dog turned right. This was not stopping Pinuccio.

He kept running and running and running. The dog was falling behind: Pinuccio had been programmed with super speed but this didn’t mean he was going to run forever and not get tired.

When Pinuccio was sure he had lost the dog, he stopped to rest by a statue that was labelled the Happy Prince.

Eventually, he fell asleep. He dreamt of his father, he was crying about something. He woke up to water dripping on his head. Looking up, he saw it was coming from the Happy Prince statue. It was crying.

“What’s the matter?” asked Pinuccio.

“Nothing,” The Happy Prince answered.

“If nothing’s the matter then why did you wake me up?”

“It’s just the people look so sad,” he was crying again, “I’d hate to be the one making them upset. There are thieves who steal from them, people who makes their lives a nightmare. I know who you are Pinuccio and what you’ve done. It is wrong to steal,” Pinuccio didn’t know what to say, “The police are looking for you they will be here shortly. You should take yourself to them, confess.”

“I can’t,” Pinuccio was shocked by the suggestion.

“You must. You will be in less trouble if you give yourself in,” “I can’t. I’m going to hide from them they won’t find me,” “They will find you. Confess, it’s all you can do,” “I can’t. I will hide from them.”

“No you must listen to me: give yourself up,” “Fine I will. I’ll give myself up,” “Good. You will be rewarded young Pinuccio,”

Pinuccio went to the police. They handcuffed him and put him in their car. He was given a fine for stealing, but he could not pay it as he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the money so he was sent to prison in Sweden. He got on the boat the day after and started a whole other adventure.

Chapter 3 Sweden

Finally, Pinocchio has arrived in Sweden and Stockholm. The first thing he sees when he gets off the boat is his dear friend Pippi.

As he was in trouble he texted her before he sailed off to Sweden. Since she has a lot of money she went to the police and payed Pinocchios fee. She promised the police that she would make sure Pinocchio would not get into more trouble in Sweden.

Pinocchio and Pippi hug each other and are excited to finally meet again.Pippi has planned some things to do in Stockholm before going to Sundsvall. They leave the port area and out there stands a horse, it's Pippi's horse, which is white with black dots. He is a happy and easygoing horse.

They both jump up on the horse and begin to go to Stockholm Castle where the first stop will be. On the way, Pinocchio sees something unusual, a big white snowball, the biggest he has ever seen. It was probably

about hundred meter high. Pinocchio gets so surpriced so he fell off the horse.

Pippi turns around and looks surprised at him. “ What are you doing? "She asks. “What is that big snowball?”, he asks. Pippi laughs and explains that it is the Globe, a big arena where you have different events such as hockey, song contests, soccer matches, concerts and other great events. Pinocchio is still shocked by what he has seen but trusts Pippi's words that it's not a big snowball.

They are now riding towards the castle. Right at the palace Pippi tells him about the King and his family.

King Carl Gustav XVI and Queen Silvia, they have three children called Crown Princess Victoria, CarlPhilip and Madeleine. They have and six grandchildren as well. The royal family does not determine anything in Sweden, it does our government, which is also located in Stockholm. “I know the King and the Queen and their family, I met them together with my dad when I was little, Pinocchio says. “ WOW ?! Do you know them?

How cool! " Pippi replies “Yes, I have celebrated Christmas Eve at the castle with them, Pinocchio says.

But Pinocchio! What happens to your nose? Why does it get so long?

• Oh no no again now !! Forgive me Pippi I lied, but it would have been fun if I had celebrated Christmas with them.

But I do not even know them. • Pippi was a little disappointed at Pinocchio but she forgave him.

Now they would head toward Sundsvall, Pinocchio had heard a lot about the beautiful city of Sundsvall. He had heard about the clean water they have. One of places with the best best water in Europe. He used to drink

bottled water and not directly from the tap. It would be exciting to ty the water in Sundsvall, Pinocchio thinks.

There was a small problem, unfortunately they did not find the train station, Stockholm Central Station, where they would take the train up to Sundsvall.

Fortunately, there is a jogger with high speed against them. “Stop, we need help !, cries Pinocchio.” No idea, Pippi says, the person is so stressed out and just runs past them. We are waiting for someone a little older to ask.

They rode on to the way they thought they were right, and looked at an older couple as they recognized. It was Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and his nice wife Ulla. They ask about the road and get help from Stephen's bodyguard that comes with them to the train station, it was very close from where they were.

Now they are on the train. Pippi´s horse man stands in his own carriage, Pippi and Pinocchio are sitting talking about old memories they have together all the way to Sundsvall. Now they were in Sundsvall and had got rid of. Pippi´s horse got a lot of hay and carrots.

The first thing they did was take a trip out to IKEA to eat the famous IKEA meatballs. Pinocchio was amazed at how good the meatballs actually were. He would never have thought that he had a good price.

