The Little Prince
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince has touched hearts across generations for more than half a century. Beloved by readers young and old, this timeless French classic continues to inspire with its gentle wisdom and poetic charm.
Illustrated by Liu Maoning
This special edition introduces a fresh visual interpretation by Liu Maoning — a young animation director and award-winning illustrator trained at the prestigious Animation School of the Communication University of China. His works have been recognized at international film and animation festivals.
After two years of careful artistry, Liu brings new life to the story through 60 pages of meticulously hand-drawn illustrations. His warm, detailed visuals preserve the emotional depth of the original while introducing a brighter, more inviting tone — especially fitting for young readers.
“Par la justesse de ses illustrations, Liu Maoning nous transporte dans un univers transculturel et transgénérationnel, si cher à Antoine de Saint Exupéry.”
A Warm and Child-Friendly Vision
Liu Maoning brings a warm and luminous color palette to The Little Prince, preserving the story’s subtle melancholy while softening it with a comforting, child-friendly tone.
This thoughtful balance offers young readers a gentle way to enter the emotional world of the Little Prince — breaking away from the traditionally deep-blue, melancholic imagery often associated with the classic. The result is a visual experience that feels both emotionally rich and tenderly accessible, inviting readers of all ages into a cross-generational, cross-cultural journey.
Exquisite Brushwork
His brushwork is exquisitely detailed. In the scene where the fox appears, each stroke delicately outlines the texture of the wheat field, capturing both its soft, tactile quality and the poetic imagery of wind blowing through golden waves.
Wit and Humor
His work is full of wit and humor. For example, in the illustration where the pilot recounts his drawing experience at the age of six, he vividly captures the expressions of adults — puzzled yet eager to comment — with both charm and precision.
A Thoughtful Creative Process
During the creative process, Liu felt that the greatest challenge was the fact that The Little Prince is already a well-established classic:
“Saint-Exupéry’s loose yet energetic illustrations are my favorite, and there are already many outstanding versions around the world. What I aimed to do was create a Little Prince with a unique spirit that reflects my own artistic voice.”
To do justice to the book, Liu undertook extensive preparation. He filled sketchbooks with a wide range of character designs and carefully researched aircraft models and interior structures for reference. Whenever inspiration struck, he made sure to capture it immediately. It is precisely this depth of preparation that allows the illustrations to be so rich in detail.
Picture Book Details
This picture book is filled with thoughtful touches and subtle design choices.
One example appears in the scene where the pilot shows the Little Prince his first drawing — “a boa constrictor digesting an elephant.” Liu cleverly designed a pilot’s logbook to present this sketch, adding both richness and a sense of playfulness. It highlights the unique charm of the picture book format and sets it apart from other types of publications.
You’ll also notice a photo tucked into the top right-hand corner of the notebook. This subtle detail is inspired by a portrait of Saint-Exupéry’s wife, Consuelo. It carries a deeper meaning.
Creative Visual Symbolism
It’s worth noting that Saint-Exupéry himself was a professional pilot, and the story of The Little Prince is closely intertwined with his life experiences.
Another creative touch is the design of the “Grown-Up Times” newspaper. The idea was to present information about the astronomer’s discovery of asteroid B-612 visually within the picture book.
In the story, no one believes the astronomer when he presents his findings while wearing eccentric clothes. However, once he puts on a formal suit, everyone takes him seriously. Using a newspaper as the medium reflects how people tend to trust ‘dressed-up’ or processed information — just as they trust the astronomer in formal attire. This naturally led to the name “Grown-Up Times.”
Symbolism of the Planets
When the Little Prince travels to different planets, each one has a symbolic shape:
- The King’s planet is triangular — representing his position at the top, symbolizing authority.
- The man with the hat lives on an oval planet — smooth and slick, like his personality.
- The businessman’s planet is square — structured and meticulous.
- The lamplighter’s planet is a semicircle — resembling a boat, symbolizing guidance and illumination.
