Pinocchio retold “Now – there’s no point in pretending here – I was, and still am deep down, a puppet. Everyone knows Pinocchio is a puppet... I reckon I must be just about the most famous puppet the world has ever known. But the truth is I’m not just a puppet, I’m more than just bits of wood and string. I’m me... So I thought it was about time that I, Pinocchio, told you my story…” Pinocchio is the famous story of the naughty puppet who is desperate to become a real boy, retold in his own words.
New feet ‘As I lay there on Papa’s workbench having my new feet fitted, Mama gave me a good ticking-off, covering me with kisses all the while. But all I could think about was my stomach. “I’m so hungry, Mama,” I whispered. “Can I have some chocolate?”’
The school book ‘Papa came back an hour or so later, smiling from ear to ear as he came in the door. “Here you are, Pinocchio, my boy,” he said. “Look what I have for you.” He had a book in his hand. “For you, Pinocchio. Your ABC for school.” “Papa?” Mama said. “Where is your coat? What have you done with it?” “I sold it,” Papa said, “to buy the book for the boy. What can be more important to a boy than learning?” He shrugged. “Anyway, that old coat was always too warm for me, too long in the sleeve, and it itched. I’m better off without it.” What a truly wonderful father I had. I ran to him, leapt into his arms and hugged him.’
The school book ‘Papa came back an hour or so later, smiling from ear to ear as he came in the door. “Here you are, Pinocchio, my boy,” he said. “Look what I have for you.” He had a book in his hand. “For you, Pinocchio. Your ABC for school.” “Papa?” Mama said. “Where is your coat? What have you done with it?” “I sold it,” Papa said, “to buy the book for the boy. What can be more important to a boy than learning?” He shrugged. “Anyway, that old coat was always too warm for me, too long in the sleeve, and it itched. I’m better off without it.” What a truly wonderful father I had. I ran to him, leapt into his arms and hugged him.’
Storytelling challenge... Can you use a character’s actions to tell the reader about a character’s true feelings and emotions? Think of a character you know well and choose an emotion or strong feeling for them. Perhaps they are: ● Excited, but don’t want to show it ● Angry, but trying to stay calm ● Telling a lie, but trying to sound truthful Can you think of something a character might do if they were feeling the emotion you’ve chosen?