Carlo Collodi

“Once upon a time there was a piece of wood. It was not an expensive piece of wood. Far from it. Just a common block of firewood, one of those thick, solid logs that are put on the fire in winter to make cold rooms cozy and warm.”

“A thousand woodpeckers flew in through the window and settled themselves on Pinocchio's nose.”

“At such a loving invitation, Pinocchio, with one leap from the back of the orchestra, found himself in the front rows. With another leap, he was on the orchestra leader's head. With a third, he landed on the stage.”

“Fancy the happiness of Pinocchio on finding himself free! Without saying yes or no, he fled from the city and set out on the road that was to take him back to the house of the lovely Fairy.”

“Pinocchio, spurred on by the hope of finding his father and of being in time to save him, swam all night long.”

“How it happened that Mastro Cherry, carpenter, found a piece of wood that wept and laughed like a child.”