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袥械褌械褑褗褌 懈 袦邪谢泻懈褟褌 锌褉懈薪褑: 卸懈胁芯褌褗褌 薪邪 袗薪褌芯邪薪 写褜芯 小械薪褌-袝泻蟹褞锌械褉懈
袙褗蟹褏懈褌懈褌械谢薪邪褌邪 斜懈芯谐褉邪褎懈褟, 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪邪 懈 薪邪褉懈褋褍胁邪薪邪 芯褌 薪械锌芯胁褌芯褉懈屑懈褟 袩械褌械褉 小懈褋, 锌褉邪蟹薪褍胁邪 卸懈胁芯褌邪 懈 褌胁芯褉褔械褋褌胁芯褌芯 薪邪 袗薪褌芯邪薪 写褜芯 小械薪褌-袝泻蟹褞锌械褉懈 鈥� 邪胁褌芯褉邪 薪邪 鈥炐溞靶恍盒秆徰� 锌褉懈薪褑鈥�, 械写薪邪 芯褌 薪邪泄-芯斜懈褔邪薪懈褌械 泻薪懈谐懈 蟹邪 胁褋懈褔泻懈 胁褉械屑械薪邪.
袗薪褌芯邪薪 写褜芯 小械薪褌-袝泻蟹褞锌械褉懈 褋械 褉芯写懈谢 胁褗胁 肖褉邪薪褑懈褟 锌褉械蟹 1900 谐. 小邪屑芯谢械褌懈褌械 斜懈谢懈 褌芯泻褍-褖芯 懈蟹芯斜褉械褌械薪懈. 袗薪褌芯邪薪 屑械褔褌邪械谢 写邪 锌芯谢械褌懈 懈 泻芯谐邪褌芯 锌芯褉邪褋薪邪谢, 褋褌邪薪邪谢 锌懈谢芯褌 鈥� 懈 褌邪泻邪 蟹邪锌芯褔薪邪谢懈 薪械谐芯胁懈褌械 锌褉懈泻谢褞褔械薪懈褟. 袧邪屑械褉懈谢 褋懈 褉邪斜芯褌邪 泻邪褌芯 写芯褋褌邪胁褔懈泻 薪邪 锌芯褖邪 锌芯 胁褗蟹写褍褏邪, 泻芯褟褌芯 薪懈泻芯泄 写芯褌芯谐邪胁邪 薪械 斜懈谢 懈蟹锌褗谢薪褟胁邪谢. 孝芯泄 懈 泻芯谢械谐懈褌械 屑褍 谢械褌褑懈 锌褗褌褍胁邪谢懈 写芯 写邪谢械褔薪懈 屑械褋褌邪 懈 芯褌泻褉懈胁邪谢懈 薪芯胁懈 薪邪褔懈薪懈 蟹邪 锌褉懈写胁懈卸胁邪薪械.
袗薪褌芯邪薪 谢械褌褟谢 薪邪写 锌谢邪薪懈薪懈 懈 锌褍褋褌懈薪懈. 小褉邪卸邪胁邪谢 褋械 褋 胁械褌褉芯胁械 懈 斜褍褉懈. 袨锌懈褌胁邪谢 褋械 写邪 褋褔褍锌懈 褉邪蟹谢懈褔薪懈 邪胁懈邪褑懈芯薪薪懈 褉械泻芯褉写懈, 邪 锌芯薪褟泻芯谐邪 写芯褉懈 泻邪褌邪褋褌褉芯褎懈褉邪谢. 袨褌 褋胁芯褟 褋邪屑芯谢械褌 袗薪褌芯邪薪 薪邪斜谢褞写邪胁邪谢 蟹械屑褟褌邪 懈 褋械 胁写褗褏薪芯胁褟胁邪谢 写邪 锌懈褕械 蟹邪 褋胁芯褟 卸懈胁芯褌 懈 蟹邪 褋胁芯懈褌械 谐械褉芯懈褔薪懈 锌褉懈褟褌械谢懈 胁 褋胁芯懈褌械 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹懈 懈 屑械屑芯邪褉懈. 袙褗蟹褏懈褌懈褌械谢薪邪褌邪 斜懈芯谐褉邪褎懈褟, 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪邪 懈 薪邪褉懈褋褍胁邪薪邪 芯褌 薪械锌芯胁褌芯褉懈屑懈褟 袩械褌械褉 小懈褋, 锌褉邪蟹薪褍胁邪 卸懈胁芯褌邪 懈 褌胁芯褉褔械褋褌胁芯褌芯 薪邪 邪胁褌芯褉邪 薪邪 鈥炐溞靶恍盒秆徰� 锌褉懈薪褑鈥�, 械写薪邪 芯褌 薪邪泄-芯斜懈褔邪薪懈褌械 泻薪懈谐懈 蟹邪 胁褋懈褔泻懈 胁褉械屑械薪邪.
