I remember seeing a thin white paperback with a planet at the edge, a yellow-haired boy on top of it and a simple title with a cute font, sprinkled with stars in a bookshop. The cover stood out to me but I was not particularly interested in what I thought was only a classic children’s book. Little did I know, I was walking away from a masterpiece.

The Little Prince Is A Classic

From a very whimsical cover lies a story of an encounter between a pilot and a child. The Little Prince is a beloved classic that talks about life, love, and friendship which makes it perfect for all ages. It was written originally in French by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and then translated into different languages. It begins with an introduction from a pilot about when he was a child full of questions about grown-ups. He then recounts a memorable accident in his life six years ago in the Sahara Desert – where he met the little prince.

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For Young Readers

The Little Prince was originally written for children. This demographic are the most likely to enjoy its amazing storytelling, setting, and illustrations drawn by the author Antoine de Saint-Exupery himself. The opening chapters highlight the curiosity and innocence of children. The conversations throughout the story are very easy to read and understand from a child’s perspective.

What does that mean – ‘tame’?

“It is an act too often neglected,” said the fox. “It means to establish ties.”

On a superficial level, the story focuses on the little prince’s asteroid and travels around the universe until he came to Earth. Two volcanoes to clean, one rose to look after, sunsets to cherish and baobabs to watch for make up the little prince’s little home. It was fun tagging along in his journey while he asks questions, discovers life outside, and forms friendship.

For Young Adults

It is such a secret place, the land of tears.

This book has proven that it has more to offer than meets the eye. Reading this in college has changed my perspective a lot. I’ve grown to realize how sad the Little Prince’s life was despite having his own place. I felt the emptiness in his words and the heaviness in his silence. This was done in a subtle way that I was not able to notice when I first read it.

For me, the pilot and the little prince are somewhat similar. This explains why the pilot struggles to understand the prince (because he doesn’t understand himself). Their lack of purpose, motivation, and sense of belonging resonated with me.

For Adults

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Growing up is unavoidable but that doesn’t mean we should forget what we used to be. Now that I’m a little bit older, I understand and appreciated this book a lot more. All those planets inhabited by different representations of adults make sense to me.

As the whole premise becomes clearer, the relationship the little prince creates with the rose, the pilot, and the fox warms my heart. The Little Prince is the slight nudge I need once in a while. Whenever one feels lost and confused in life, it’s great to be reminded to focus on what really matters.

Final Thoughts

Reading The Little Prince always feels brand new and it doesn’t feel like a classic at all. What really got me was its simplicity and openness to interpretation. It touches themes that all of us can relate to. It brings us back to who we used to be before going to who we will be. Overall, it has everything I’m looking for in a book. With our changing time, I am sure that this book will remain our constant – that’s how powerful this story can be.