 Collodi wrote a number of didactic children's stories for the recently unified Italy, including "Viaggio per l'Italia di Giannettino" ("Little Johnny's voyage through Italy"; 1876), a series about an unruly boy who undergoes humiliating experiences while traveling the country, and "Minuzzolo" (1878).In 1881, he sent a short episode in the life of a wooden puppet to a friend who edited a newspaper in Rome, wondering whether the editor would be interested in publishing this "bit of foolishness" in his children's section.The editor did, and the children loved it.