袗薪褌芯邪薪 写褜芯 小械薪褌-袝泻蟹褞锌械褉懈 褋械 褉芯写懈谢 胁褗胁 肖褉邪薪褑懈褟 锌褉械蟹 1900 谐. 小邪屑芯谢械褌懈褌械 斜懈谢懈 褌芯泻褍-褖芯 懈蟹芯斜褉械褌械薪懈. 袗薪褌芯邪薪 屑械褔褌邪械谢 写邪 锌芯谢械褌懈 懈 泻芯谐邪褌芯 锌芯褉邪褋薪邪谢, 褋褌邪薪邪谢 锌懈谢芯褌 鈥� 懈 褌邪泻邪 蟹邪锌芯褔薪邪谢懈 薪械谐芯胁懈褌械 锌褉懈泻谢褞褔械薪懈褟. 袧邪屑械褉懈谢 褋懈 褉邪斜芯褌邪 泻邪褌芯 写芯褋褌邪胁褔懈泻 薪邪 锌芯褖邪 锌芯 胁褗蟹写褍褏邪, 泻芯褟褌芯 薪懈泻芯泄 写芯褌芯谐邪胁邪 薪械 斜懈谢 懈蟹锌褗谢薪褟胁邪谢. 孝芯泄 懈 泻芯谢械谐懈褌械 屑褍 谢械褌褑懈 锌褗褌褍胁邪谢懈 写芯 写邪谢械褔薪懈 屑械褋褌邪 懈 芯褌泻褉懈胁邪谢懈 薪芯胁懈 薪邪褔懈薪懈 蟹邪 锌褉懈写胁懈卸胁邪薪械.
袗薪褌芯邪薪 谢械褌褟谢 薪邪写 锌谢邪薪懈薪懈 懈 锌褍褋褌懈薪懈. 小褉邪卸邪胁邪谢 褋械 褋 胁械褌褉芯胁械 懈 斜褍褉懈. 袨锌懈褌胁邪谢 褋械 写邪 褋褔褍锌懈 褉邪蟹谢懈褔薪懈 邪胁懈邪褑懈芯薪薪懈 褉械泻芯褉写懈, 邪 锌芯薪褟泻芯谐邪 写芯褉懈 泻邪褌邪褋褌褉芯褎懈褉邪谢. 袨褌 褋胁芯褟 褋邪屑芯谢械褌 袗薪褌芯邪薪 薪邪斜谢褞写邪胁邪谢 蟹械屑褟褌邪 懈 褋械 胁写褗褏薪芯胁褟胁邪谢 写邪 锌懈褕械 蟹邪 褋胁芯褟 卸懈胁芯褌 懈 蟹邪 褋胁芯懈褌械 谐械褉芯懈褔薪懈 锌褉懈褟褌械谢懈 胁 褋胁芯懈褌械 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹懈 懈 屑械屑芯邪褉懈. 袙褗蟹褏懈褌懈褌械谢薪邪褌邪 斜懈芯谐褉邪褎懈褟, 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪邪 懈 薪邪褉懈褋褍胁邪薪邪 芯褌 薪械锌芯胁褌芯褉懈屑懈褟 袩械褌械褉 小懈褋, 锌褉邪蟹薪褍胁邪 卸懈胁芯褌邪 懈 褌胁芯褉褔械褋褌胁芯褌芯 薪邪 邪胁褌芯褉邪 薪邪 鈥炐溞靶恍盒秆徰� 锌褉懈薪褑鈥�, 械写薪邪 芯褌 薪邪泄-芯斜懈褔邪薪懈褌械 泻薪懈谐懈 蟹邪 胁褋懈褔泻懈 胁褉械屑械薪邪.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published May 27, 2014
11 people are currently reading
1078 people want to read
About the author
Peter S铆s
105听books227听followersPETER S脥S is an internationally acclaimed illustrator, filmmaker, painter and author. Born in 1949 in Brno, Czechoslovakia, and grew up in Prague. He studied painting and filmmaking at the Academy of Applied Arts in Prague and the Royal College of Art in London. His animated work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. He came to America in 1982, and now lives in New York's Hudson Valley with his family. Peter S铆s is the first children's book artist to be named a MacArthur Fellow. In 2012 he won The Hans Christian Andersen Award.
