The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA) presents a new exhibition: A Real Boy: The Many Lives of Pinocchio, which explores the cultural origins, adaptations, and enduring appeal of one of the most popular characters in children’s literature.

Written in 1883 by Italian author Carlo Collodi, The Adventures of Pinocchio has delighted generations and occupies a revered place in the canon of children’s literature. The book has been translated into over 260 languages—a number exceeded only by the Bible.