Listen to “Pinocchio” on Spreaker.

---

Pinocchio

Once upon a time, there was a kind old man named Geppetto. He lived alone in a little workshop and made beautiful wooden toys. But more than anything, he wished for a child of his own.

One day, Geppetto carved a wooden puppet that looked just like a little boy.
“I’ll call you Pinocchio,” he said with a smile.
That night, he wished upon a star,
“Please let Pinocchio become a real boy.”

A kind fairy heard his wish. She flew into the workshop and waved her magic wand.
“Pinocchio,” she said, “you are alive now. If you are brave, kind, and tell the truth, one day you will become a real boy.”

When Geppetto woke up and saw Pinocchio moving and talking, he could hardly believe it!
“Papa! Look! I can walk!” Pinocchio cheered, wobbling on his wooden feet.
Geppetto laughed and hugged him tight.

The next day, Geppetto gave Pinocchio a lunch and sent him to school.
“Be good, listen to your teacher, and go straight there,” he reminded him.

But on the way, Pinocchio heard music and laughter. A boy called out,
“Hey, puppet! Come with us to the puppet show! It’s way more fun than school!”

Pinocchio was curious.
“Just for a little while,” he said.
He ran off with the boys and forgot all about school.

At the puppet show, the crowd cheered when Pinocchio danced. The puppet master gave him coins and said,
“You’re the star! Stay and perform every night!”

But Pinocchio missed Geppetto.
“I need to go home,” he said.

On his way back, a sly fox and a sneaky cat stopped him.
“Where are you going, little wooden boy?” asked the fox.
“Home to my papa,” Pinocchio said.
“Why not plant your coins in the magic field? They’ll grow into a tree full of gold!” the fox lied.

Pinocchio believed them and gave them his coins. But the fox and cat ran away laughing.
“Hey! Come back!” Pinocchio shouted.

He felt sad and foolish.

Suddenly, the blue fairy appeared.
“Pinocchio, what happened?” she asked.

Pinocchio was scared and told a lie.
“I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Right away, his wooden nose grew longer!
“Oh no!” he cried.
The fairy smiled kindly.
“Every time you lie, your nose will grow.”

Pinocchio promised to be honest from now on.
“I just want to go home to Papa,” he said.

But on the way, he got tricked again by naughty boys and ended up on Pleasure Island, where kids could do whatever they wanted. They ate candy, broke toys, and skipped school.

At first, it was fun. But then something strange happened. The boys started growing donkey ears and tails!
“What’s happening to us?!” Pinocchio shouted.

He ran away as fast as he could and jumped into the sea. Splash!

Deep under the water, he found something shocking—a huge whale! And inside the whale’s belly was…
“Papa?”
“Pinocchio!” Geppetto had been searching for him and got swallowed by the whale too!

“We have to get out of here!” Pinocchio said.

He had an idea. They tickled the whale’s tummy with a feather!
“Achoo!” The whale sneezed so hard that it blew them right out into the ocean!

They swam back to shore safely.

Back home, Pinocchio helped Geppetto around the house. He was kind, honest, and brave.

That night, the blue fairy came again.
“Pinocchio, you have proven yourself,” she said.
She touched him with her wand—and suddenly, he was no longer made of wood.

“I’m a real boy!” Pinocchio cried, hugging Geppetto.

They danced around the room, happy at last.

And from that day on, Pinocchio never lied again. He learned that the truth, love, and family are more magical than anything else.

The End!

---

❓Follow-Up Questions:

• Why did Pinocchio’s nose grow when he told a lie?
• What did Pinocchio learn by the end of the story?
• If you were Pinocchio, what would you have done differently?