His many distinguished books include Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei, Tibet: Through the Red Box, Madlenka, Rainbow Rhino, The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin, The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain, and The Conference of the Birds.
His many distinguished books include Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei, Tibet: Through the Red Box, Madlenka, Rainbow Rhino, The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin, The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain, and The Conference of the Birds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
June 5, 2020
What a rough time to have lived through. Antoine came of age at WWI and he still had to fight in WWII. The world completely changed with both those worlds. It鈥檚 odd for me to think that people born in 1900 and around then are all gone. There aren鈥檛 any of them left. A whole generation disappeared leaving only their descendants behind. Anyway.
Antoine was born into wealth and privilege. He took up the hobby of flying and he spent both wars flying. He also joined a postal service where he flew mail all over the place. He had many crashes. During WWII he went to live in America where he wrote 鈥楾he Little Prince鈥�. He then went back into the war and one day flying a mission, he disappeared. I wander if he ever ran into Roald Dahl. He was in North Africa flying planes at the same time.
Peter Sis tells his story with little color, being almost red and white or brown and white. He sketches out scenes and puts little text all over the place to give little details. You can read this story general, or you can focus on the little text all over the page and learn a lot more details, the reader can choose the experience. He did a nice job painting the picture of Antoine鈥檚 life. I love the opening scene with all the new inventions at the turn of the century and the man in the moon has a rocket in his eye from the famous movie of the time.
The nephew related to something in this story. He enjoyed the little boy being bold and flying and the artwork was dreamy. He gave this story 3 stars and said it was pretty good.
Antoine was born into wealth and privilege. He took up the hobby of flying and he spent both wars flying. He also joined a postal service where he flew mail all over the place. He had many crashes. During WWII he went to live in America where he wrote 鈥楾he Little Prince鈥�. He then went back into the war and one day flying a mission, he disappeared. I wander if he ever ran into Roald Dahl. He was in North Africa flying planes at the same time.
Peter Sis tells his story with little color, being almost red and white or brown and white. He sketches out scenes and puts little text all over the place to give little details. You can read this story general, or you can focus on the little text all over the page and learn a lot more details, the reader can choose the experience. He did a nice job painting the picture of Antoine鈥檚 life. I love the opening scene with all the new inventions at the turn of the century and the man in the moon has a rocket in his eye from the famous movie of the time.
The nephew related to something in this story. He enjoyed the little boy being bold and flying and the artwork was dreamy. He gave this story 3 stars and said it was pretty good.
July 29, 2023
Beautiful and multilayered. A phrase that normally makes me run screaming is "for all ages" but it might be true in this case. I practically had memorized, in both English and French, in college, and went on to read and . Saint-Exupery's life was romantic and fascinating, and Sis ties the dreams of the little boy he was firmly to the adult he became (and there is a certain amount of reflection of Sis' own life). Children will pore over the art in its myriad details; adults will respond to the whole magic of the pages. I was made so happy by this book.
September 30, 2021
Review to come.
