Meet the Little Prince, a young fellow who hails from a tiny, distant planet. He loves to watch sunsets and look after his flower, to ask questions and to laugh. And now here he is on Earth, appearing out of nowhere in the middle of the desert, looking for a friend. The friend he finds is the narrator of this story – a pilot who has crash landed and is in grave danger of dying of thirst.

The Little Prince might be just a boy but he can help our pilot. Because he understands the really important things in life – things like flowers, stars, a drink of water or laughing. Many grown-ups have lost sight of what matters and children have to remember to be tolerant towards them. But adult or child, very silly or very wise, this story is for you.

Includes exclusive material: In the Backstory you can read a letter from master storyteller and translator of this book Michael Morpurgo!

If a little fellow comes along, if he laughs, if he has golden hair, and if he never answers questions, then you will know who he is.

He is the Little Prince, the mysterious, innocent and beautiful boy who appears to a pilot stranded in the desert and makes an extraordinary request. He has captured the hearts of millions of readers around the world since his story first appeared in 1943, written down by an aristocratic French aviator who soon after disappeared during a flight across the sea. The Little Prince journeys to our planet from his home among the stars, encountering all sorts of benighted grown-ups along the way, and a fox, who teaches him how to see the important things in life. But the Prince has left behind a flower growing on his star, a rose which is his treasure and his burden, and before long he must return to it.

Master storyteller Michael Morpurgo, author of War Horse, has translated what is for him ‘one of the greatest stories ever written’ so that more English readers might discover the joy of reading this enchanting fable. The Little Prince is a story for everyone, for children and grown-up children, for kings, geographers and lamp-lighters, even for the very serious and the very wise.

A beautiful gift edition of this touching and wise classic children’s book, with the original translation by Katherine Woods and full-colour illustrations.

A pilot stranded in the desert awakes one morning to see the most extraordinary little fellow standing before him. “Please,? asks the stranger, “draw me a sheep.?

And the pilot realises that when life’s events are too difficult to understand, there is no choice but to succumb to their mysteries. He pulls out a pencil and paper ? and thus begins this wise and enchanting fable that, in teaching the secret of what is really important in life, has changed the world forever for its readers.

This stunning new edition of the classic children’s book The Little Prince, includes the classic English translation by Katherine Woods and original colour illustrations which will capture the hearts of readers of all ages.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900-1944) was born in Lyons, France. He wrote The Little Prince in the United States during a two-year self-imposed exile from occupied France. A year after the book’s publication in 1943, Saint-Exupéry disappeared over the Mediterranean while flying a reconnaissance mission for his French air squadron. Best known throughout the world as the author and illustrator of The Little Prince, Saint-Exupéry wrote several other books that have also become classics of world literature.

Katherine Woods (1886-1968) produced the original English translation of The Little Prince in 1943. It was later followed by several other English translations, but her classic translation is treasured by fans and is often considered to be the definitive English translation. Her poetic translation perfectly captures the enchantment and charm of Saint-Exupéry’s storytelling.

When he crashes in the Sahara Desert, the Aviator believes he is all alone – until he meets an unusual space traveller: a boy with golden hair who calls himself The Little Prince. As the Aviator repairs his plane, the Little Prince tells him fantastical tales about his amazing interplanetary journey. On his home planet, asteroid B-612, he fell in love with a beautiful rose, but left her to explore the universe. In the course of his travels, he has met people including a King, a drunkard and a lamplighter, as well as a snake and a wise fox – but now he must return home and be reunited with his rose…

A classic story about love, friendship and loss, The Little Prince is one of the most read books in the world. The wonder and excitement of much-loved children’s classics lives on in BBC Radio’s acclaimed full-cast dramatisations, complete with evocative music and sound effects. Duration: 1 hour approx.