"Rhymes with Orange" by Hilary B. Price (11-21-2021)

Gepetto Paints Pinocchio in his wood-carving shop Gepetto's Wooden Puppet Pinocchio Puppet Without Strings (thanks to the Blue Fairy)

Where Is Pinocchio's Mom? Pinocchio tells Jimney Cricket— "I never met my Mom All Dad says is that she was as strong as an oak." Some say Pinocchio's mother died giving him birth, that his Mom was a pine tree since Pino-occhio is pine-eyed in Italian; these are rumors of the puppet's origin. No wonder Pinocchio misbehaved without a mother's loving care despite his father Gepetto's good intention sending him to school. I got no strings to tie me down To make me fret, or make me frown I had strings, but now I'm free There are no strings on me Hi-ho the merry-o That's the only way to be I want the world to know Nothing ever worries me until he grows donkey ears and tail at Pleasure Island. Show some bravado and courage to rescue Gepetto from the whale. Blue Fairy turns wooden puppet Pinocchio into a real boy when he proved to be brave & unselfish. Pinocchio's Mom is the Blue Fairy!       — Peter Y. Chou           Mountain View, 11-22-2021

Pinocchio grows donkey ears at Pleasure Island Pinocchio resues Gepetto from the whale Blue Fairy with magic wand Blue Fairy turns puppet Pinocchio into a real boy