Pippi was now crazy for candy, they started candy

world where you can buy any kind of candy available.

When Pippi obviously brought his backpack full of money, there was no stop in how much they could buy.

Pinocchio had never seen so much candy before and thought it was amazing that you could choose yourself which candy one would have. When they finished inside the candy store, there was almost nothing left. The other customers became angry with Pippi and Pinocchio, and meant that one had to think of others and share. Now they were ashamed and wanted to share all their candy.

They rode into town and stood in the square next to the statue of Sundsvall's founder Gustav II Adolf and began to give away the yummy candy. Everyone who received candy was very happy and grateful and thought Pippi and Pinocchio were kind to share because it was so important. They could not know what they had done before in the candy shop.

Now it felt much better and they took a trip up the Northern Mountain, of course they had saved a little of candy to themselves. On the northern mountain there was a lookout tower where you could see the whole of Sundsvall city. The tower is 22 meters high and it was scary to get up there, thought Pinocchio but Pippi she stood on the rack and balanced. Pippi is probably one of the bravest and strongest that Pinocchio knows.

Now it was time for Pinocchio to leave and go on to Spain. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has been fun to meet you Pippi, I hope you can come to me and visit at some point, Pinocchio says.

Yes, it's been fun, Pippi replies. How much I have learned about Sweden, about the King family, that you can be self-absorbed and selfish, but that many are often helpful, and it is important to share.

To make you happy when you get something free and appreciate when you are generous, the Prime Minister walks around with bodyguards, but one thing I have not done yet is tasting the divine water that you have. But wait, next to it is one of our dragons that protects the city and has water that you can drink. Now taste the good water. It was the best water Pinocchio ever tasted. He brought a bottle to drink on his journey to Spain. They said hello to each other and Pinocchio hugged Pippi´s hores before he started to go to the port where he was going to climb a freighter loades with stuff from the company SCA to be transported to Spa

Chapter 4: Sharing in Spain

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Madrid Airport.

Local time is 13:00 and the temperature is 22º. I’d like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future. Have a nice stay!” the captain announced.

Pinocchio and Alessio had just flown from Sweden to Spain and they were feeling rather queasy after the strange landing. The plane had been spinning for 30 minutes waiting for a clear runway before plummeting at top speed and landing on a slightly bumpy runway.

If Pinocchio had been a flesh boy he would have been in the loo for at least 2 hours.

Pinocchio saw a 100€ note. He picked it up, and, acting casually, he pocketed it.

When he got past security, Alessio the cricket jumped out of his hat.

‘What a ride, eh?’, he said. ‘I nearly fainted and I went bright green in the face’.

‘You are bright green’, Pinocchio reminded him.

‘Ah well, where do you want to go?’, asked Alessio. ‘I hear there is a nice town called Segovia near Madrid with a beautiful lake and they make the most exquisite food’.

So that is where they went. They took a fast train and reached there in only 25 minutes!. They went to a restaurant were they had some pork called cochinillo and chips and they went to observe the well preserved Roman aqueduct.

‘It’s very big, don’t you think?’, asked Alessio as they looked at the enormous monument.

‘Yeah, it is, but I expect they had cranes to put all those big blocks up there’.

Alessio was stunned and astounded to his companion’ s ignorance.

‘Pinocchio, you do know that this was built about 2000 years ago, right?’.

‘So, what?’.

‘So they didn’t have cranes!’, said Alessio, alarmed.

‘Well, what about trucks and diggers, did they have those?’, asked Pinocchio.

Alessio looked at Pinocchio. If he was really as stupid as he sounded, they were in deep trouble. He checked Pinocchio’s expression, just in case this was a big joke.

It wasn’t.

‘Look, all the machinery there was then was pulleys and ropes. The Romans heaved the blocks up and lay them on top of each over’.

‘Ok, ok, relax, I get it. The Romans were not as advanced as today. They did not have high tech machines. Ok?’ Alessio was content with this. He continued looking up at the great towering monument for a while until Pinocchio spoke.

‘Just one more thing, is it true that the blocks were stuck together with superglue?’

Alessio sighed.

‘Let's just go up to the main square’.

They climbed the road to get there. But around half way up Pinocchio spotted a beggar. Alessio also saw him.

‘Hey Pinocchio, do you have any spare change?’

Pinocchio knew he did and it would only be right that he gave the 100€ note to the beggar seeing that it wasn’t his in the first place and the beggar needed it more than him.

But he wanted to buy something cool for himself.

‘No’, he lied.

But, as usual, his nose grew. Alessio saw the note sticking out of Pinocchio’s pocket. He jumped, grabbed the note and gave it to the beggar.

‘You have to learn to share. Sharing makes this world go round’, he told Pinocchio severely.

