Pinocchio (1946), with original illustrations by Lois Lenski, presents Carlo Collodi’s classic 1883 Italian children’s novel in a mid-century American edition that balances the tale’s darker moral fable with Lenski’s warm, folk-art-inspired visuals. Unlike Disney’s sanitized 1940 adaptation, this version stays true to Collodi’s darker, picaresque story—where the mischievous wooden puppet faces grim consequences for his lies (his nose grows, yes, but he’s also hanged, enslaved, and nearly fried in a pan).
Lenski’s soft-lined, earthy illustrations temper the story’s severity, depicting Pinocchio’s whirlwind journey—from Geppetto’s workshop to the Land of Toys—with a rustic charm that evokes 1940s Americana while honoring the tale’s Tuscan roots. Her art captures both the whimsy (Jiminy Cricket’s admonitions) and the menace (the monstrous Dogfish), making it accessible yet unsettling—a faithful bridge between European folklore and postwar U.S. sensibilities.
This edition is a collector’s gem, offering a nuanced take on Collodi’s cautionary tale about obedience, sacrifice, and earning humanity.
