There was once upon a time...
"A king!" my little readers will shout together.
No, children, you make a mistake. Once upon a time there was a piece of wood.
It was not the best, but just a common piece of wood, such as is used in stoves and fireplaces to kindle the fire and warm the rooms in winter...

Carlo Collodi/Illustrations by Roberto Innocenti: THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO; first published by Jonathan Cape Ltd, London, in association with Creative Education Inc.,
Mankato MN.