Pinnochio and the Nosey Surprise

Carlo Collodi, Retold by The Legendary Connection

Tales of Honesty & Integrity

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Long ago, in a small village nestled between green hills and sparkling rivers, there lived a kind and lonely woodcarver named Geppetto. One day, he decided to carve a puppet out of a piece of enchanted wood, and to his great surprise, the puppet came to life! Geppetto named him Pinocchio, and though Pinocchio was mischievous and curious, he had a heart full of dreams. More than anything else he dreamed of becoming a real boy. He found out this wish was possible when he met the Blue Fairy, who told him he must prove himself brave, truthful, and kind to earn that transformation.

One bright morning, the Blue Fairy looked down upon Pinocchio and decided it was time to see if he had truly learned the value of honesty. This was as poor Pinocchio found himself in a very tricky spot.

You see, not long before, Pinocchio had met a sly Fox and a cunning Cat who promised to show him a magical field where, if he buried his gold coins, they would grow into a tree filled with even more gold. Excited and hopeful, Pinocchio followed them eagerly. But as soon as they reached a dark part of the woods, the Fox and the Cat turned on him. They stole his gold and left him tied to a tree, frightened and alone in the shadows.

The Blue Fairy had seen him in that scary situation and sent an owl and a crow to rescue him. The two birds untied him from the tree and guided him back to Gepetto’s home, where The Blue Fairy was waiting for him.

She had a large breakfast waiting for the tired and hungry puppet. After the meal, the Fairy asked Pinocchio kindly, "Now, my dear boy, tell me everything. What happened to you last night?"

Pinocchio shifted in his chair, his wooden hands fidgeting. He wanted to tell the truth. Oh, he wanted to! But the memory of his foolish choices, trusting the sly Fox and the cunning Cat, made his heart feel ashamed. So, he decided to weave a small story.

"Last night, I was attacked on the road by two thieves!" he cried, widening his bright eyes for effect. "They tried to steal my gold pieces. But I ran and hid the money under a stone. Then they found me, and… and tied me to a tree!"

The Fairy looked at him with soft, understanding eyes. She said nothing, simply smiling as she brushed her silvery hair. Encouraged, Pinocchio continued. "Then a kind man found me and brought me here!" And as he was talking, something extraordinary happened. Pinocchio’s nose, already rather long for such a small face, began to grow. Slowly, inch by inch, it stretched farther and farther out, until it poked right across the room!

The poor puppet didn't notice at first. But when he turned his head and knocked over a glass with the tip of his nose, he gasped in surprise. "What’s happening to me?" Pinocchio cried, trying to pull his nose back with both hands. The more he pulled, the longer it grew, until it looked like a long branch with leaves sprouting at the tip!

The Fairy giggled behind her hand. "My dear Pinocchio," she said kindly, "whenever little boys tell lies, their noses grow longer and longer.”

Pinocchio's heart sank. He realized his mistake. Tears welled up in his eyes as he cried, "Oh, I’ll never lie again, I promise! Please make it stop!"

But the nose kept growing, until it wound around the room like a vine. Birds flew in through the open window and began building a nest on it! Pinocchio was truly miserable. His poor wooden face turned red with shame, and he covered his eyes with his hands.

"Please, please," he sobbed. "Forgive me, Fairy! I didn't mean to lie. I was so ashamed of the truth that I tried to hide it. But I see now that lies only cause more trouble. I’ll be good! I'll tell you everything, I promise!"

The Fairy's heart was tender, for she knew that real change comes not from punishment, but from understanding. She clapped her hands, and at once a flock of little birds swooped down and, pecking and pulling, they trimmed Pinocchio’s nose back to its proper size.

Pinocchio sighed with relief, touching his small nose with wonder. "Now," said the Fairy gently, "tell me the truth."

This time, Pinocchio told the whole story: how he had trusted the wicked Fox and Cat, how he had been tricked out of his gold coins, how he had been nearly lost forever. When he finished, the Fairy smiled and kissed his forehead.

"Remember, Pinocchio," she said softly, "bravery and honesty are the finest tools a boy can carry. Lies may seem like a shield, but they are heavy burdens that grow heavier the longer you carry them." Pinocchio nodded solemnly, feeling lighter and freer now that he had shared the truth.

The Fairy made him a cozy bed and reminded him that if he kept trying his best to be brave, honesty, and kind, he would soon be a real boy at last! Pinocchio snuggled under the warm covers, his little nose just right, and his heart full of new hope. And as he drifted off to sleep, he dreamed of all the adventures yet to come, adventures where he would be brave, true, and kind.

Story adapted from: Collodi, C. The Adventures of Pinocchio. Translated by Carol Della Chiesa.