Pinocchio: Discussion Guide for Parents

Walt Disney Pictures, 1940

Content Warnings:

Disobedience & Lying

Tobacco & Alcohol

Scary scenes - kidnapping, boys turning into donkeys

Before Beginning:

Before beginning, it may be helpful to remind children that this is a pretend story. While it can teach us true lessons, the story itself is not true. 

Pinocchio is often seen as a morality tale against evil. Rather than focusing on fear, Pinocchio's mistakes, and their consequences, I would recommend keeping the focus on forgiveness and redemption. Geppetto and Jiminy Cricket always lovingly support Pinocchio, following after him and encouraging him to choose the right. Remind children that this is the kind of loving care God had towards us (and we should strive to react like Gepetto and Jiminy when our children make mistakes).

Discussion Questions

1. Pinocchio was interrupted on his way to school and chose to follow Honest John and be an actor instead of going to school. Why is going to school important?
2. The Blue Fairy describes a conscience as “something that helps you choose between right and wrong, counsels in moments of temptation, and keeps you on the straight and narrow.” What did Jiminy Cricket do when Pinocchio chose to ignore him? Does your conscience respond the same way?
3. What does it mean to "let your conscience be your guide”? How do you tell the difference between right and wrong, and what do you do if you can't figure it out? 
4. How is Jiminy Cricket similar to or different from the Holy Spirit? 

• Ideas: Both help us know right from wrong. Both will stay with us when we most need them. Jiminy Cricket is visible, but the Holy Spirit is invisible.

5. Pinocchio could have trusted and obeyed his father and Jiminy Cricket, or Honest John and Stromboli. How can we know who to trust and obey?
6. When Pinocchio is first kidnapped, Jiminy wants to tell Geppetto but worries about being "snitchy." What's the difference between being a tattletale and helping a friend in danger?
7. The Blue Fairy said, “A lie keeps growing bigger and bigger until it’s as plain as the nose on your face.” Have you ever told a lie that got bigger and bigger? What happened? How do you feel when other people lie to you? 
8. When Pinocchio didn’t obey his father and Jiminy, he got into some trouble. What kind of things happened?

• Note: This may be an appropriate time to discuss where real-world consequences may differ from those in the film. Assure your children that they will not, in fact, be turned into donkeys. 

9. Pinocchio had many people around to help him - the Blue Fairy, his father, and Jiminy. How did these people react when Pinocchio made mistakes?

• The Blue Fairy forgave Pinocchio and gave him another chance.
• Gepetto loved Pinocchio and went out searching for him. 
• Jiminy always stuck by Pinocchio to help him make better choices. 

10. How is the story of Gepetto and Pinocchio similar to the Plan of Salvation?

• Gepetto created Pinocchio and God made us.
• Gepetto loved Pinocchio very much. God loves us very much.
• Gepetto hoped Pinocchio would make good decisions, and God hopes we will make good choices.
• When the Blue Fairy brought Pinocchio to life, Pinocchio was given the ability to choose how he would act and whether he would obey his father. God gives us agency to choose whether we will obey. 
• Pinocchio made mistakes, just as we make mistakes during our earth life.
• Pinocchio experienced negative consequences when he was disobedient. We, too, experience consequences when we are disobedient. 
• No matter what Pinocchio did, Gepetto kept looking for Pinocchio, hoping he would come home and be brave and honest. No matter what mistakes we make, God is always nearby, hoping that we will repent and turn back to God’s way. 
• At then end of the movie, after Pinocchio had been tested and proved himself, he became a “real boy” (not made out of wood). After we have been tested and proved that we will be faithful, we will become “real,” with a glorified, perfected body. Our new bodies will be different and better, just like Pinocchio’s new body was different and better.  

Scripture Connections

• The Prodigal Father. Luke 15:11-32
• Jonah and the Big Fish. Jonah
• Plan of Salvation. See True to the Faith, “Plan of Salvation” for an overview and scripture references. 
• Education. Dan 1:17; 2 Nephi 9:29, 28:30; Alma 37:35; D&C 88:118, 90:15, 93:36, 93:53, 130:18; See Bible Dictionary, “Education”
• Lying/Honesty. Lev 19:11; Ps 101:7; Proverbs 12:22; Acts 5:4; 2 Cor 8:21, 13:7; Eph 4:25; Phili 4:8; Col 3:9; 2 Nephi 28:8; Alma 27:27; D&C 42:21
• Courage. Alma 53:20
• Integrity. Job 2:3, 27:5, 31:6; Prov 20:7; 1 Nephi 2:10; Alma 24:19, 27:27; D&C 5:22; Joseph Smith History 1:25
• Discernment. 1 Kgs 3:5-15; Isa 11:3; 1 For 12:10; Alma 12:31; 3 Nephi 11:3, 24:18; Ether 4:12; Moro 7:15; D&C 11:13, 101:95
• Tobacco & Alcohol. See “Word of Wisdom,” D&C 89 and footnotes. 

Ideas for Further Study

• Read The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi.
• Learn about Germany at the time of Pinocchio. 
• Research the effects of tobacco and smoking on our bodies. 
• Learn about whales like Monstro.

References

Nancy Davis Kho, “Pinocchio,” Common Sense Media <https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/pinocchio>