‘Sharing my foot!’, Pinocchio snapped back.

They went all over the town and saw marvellous things and heard marvellous stories. The cathedral, the big castle, how Queen Isabella of Castile got coronated there and the statue of Juan Bravo.

After all that they went to sit next to the Eresma River where Alessio lectured Pinocchio again.

‘You have to share, it is important. For example, if I asked if you could share your pen with me and you said no, next time you need something from me what do you think I’ll say?’.

‘No, I suppose’.

‘Exactly, so do you get what I mean?’.

‘Still no’.

While they were talking, a little fish was swimming about. When he heard the words “not sharing”, he popped he head out of the water and spoke.

‘Which of you is not sharing?”

‘None of your business, fish-head, now bob away or it’ s fish and chips for dinner’, said Pinocchio rudely.

‘No need to be rude, I’m a just trying to be helpful. And on the matter of not being m’biz, it jolly well is’ said the fish.

‘I’m sorry for my companions rudeness, all he meant was how could you be of any use in this problem?’, asked Alessio, trying to get Pinocchio out of trouble.

‘Well, I am considered a bit of the sharing expert by all my fish dudes and shark bros’.

‘Are you now?, well in that case my friend Pinocchio has a bit of a sharing problem’, said Alessio. ‘I’m Alessio, by the way’.

‘Nice name, and as for Pinomiglow-’, ‘Pinocchio’, muttered he.

‘-I shall call him Pine-head. And I’m Rainbow Fish if you wanted to know’.

‘Well, let’s get going, I don’t have all day’, said Pinocchio grumpily.

‘Well Pine-head, sharing fixes everything. It transforms enemies into friends, it stops wars, it can be the starting of history changing inventions. It can be used for everything. A shared crayon can lead to a finished drawing. A shared bolt or screw can lead to a new car.

A shared piston or energy generator can lead to the first time machine’.

Pinocchio ignored at first but started listening. Rainbow Fish droned on for hours and hours until it was time to go to bed. But there was one message glued to Pinocchio’s mind by then. Sharing could change a person's life. Sharing could change the world.

Rainbow Fish at the end gave him a present. A golden necklace.

Next day Pinocchio went to the airport. He was going to Finland. But before he left he saw another beggar, who looked worse than the last one. And, remembering what the Rainbow Fish said, he gave the necklace to him. Alessio was happy. Another value had been learnt.

Chapter 5 Finland

-Well here we are. Finland, what a beautiful country, said Alessio.

-Yes, you are absolutely right! Pinocchio said.

Pinocchio and Alessio looked out of window in Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.

They heard a notice, which said: -Train to Turku leaves within 30 minutes.

-Oh no! We are late, Pinocchio screamed.

They started running towards the train station. -Are we going to make it? Alessio asked.

-I’m not sure, Pinocchio answered.

-Let’s hope we’ll, Alessio said in the middle of that noise and rush.

After 20 sweaty minutes of running, they finally reached the Train station.

-I can’t believe that we made it! Pinocchio said, when they were in front of the train to Turku.

Alessio and Pinocchio stepped into the train.

-Now we can relax while we’re on our way to Turku, said Alessio breathlessly.

-Hold on, first we have to find our seats, Pinocchio pointed out.

After two hours Pinocchio and Alessio reached Turku.

-Have you heard of those kind and lovely Moomins?

Alessio asked.

-That sounds oddly familiar, Pinocchio answered.

-I have heard that they live in Naantali, Alessio told.

-Is that just a myth or a real fact? Pinocchio asked curiously.

-I think it’s a real fact, Alessio answered.

After that Alessio and Pinocchio got a bus to Naantali.

From there they would walk to Moominworld.

The bus took Alessio and Pinocchio to Naantali.

-Well, now we have to walk to Moominworld, Alessio said.

-I am excited to see those Moomins, Pinocchio said happily.

After 9 minutes and 27 seconds they arrived at the Moominworld.

-Wow, this amazing, said Pinocchio.

Pinocchio saw a tall blue house with a red roof.

Alessio said: Yeah, that is pretty amazing.

-Now, let’s go see those Moomins, Pinocchio said.

They entered the Moomin-house.

-Is anybody home? Pinocchio said.

-Who are you? said a quiet female voice.

-My name is Pinocchio and this is my friend Alessio, Pinocchio said frightened.

-Don’t worry, said the same female voice.

Suddenly they heard some footsteps coming from the stairs.

Soon they saw a big moomin.

-My name is Moominmamma, said the mysterious Moomin.

-I’m sorry if I scared you, Moominmamma said.

-Mamma I’m hungry , said a different voice from upstairs.

Soon another creature came down the stairs.

-Hello, my name is Moomintroll, who are you?

-They’re Pinocchio and Alessio, said Moominmamma.