May 19, 2014
Peter S铆s is incredible. I could frame each page in this book and hang them up. I love how the illustrations are similar to Saint-Exup茅ry's but not mimicked. It is still very much S铆s. Gorgeous picture book biography of one of my favorite authors. (Amanda)
June 11, 2014
Having purchased and read this book, I am so disappointed that I am returning it to the store. Peter Sis is a gifted illustrator. He is less gifted as a writer. Must be he and his editor expect the pictures to carry the story, because there is no narrative arc and no emotion conveyed by the words. None. The pages are filled with didactic, disconnected sentences encircling small pictures that force the reader to keep turning the book in circles. That might be interesting and novel done on one or two pages, but it gets downright tedious after a while. And I couldn't figure out what to read first! Reading left to right, top to bottom didn't make sense. What seemed to work best was reading the lines at the bottom of each page that weren't written in circles and then reading up, so that you read the italicized sentence next and the circle sentences last. That worked better but still not well. And what's with the dull, encyclopedic sidebar entries about people other than Antoine and all the unfamiliar names that are only tangentially related to the story at best? At one point, a circle sentence tells about Antoine, but the "he" that begins the sentence actually refers to one of Antoine's friends, who is the subject of the previous sentence. When Saint-Exupery died at the end, I didn't feel sad. I was relieved that this tiresome book had finally come to a close.
January 30, 2015
I'm not going to lie. I found this disappointing, especially having enjoyed other works by Peter Sis, and I feel like it's overrated because people's love for The Little Prince (and/or other St. Ex stories) blinds them to the work's faults. At its high points, this book's art, reminiscent of The Little Prince evokes the whimsy of St-Ex's works, and the wonder of flight, and it soars.
However, most of the time, I found the book frustrating to navigate (*readers* shouldn't have to use dead reckoning, the stars, or a sextant), and I wouldn't recommend it to children who are still learning to process written information well. The visual storytelling was poor. It was unclear what you were supposed to read first, and much of the text is in font that is slightly too small to read for comfort, and at times wound around the pictures, compelling you to turn the page or read sideways/upside down. For a biography, it was also lacking a clear timeline or order of events.
I think that Peter Sis's art could've contributed to a wonderful picture book memoir of the beloved and interesting St-Ex if only he had collaborated with someone who knew how to wrangle the formatting into something that gave continuity to the story.
However, most of the time, I found the book frustrating to navigate (*readers* shouldn't have to use dead reckoning, the stars, or a sextant), and I wouldn't recommend it to children who are still learning to process written information well. The visual storytelling was poor. It was unclear what you were supposed to read first, and much of the text is in font that is slightly too small to read for comfort, and at times wound around the pictures, compelling you to turn the page or read sideways/upside down. For a biography, it was also lacking a clear timeline or order of events.
I think that Peter Sis's art could've contributed to a wonderful picture book memoir of the beloved and interesting St-Ex if only he had collaborated with someone who knew how to wrangle the formatting into something that gave continuity to the story.
September 15, 2015
I hesitate over calling this book a 'kid's biography' when I shelve it, as I'm not entirely sure this book was meant for children at all. Beautiful in design and look - reminiscent of "The Little Prince" - but difficult to navigate, lacking flow and continuity, distracting in how the text is displayed on the page and frankly...boring.
This is what's so frustrating. Antoine's life was amazing - the things he did were astonishing and innovative. The art of the page reflected that, but the facts were told in a dry factual way without really linking very many of them to each other. Halfway through the book I was paging ahead, wanting to be done. I'm not sure I want to give this one to my children to read - it's just so bogged down with problems that I'm not sure they would get much out of it. Such a shame! I wanted very much to like this book, but reading in circles just really did me in.
This is what's so frustrating. Antoine's life was amazing - the things he did were astonishing and innovative. The art of the page reflected that, but the facts were told in a dry factual way without really linking very many of them to each other. Halfway through the book I was paging ahead, wanting to be done. I'm not sure I want to give this one to my children to read - it's just so bogged down with problems that I'm not sure they would get much out of it. Such a shame! I wanted very much to like this book, but reading in circles just really did me in.
January 1, 2015
A fascinating look at the life of Antoine De Saint Exupery, notable author and pioneer pilot. My only quibbles with the book: I found the delicately scripted captions around smaller illustrations hard to read and I desperately wanted an author's note providing more information about Saint-Exupery. The intended audience for this book, young readers, won't have the same demands, I suspect. A delightful book by one of the best author/illustrators working today.
