Pinocchio – Italian Reader B1–B2
The Original Story by Carlo Collodi, Rewritten in Easy and Modern Italian for Intermediate Learners (B1–B2)
Adapted by Laura Tegazzin and Simplicio Stella
Discover the real adventures of Pinocchio in accessible, contemporary Italian. This adaptation lets intermediate learners enjoy Carlo Collodi’s original story, with all its humour, danger and surprising insights into human nature.
Discover the Original Pinocchio
Almost everyone knows Pinocchio, the wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy. Yet the original novel by Carlo Collodi is very different from many familiar film adaptations. Published as a book in 1883, it presents a lively, often unsettling world in which affection, deception, poverty and injustice exist side by side.
Geppetto, a poor carpenter, makes a wooden puppet that unexpectedly comes to life. Pinocchio is curious, impulsive and easily tempted by promises of pleasure or easy success. As he wanders away from home, he meets extraordinary animals, mysterious figures, dishonest strangers and people who exploit his innocence.
The puppet’s adventures are sometimes comic, sometimes frightening. He must learn to recognize deception, accept responsibility and understand the meaning of loyalty and love. Behind the fantasy, Collodi also offers a sharp picture of the society of his time, including its authorities, prejudices and inequalities.
The result is far more than a simple children’s tale. Young readers can enjoy its imagination and humour, while adults will recognize its irony, social criticism and reflections on growing up.
A Classic Rewritten in Modern Italian
The original Le avventure di Pinocchio contains nineteenth-century vocabulary, Tuscan idioms and grammatical structures that can be demanding for learners. This edition updates and simplifies the Italian for students at the B1–B2 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
The adaptation preserves the story, its characters and its distinctive tone, while making the sentences clearer and the language easier to follow. Notes explain selected expressions that may be difficult to understand from context alone.
The original was first published in episodes, and the book retains its chapter-based structure. Readers can therefore progress through the adventures a little at a time. There are no comprehension exercises: the emphasis is on extensive reading, enjoyment and understanding the story as a whole.
Why Read This Book?
- Read a famous Italian classic in more accessible language.
- Discover the darker and more ironic original story behind the familiar character.
- Expand your vocabulary through adventure, dialogue and recurring situations.
- Practise understanding narrative Italian without stopping for exercises.
- Enjoy a chapter-based book that rewards regular reading.
Who Is This Book For?
This reader is intended primarily for intermediate students of Italian at B1–B2 level. It may also appeal to confident A2 learners, especially those familiar with another Romance language.
It is suitable for independent study, extensive-reading programmes and learners who want to reconnect with Italian literature. The pleasure of following Collodi’s story is the central learning activity.
Start Reading Pinocchio
Download a free PDF sample to discover the style of the adaptation, or find the complete book on Amazon.