The Little Prince

The Little Prince
by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, illustrated by Joann Sfar, 2010. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. (0547338023)

Illustrator Website: http://www.joann-sfar.com/wpen/

Media: pen and ink, with color applied digitally

Awards and Honors: Angoulême International Comic Strip Festival, "Essential"- Youth category

Annotation: 
A graphic novel adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupery's classic allegory, The Little Prince.  

Personal Reaction: 
     The Little Prince- a story of an aviator crashlanded in the African desert who encounters a strange little boy from the heavens- has long been a classic of children's literature. I was given a copy of this book when I was eight years old and I've read and reread it many times throughout the years, gaining a different understanding and appreciation for it upon each reading. Having read the novel many times, though, I expected that the graphic adaptation wouldn't do the original justice, that somehow it would be a watered down shadow of de Saint-Exupery's allegory. 

     I was pleasantly surprised to find that Joann Sfar's graphic novel is not at all the bore that I expected, but actually manages to infuse the story with a deep sentiment and meaning. Where de Saint-Exupery's voice is at times detached, Sfar's adaptation is tender without being syrupy. The affection the pilot feels for the Little Prince is palpable, and the departure of the Little Prince at the end of the story is truly moving. While Sfar's illustrations may not be as charming as the originals, they likely open up the world of The Little Prince to a greater audience.