November 22, 2017
I really knew nothing about Saint-Exupery except that he wrote The Little Prince, so this book was very enlightening to me. However, I wish the text had been written all in one size of font. The main text was simply written and in a size for children, but then there was a lot of smaller text, often wrapped around pictures. I found it hard to read and hard to follow it chronologically. Sis' illustrations remind me of those of Peter Maxx, who I love, but they can be too busy. I don't understand why some of the hills and other inanimate objects have faces. What did I miss? I did, however, very much like the two-page spread where he talks about the German invasion of France and its bombing. All that red admidst the black tanks and aircraft gives it a sinister and gruesome feel. I wish that Sis had included a timeline of Saint-Exupery's life at the end, and maybe a list of all the books he wrote. The book ended abruptly, just like Saint-Exupery's life did, but I felt it needed more. Recommended with reservations.
May 27, 2017
** Books 167 - 2017 **
This books to accomplish Tsundoku Books Challenge 2017
3,4 of 5 stars!
I can't imagine how Antoine de Saint-Exupery before was an pilot. I thought he is an writers in the beginning. is one of my ultimate favorite book all the time. That's why when i saw this books in Big Bad Wolf 2017 i pick it up without thinking anymore. Since yeah it is about Antoine de Saint-Exupery biography but in picture books format. I love this books since it makes me understand more about him.. This pieces is also gorgeous since it contains beautiful illustrations in each pages! XD
This sentences is really broke my heart!
.....But he never returned. Some say he forgot his oxygen mask and vanished at sea. Maybe Antoine found his own glittering planet next to the stars..
Thankyou Big Bad Wolf 2017!
This books to accomplish Tsundoku Books Challenge 2017
3,4 of 5 stars!
I can't imagine how Antoine de Saint-Exupery before was an pilot. I thought he is an writers in the beginning. is one of my ultimate favorite book all the time. That's why when i saw this books in Big Bad Wolf 2017 i pick it up without thinking anymore. Since yeah it is about Antoine de Saint-Exupery biography but in picture books format. I love this books since it makes me understand more about him.. This pieces is also gorgeous since it contains beautiful illustrations in each pages! XD
This sentences is really broke my heart!
.....But he never returned. Some say he forgot his oxygen mask and vanished at sea. Maybe Antoine found his own glittering planet next to the stars..
Thankyou Big Bad Wolf 2017!
November 3, 2014
I, personally, found this picture book very overwhelming. There was a lot of text, and much of the information it presented didn't seem to propel the story forward. The sheer volume of text splattered across the pages made it difficult to appreciate the illustrations. The art is meticulously designed and the surreal quality is befitting of 'The Little Prince' (although the "face of the landscape" spread was a little too reminiscent of Silent Hill for my taste.) Overall, I felt that the design of the book and the density of the text impeded the enjoyment of the whimsical illustrative narrative. A great deal of information is presented, but I think I would have a very hard time sharing this book with a child.
September 5, 2014
I think this book was beautiful to look at, but I find the winding, wrapping text a bit difficult to follow. The story is in there, but it is hard for an adult, let alone a child, to find. Does this page go across left to right and then down? Does it go down in columns and then back up? Why are there 3 types of text on the same page all telling different parts of what is supposed to be the same story? And some of the illustrations don't seem to match the information on the page. It was a beautiful idea about a man who lived a very interesting life; I'm just not sure it got the information out in the best way possible.
January 17, 2015
I know Peter Sis is an amazing artist. His work is interesting, but I never have really loved it. I also don't have an affinity for the Little Prince, so there wasn't a connection here for me. So many details, side bars, dates, timelines....so much stuff! I couldn't grasp it all and it didn't come together. I couldn't read this book aloud to kids since there are so many details jamming each page prohibiting the flow, and I can't think of one child who would pick it up on there own and be interested or understand it. I just don't get this one.
August 17, 2014
St. Exupery's golden life, full of dreams, fits Sis's style of poetic story telling and illustration - impressionistic, circular like the shape of the world, connected to the universe. This is a special biography to be poured over. It is about details and connections and always something larger. Beautiful.
