A lovely, highly creative and personal little novella (double-on-words there, I know, but who's concerned with matters of circumstance here?) that is about childhood.
It reads from the viewpoint of a child in an adult universe. It makes you think that maybe exploring life - and ourselves - in the eyes of the young would open up more senses than in the eyes of the overly-complicated, restrictive and unimaginative adult would; regardless of experience and of what world he/she lives on.
The universe is a spectacular place, big or small. We just need to permit the time given to us to appreciate it.
'The Little Prince' contains rather heavy themes of the fear and confusion of responsibilities, finding uniqueness in all things, never giving up on your dreams, and never letting go of childhood wonders. But mostly it brings in two fundamental themes: forming universal bonds (friendship), and how you can both find beauty in everything and have a right to criticize them (love, trust and observation).
The drawings are darling. And, as a random observation, I can see where the 'Super Mario Galaxy' video games got their inspiration from. I can see why this novella is very popular in Japan, as well as everywhere else on our planet.
'The Little Prince' has something for everyone: tiny planets, asteroids, war, plane crashes, mathematics, poisonous snakes, foxes, flowers, boa constrictors and elephants. It misses one star out of five because I thought the author could have spent a little more time developing the relationship between the little prince - who never answers questions but asks them constantly - and the pilot narrator. And yes, it is a strange book.
Strange, and charming and important. It teaches us to stop and smell the roses once in a while, and to look at sunsets and the stars at night.
Imagine what could be happening up in the heavens. Do stars sing like bells? Do they laugh? Cry? Is there life up there, surviving any way it can, like you and me?
Individuals have a right to interpret what stars mean to them. If you still have enough of an inner child despite what grown-ups have been telling you not to do all your life, then take the time to read this 90 page delight.
And criticize it how you like.
Final Score: 4/5
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