This is a new Picture Book adaptation of the famous book Le Petit Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery and I think it manages to cover most of the plot. If you want to introduce this story to younger children this picture book version is well worth finding especially if you and your young reading companion are happy just to read this as a fanciful tale and you have no need to seek deeper meanings. The illustrations in this picture book are also very appealing.
On his journey to Earth, the Little Prince visits a series of planets. He meets a King, a show-off, a drinker, a businessman, a lamp-lighter, a geographer. Three of these are depicted in this new picture book version. I like the way the businessman who is obsessed with numbers is shown on a planet crowded with technology. Louise Greig leaves out the show-off, the drinker (this might please you), and the geographer. As in the original story he does meet the fox but not the snake.
After reading this new picture book adaption of The Little Prince I went back to read the novella - I read a translation by Alan Wakeman illustrated by Michael Foreman.
There are a few very famous children's books which I find are somehow beyond my comprehension - The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley; A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle ; The Mouse and his Child by Russell Hoban and The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
If you think there must be more to this story Penguin UK list seven timeless life lessons from The Little Prince.
1. Don’t be too fond of numbers
2. Look after the planet
3. Don’t judge others by their words, but by what they do
4. Relationships make life worth living
5. The important things in life you cannot see with your eyes, only with your heart
6. It is the time you give to something that makes it precious
7. And finally, remember to look up at the stars
If you are interested in how well The Little Prince has been translated take a look at this article which compares ten the work of ten translators.
Here are some comments about the original story:
1001 Children's Books you must read before you grow up: "The story, absurd though it is in structure, strikes a cord with readers young and old, even though its subject matter is not particularly childish."
101 Books to read Before you Grow up: "This is an honest and beautiful story about loneliness, friendship, sadness and love. ... but don't be fooled by its small size, it is an intelligent story meant to be thought about deeply and encourage you to build castles in the air."
Charlotte Huck Children's Literature in the Elementary School: "A popular fairy tale of our time for adults and children ... Some children will find the hidden meanings in a tale such as The Little Prince; others will simply read it has a good story; and still others will be put off reading it altogether because it isn't real. Children vary in their capacity for imaginative thinking."
The Little Prince was first published in 1943. It has been translated into 300 languages and sold millions of copies. The story has been adapted into other forms such as plays; television; and opera. There are also at two schools one in France: L'école Le Petit Prince; and one in Ontario: L'école élémentaire catholique Le Petit Prince. Before France adopted the Euro, drawings from The Little Prince were on their 50-franc banknote.
Here are a few other spin off titles due for publication this year:
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