January 14, 2018
the illustrations are amazing and the little snippets of info within the illustrations are great too but Peter Sis focused too much on Antoine as an aviator. I am aware that it may be the intent of Peter Sis. but he could add a little bit about Antoine's motivations to continue flying after so many disasters or why he writes. can anybody recommend a good biography on Antoine de Saint Exupery?
May 13, 2014
Peter S铆s is incredible. I could frame each page in this book and hang them up. I love how the illustrations are similar to Saint-Exup茅ry's but not mimicked. It is still very much S铆s. Gorgeous picture book biography of one of my favorite authors.
June 9, 2014
A stunningly illustrated and designed picture book biography of the fascinating French pilot and author best known now for writing The Little Prince.
January 4, 2023
Ay enjoyed reeding the little prince it was a very good book ay enjoyed reeding the part when he met the snake and the fox it was so good when the fox made fun of the little prince is drawing the baobab and showed the adults his drawing and they sed is was a hat that was hellerus that part ay enjoyed the hole part of everything so thankie ferry much.
June 3, 2014
Last year was the 70th anniversary of the publication of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exup茅ry and in honor of that The Morgan Library in NYC had a special exhibition exploring the origins of this most famous of stories. Having such an exhibit in NYC seems only fitting, since The Little Prince was written in New York while Saint-Exup茅ry was living here. He had left his beloved France after it had fallen to the Nazis in June 1940.
While the exhibit was still running (unfortunately, it has ended), I went to hear Peter Sis speak about his new biography, The Pilot and the Little Prince: The Life of Antoine de Saint-Exup茅ry. Sis begins this biography with information about Saint-Exu茅pry's early life and the beginnings of his passion for planes and flying. Saint-Exup茅ry was born around the same time that flying was just getting off the ground - he was only three years old when the Wright brothers flew for the first time in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. A passion for planes and flying stayed with Saint-Exup茅ry and when he was 21, his mother finally agreed to pay for him to take flying lessons.
Sis follows Saint-Exup茅ry's career as a pioneer air mail pilot, delivering mail in Europe, West Africa and eventually South America, charting various routes for other pilots to follow, sometimes living on airfields in complete solitude, other times negotiating ransoms for pilots who had been shot down hostile nomads. Those early days of aviation weren't easy. Pilots had to battle through wind, rain, and storms, but aviation remained Saint-Exup茅ry's passion.
In 1936, Sis recounts, while trying to break a flying record, Saint-Exup茅ry and his mechanic crashed and almost died in the desert. You may recall that the narrator of The Little Prince was a pilot who had also lived in solitude and then crashed in the Sahara Desert and it seems likely that the origins of The Little Prince come from this experience. Not surprisingly, Saint-Exup茅ry had already began publishing his aviation stories as early as 1926.
When France went to war against Germany in September 1939, Saint-Exup茅ry naturally signed on to be as a pilot. After France fell to the Germans, he and his wife traveled to the United States, which is when Saint-Exup茅ry wrote the little prince while living in a lovely home on Long Island. But after the tides of the war began to turn, he returned to Europe and began to fly missions out of North Africa, his last one was on July 31, 1944, when his plane disappeared into the sea near Corsica.
When Peter Sis creates a picture book, it is a feast for the eyes as well as the mind. He has a way of telling a story using basically short, simple declarative sentences, which are sometime wrapped around an illustrations within an illustrations, and by the end of the story, you have been given so much more than you had expected. And, I am happy to say, The Pilot and the Little Prince is no exception.
The book is designed so that the straightforward text is on the bottom of the page, as though it is earth-bound, while the stuff of dreams and passions reside in the skies above the earth bound narration.
And as you explore the various illustrations depicting Saint-Exup茅ry's life on each page, you will no doubt recognize the references to The Little Prince - they may be subtle but they are definitely there.
About a third of the book is devoted to the war in Europe and I think the double spread of Saint-Exup茅ry's beloved France burning/bleeding from the invading Germans is one of the most poignant of Sis's illustrations. You can almost feel how wounded and hurt Saint-Exup茅ry must have felt to see France fall into the hands of the enemy.
