Review The Little Prince

Review      The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I have been wanting to read this ever since I discovered Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and read his MARVELOUS memoir Wind, Sand and Stars.   Click here for my review; which I read for the In Their Shoes Challenge.

So, finally, I’m browsing the kids section of Borders looking for Tale of Devereaux by Kate DiCamillo – which I plan to read this weekend while I’m in Maine visiting Auntie Lil – and I spy The Little Prince.   

Here’s my thought process:   I have a 20% off coupon so I’m saving money anyway, it’s back to school time so this book will be a fun gift my friend Ashley (whose Mom reads this blog on occasion so I’m spoiling a surprise?) and it’ll be a quick and fun read to help me up the count on books read this year!!    So I bought it.   (I also bought the DICamillo AND grabbed The Lace Reader on impulse right at the cashier!)

Why do I have no qualms about spending money on books!?     why, why?!    I am also thinking The Lace Reader will be a good gift for my mother.   I have no problem spending money on gifts.

Since I don’t have kids and the book The Little Prince does not give a recommended age range, other than a blurb that “…it will capture the hearts of readers of all ages.”,   I do wonder at what age this book would be most appreciated.   Ashley is 7 or 8 (I can never remember) and I have no idea her reading level, but with words like contemplation, reproach, pretensions, edification, apparition, ‘inhabited region’, discreet, insubordination, dispatch, and irreparable;  as well as themes of folly of accumulation (ie the businessman) and puzzles of drunkards, I wonder how much of it a kid would ‘get’.  

I’m all for challenging and pushing kids to achieve MORE on an academic level but, maybe I am prejudiced and doubt their construct ability?    sad, huh?     Why do we do that?  or am I the only one?      I hate the thought of American schools being dumbed-down and am always amazed when I read that mere children 200 years ago studied Latin and French and arithmetic and biology and the ‘classics’ by the ages of 10 or 12 or even 15.     Curriculum descriptions from the really old days astound me.

So, is The Little Prince really a kids book?   I loved it, I enjoyed it, I chuckled at the boy who wouldn’t let go of a question once voiced.   I was thrilled that the author could jump into that innocence of believing a drawing could… be.       I was touched at the speech about what we really should treat as serious subjects (flowers not accounting.)

ah, imagination!    This book inspires me.     It has very mature themes for such a tale of innocence and trust.

And I will imagine the stars with new wonder from now on.   

Another 5 stars 

(and I will send it to my friend and let her parents read it and decide, of course, if she’s ready.  or does it matter?)