Pinocchio (; ), the name a variant of common "pinolo" (pine seed), is a fictional character and the protagonist of the children's novel
The Adventures of Pinocchio (1883) by Italian writer
Carlo Collodi. Carved by a woodcarver named
Geppetto in a small Italian village near
Florence, he was created as a wooden
puppet but dreamed of becoming a real boy. He has also been used as a character who is prone to telling lies and fabricating stories for various reasons. The story has appeared in many adaptations in other media. Pinocchio has been called an icon of modern culture and one of the most re-imagined characters in the pantheon of children's literature.