There are several other double page spreads that are just are incredible. There is one showing the lights in the submarine infested ocean that form a U-Boat as Saint Exupery and wife sail to New York, so simple, yet so eloquen. And one of stars forming the head of the little prince as a homesick Saint-Exup茅ry looks across the ocean towards France.
As always, Sis's illustrations are all just so spot on and exquisitely expressive.
The Little Prince is one of my earliest reading memories and while I know that The Pilot and the Little Prince is not a WWII book per se, it is too hard to resist reviewing here. And Peter Sis has always been a favorite author of mine, so really I consider this book to be a marriage made in heaven: It is a beautiful tribute to a beloved author by a beloved author.
This book is recommended for readers age 6+
This book was purchased for my personal library
The review was originally posted on , where you can see examples of the illustrations mentioned here.
While the exhibit was still running (unfortunately, it has ended), I went to hear Peter Sis speak about his new biography, The Pilot and the Little Prince: The Life of Antoine de Saint-Exup茅ry. Sis begins this biography with information about Saint-Exu茅pry's early life and the beginnings of his passion for planes and flying. Saint-Exup茅ry was born around the same time that flying was just getting off the ground - he was only three years old when the Wright brothers flew for the first time in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. A passion for planes and flying stayed with Saint-Exup茅ry and when he was 21, his mother finally agreed to pay for him to take flying lessons.
Sis follows Saint-Exup茅ry's career as a pioneer air mail pilot, delivering mail in Europe, West Africa and eventually South America, charting various routes for other pilots to follow, sometimes living on airfields in complete solitude, other times negotiating ransoms for pilots who had been shot down hostile nomads. Those early days of aviation weren't easy. Pilots had to battle through wind, rain, and storms, but aviation remained Saint-Exup茅ry's passion.
In 1936, Sis recounts, while trying to break a flying record, Saint-Exup茅ry and his mechanic crashed and almost died in the desert. You may recall that the narrator of The Little Prince was a pilot who had also lived in solitude and then crashed in the Sahara Desert and it seems likely that the origins of The Little Prince come from this experience. Not surprisingly, Saint-Exup茅ry had already began publishing his aviation stories as early as 1926.
When France went to war against Germany in September 1939, Saint-Exup茅ry naturally signed on to be as a pilot. After France fell to the Germans, he and his wife traveled to the United States, which is when Saint-Exup茅ry wrote the little prince while living in a lovely home on Long Island. But after the tides of the war began to turn, he returned to Europe and began to fly missions out of North Africa, his last one was on July 31, 1944, when his plane disappeared into the sea near Corsica.
When Peter Sis creates a picture book, it is a feast for the eyes as well as the mind. He has a way of telling a story using basically short, simple declarative sentences, which are sometime wrapped around an illustrations within an illustrations, and by the end of the story, you have been given so much more than you had expected. And, I am happy to say, The Pilot and the Little Prince is no exception.
The book is designed so that the straightforward text is on the bottom of the page, as though it is earth-bound, while the stuff of dreams and passions reside in the skies above the earth bound narration.
And as you explore the various illustrations depicting Saint-Exup茅ry's life on each page, you will no doubt recognize the references to The Little Prince - they may be subtle but they are definitely there.
About a third of the book is devoted to the war in Europe and I think the double spread of Saint-Exup茅ry's beloved France burning/bleeding from the invading Germans is one of the most poignant of Sis's illustrations. You can almost feel how wounded and hurt Saint-Exup茅ry must have felt to see France fall into the hands of the enemy.
There are several other double page spreads that are just are incredible. There is one showing the lights in the submarine infested ocean that form a U-Boat as Saint Exupery and wife sail to New York, so simple, yet so eloquen. And one of stars forming the head of the little prince as a homesick Saint-Exup茅ry looks across the ocean towards France.
As always, Sis's illustrations are all just so spot on and exquisitely expressive.
The Little Prince is one of my earliest reading memories and while I know that The Pilot and the Little Prince is not a WWII book per se, it is too hard to resist reviewing here. And Peter Sis has always been a favorite author of mine, so really I consider this book to be a marriage made in heaven: It is a beautiful tribute to a beloved author by a beloved author.
