Aisha Isabelle

I came across an audiobook of Le Petit Prince on YouTube and clicked on it. Although I have been studying French for almost seven years, I have never read Le Petit Prince- don’t judge me. Le Petit Prince basically has the same popularity and sentimental pull for the French as the Sam I Am/Green Eggs and Ham (Seuss books) does for Americans. From what I know, reading Le Petit Prince is a rite of passage for most French children. It is similar to how American children read Charlotte’s web.

The audiobook is great for French language learners because it comes with visuals as well as captions in French, English, and Spanish. The audiobook video is about 41 minutes. Listening to and reading the story reminds me of the many books I read as a child; those books that are so profound in a simple way.

The story is about a man who gets stranded in the desert

and meets a little prince who came to Earth  from a far-away star. The prince regales the man with his adventures that lead him to his current destination. Interspersed in the story are gems of wisdom that will call to both children and adults. It is a reminder to adults to loosen up and give attention to what they may deem as inconsequential due to their time being taken up by the other “serious demands” that grown-ups are expected to meet. It is a reminder to open the heart and see with it because ” the eye is blind and the essential is what cannot be seen.” It is also a reminder to adults and a lesson to children about taking responsibility for what we tame. You will have to read (or listen to) the book to understand and appreciate that last one. So if you have time, listen to and read the wonderful tale that is Le Petit Prince written by St Exupery.