This cute book tells a story about the innocence of childhood and what is lost as we become adults. The young prince travels from planet to planet meeting various adults. Each of these adults displays a magnified flawed characteristic used to call out many distractions that taint the enjoyment of life.
The author uses a rose to symbolize something that can be lost as common but when cherished, reflects how we should treat each other. The little prince shows love and responsibility during his reflections on his little rose.
Written, on the surface, for children the author uses a casual childish voice. He uses the conversation between a lost pilot and the little prince to teach simple lessons that, when taken to heart, amount to extravagant ways of living. The simple messaging leaves a lot of room for adults to reflect on their own lives, behavior, purpose, etc.
There’s little development of characters as the story is less about the pilot and the prince but more about the passage of time and the beauty we lose sight of as humanity transitions into adulthood.
Themes:
- Nature of Childhood vs. Adulthood
- Love and Responsibility
- Search for Meaning and Purpose
- Circle of Life
This book can be simple. You can read it to a child and put it down and walk away without another thought. The lessons are subtle. But pausing for just a moment, you may ponder who you are, who you’ve become, and if you are who you thought you’d be or you who want to be. The message received likely changes each time you read the book. It’s an easy, quick read, so I’d recommend reading it multiple times throughout the years. If you have kids, read it to them, let them tell you what they hear, you may even see something new.
home 