This book is recommended for readers age 6+
This book was purchased for my personal library
The review was originally posted on , where you can see examples of the illustrations mentioned here.
September 21, 2014
Biography of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, daring pioneer pilot, and the author of The Little Prince. Peter Sis wrote and illustrated the well-designed picture book, and like in his previous award-winning books, brings his original style to the illustrations. He created two story lines: one in simple text for younger readers running along the bottom of each spread; and the other for middle graders can be discovered in the words decorating the detailed illustrations. This is a book to read again and again--each time uncovering more information in the text--well done, Mr. Sis.
November 25, 2014
This was very interesting. I learned a lot of new facts. However, I felt like it was very cluttered...almost too cluttered...with information. I felt that at times the text at the bottom of the page was supposed to be read first before reading all of the little tidbits on each page, but then other times when reading the text at the bottom, I didn't understand the information because I should have read the scattered information first. Still, it's a good biography and would be great for lovers of THE LITTLE PRINCE.
June 24, 2014
Inventive and gorgeously detailed illustrations make this title memorable, even though the format of the text (average type size and layout on the bottom of the pages, with tiny type arranged out around small, circular inset illustrations elsewhere in each spread) make it difficult to decipher and thus challenging for young readers.
In short: visually arresting, but textually confusing.
In short: visually arresting, but textually confusing.
September 24, 2014
Read for Librarian Book Group
For some reason, there were three different levels (and fonts) of text on nearly every page in this book. It was confusing and made the information very inaccessible. Overall, a very frustrating book and one that people had trouble coming up with anything nice to say about it.
For some reason, there were three different levels (and fonts) of text on nearly every page in this book. It was confusing and made the information very inaccessible. Overall, a very frustrating book and one that people had trouble coming up with anything nice to say about it.
April 29, 2014
Sis stirs together images and words (as is his wont) to create a biography of his subject's mind as well as his body. Hard to read, like most of his books, and probably more absorbing to adult readers than to children---but a thoughtful view of St. Exupery's inner and outer lives.
October 12, 2018
The illustrations in this book were just beautiful. The Little Prince is one of my favourite books, and I like the way this biography reveals more about the life of the author. I knew he was a pilot, but I didn't know how much of an adventurer and explorer he actually was. It was very informing.
July 8, 2022
The Pilot and the Little Prince tells the story of the life of author Antoine de Saint-Exup茅ry for children.
One thing that struck me is that Saint-Exup茅ry had no formal art training. When he decided to write a book, he simply bought a small box of paints and began to write.
One thing that struck me is that Saint-Exup茅ry had no formal art training. When he decided to write a book, he simply bought a small box of paints and began to write.
September 12, 2016
Good information in this book, however, the layout of the captioned illustrations make for a bit of confusion. Do I read from left to right or top to bottom?
February 11, 2015
The combination of long foreign names and the miniscule, loopy-patterned, and italicized writing darting all throughout the pages, my eyes really became taxed.
April 9, 2015
beautifully illustrated book on such an adventurous and remarkable life. One for inquisitive minds.
July 23, 2024
I loved learning more about Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of The Little Prince, a book beloved by many around the world. I knew that The Little Prince was inspired by some of the author's experiences, but I didn't know much about his life. In fact, I probably knew this, but I didn't remember, that he was lost in flight, never returning from his last flight, in 1944, as he flew from Corsica to photograph enemy positions east of Lyon, France.
Peter Sis's unique and often symbolic artwork accompanies this child's biography, and the illustrations are paired with smaller, more in-depth text, for readers who want more details, a style Sis uses in other of his books, such as Wall, and The Tree of Life. For those pages, it felt a little clunky and cumbersome to break the flow of text for the main story. It was almost better to read the larger print text all the way through and then go back a second time to absorb the details.
Peter Sis's unique and often symbolic artwork accompanies this child's biography, and the illustrations are paired with smaller, more in-depth text, for readers who want more details, a style Sis uses in other of his books, such as Wall, and The Tree of Life. For those pages, it felt a little clunky and cumbersome to break the flow of text for the main story. It was almost better to read the larger print text all the way through and then go back a second time to absorb the details.
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