From the comic opening of a piece of uncarved wood already endowed with a personality all its own, to the drama of the final moment when Pinocchio rejoices over his transformation into a flesh-and-blood boy, this is a work of irresistible charm. Now freshly adapted from the original novel and illustrated with paintings by Lorenzo Mattotti that burst with drama and imagination, this sparkling picture-book edition is sure to be a favorite. Lorenzo Mattotti was born in Brescia, Italy. Schooled as an architect at the University of Venice, his real love is illustration and his artwork for children"s books and periodicals is well known throughout Europe.