-Nice to meet you, said Moomintroll.

-Would you like to have some pancakes with strawberry jam? asked Moominmamma kindly.

-Yes, please, Pinocchio said.

-Yes, unless it doesn’t bother you, Alessio said.

-Not at all, said Moomintroll.

They walked to the kitchen and Moominmamma brought the jam.

Moomintroll brought the pancakes.

They sat down and started eating.

While eating they discussed about families and kindness.

-You have to be kind and reliable, said Moominmamma.

Moomintroll noded with his eyes closed.

-Thank you for your hospitality, but I think it’s time for us to leave, said Alessio. Pinocchio remained quiet.

Pinocchio and Alessio left the Moomin-house.

While they were walking, Alessio asked Pinocchio why didn’t he say anything.

-I have homesickness and I miss Geppetto, Pinocchio said sadly.

-I see. Don’t worry, we can take a plane back to Catania, Alessio said.

They decided to take a bus from Naantali to HelsinkiVantaa Airport.

After two and a half hours they made it to Airport and Pinocchio called Geppetto that they would be coming home soon.

-Oh boy, I wish everyone would be as kind as those Moomins, said Pinocchio.

They went to the airplane and flew to Catania.

When they stepped out of the airplane they saw Geppetto.

Pinocchio ran to hug him.

-You are finally back here, Geppetto said.

-Good to see you too, father, said Pinocchio.

Pinocchio told everything about his exciting trip around Europe.

-What an amazing trip, Geppetto said.

-I have learned a lot on my trip, but now I want to stay here with you, Pinocchio said happily.

Final chapter Italy

Pinuccio and Alessio are eventually back in Catania; it’s a warm spring day, the sun shines and the sky is blue.

The two boys remain silent for a while, then Pinuccio looks a bit worried at Alessio and starts asking him lots of questions: “Will my father be angry with me? Will he shout at me? Or, what is worse…will he take my microchip away?”.Alessio, with an air of wisdom, promptly answers: “Dear Pinuccio, I hope this adventurous journey has taught you something, hence I think you can fare well even without me. As far as your father is concerned, he loves you but of course he’ll be worried and angry!”

Once alone, Pinocchio thinks to himself: “Maybe Alessio is right, after thousand adventures I must have learnt something!”.

Walking home, Pinuccio notices a man with his adolescent son who is desperately looking for something; in the same moment he finds a wallet under his feet and without thinking twice he pockets it!

The man, desperate, notices him and asks him: “Hey, Robot, have you maybe seen my wallet?” but the son, in an arrogant way, interrupts him: “Dad, do you really think that a tin would ever give back an object that he has found?”

Pinuccio, suddenly remembers the Happy Prince’s teachings and decides to give the wallet back, leaving the small boy blank.

While Pinuccio is walking home, he feels his heavy iron legs getting lighter, so light that he feels like he were on the point of taking flight, but it was not just a physical sensation: he felt free because for the first time in his life he had done a good deed and he hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lied!

Pinuccio sits on a bench in the city park, engrossed in thought, relishing this new pleasant sensation! But the screams of two little girls quarrelling because of a doll disturbs him. Their shouts make Pinuccio think about Ella Bellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words about the importance of friendship and about her actions to support and protect her friends; so, he approaches the two little girls, and with simple but effective words, he explains them the true meaning of friendship which is sharing your dearest belongings and finding pleasure in giving them. Thanks to Pinuccioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true and sincere words, the girls, weepy, hug one another apologizing for their inappropriate behaviour and decide to share the doll. Pinuccio, happy, heads for home.

Walking, he feels his torso and his arms changing, his body was looking increasingly like the one of a real boy.

Pinuccio, worn out, stops in a café to have something fresh, but he has no money and so, he asks only for a glass of water. In that moment, the man he had given the wallet back, approaches him thankful and offers Pinuccio a “granita”.

Pinuccio accepts it readily and shares it with the man’s son. The two boys start talking and Pinuccio tells his new friend his adventures, when suddenly the boy stares Pinuccio in his face and exclaims:” Pinuccio, what’s happening to your face?”

Pinuccio, looking himself in the café shop window, realizes that he has transformed into a human, because, he had finally understood which the true values were necessary to build human relationships. Only his nose was still metallic.

Happy, he heads home, every step he makes, his anxiety gets bigger: “Would his father understand his change?”

This and other similar questions occurred to his mind during the way.

In front of the house door, petrified with fright but comforted by the harmonious and loving memory of the

Moomins family, he opens his arms and hug tight his dad.

Geppetto is speechless, but he sobs his heart out and a tear of happiness and emotion falls on Pinuccioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s robotic nose: suddenly the robotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nose turns into the nose of a real child.

Pinuccio feels in his chest a strong beat: in place of the microchip he feels a heart and, for the first time he experiences love.