The Planet of Wind

September 3, 2012
This is not a graphic adaptation of Saint-Exupéry’s beloved novella, but a
reimagining based on an animated series in which well-known characters are given different personalities and backgrounds and set into adventure tales. The Little Prince, who writes letters to the Rose on his home planet, is journeying throughout the universe to right wrongs, accompanied by his friend Fox. The snake from the original novel has been recast as a villain trying to ruin the cosmos. Each adventure takes the Little Prince to a different planet, and he uses his sketchbook to make pictures magically become real and help him. In this first volume (four are available), the Prince and Fox try to help a planet whose energy source is being stolen by pirates. The adventures themselves are fine, but for those who have read the original novel, it’s jarring and odd to read a story that lacks the introspection and pensiveness of Saint-Exupéry’s tale. When one comes at it from this perspective, making the snake evil and having the Little Prince become a swashbuckler feels completely out of character. Still, readers approaching this book without that background can enjoy the story lines for what they are. Ages 9–14.

September 1, 2012
In this new graphic series, the Little Prince returns, although fans of Saint-Exupery's original will find him virtually unrecognizable. Accompanied by his friend Fox, the Little Prince has devoted himself to visiting planets and helping them defeat the treacherous Snake and his Gloomies, malevolent black clouds that act as the Snake's henchmen. In this opening episode, the Little Prince and Fox help a blustery world keep at bay encroaching ice that threatens to engulf their beloved home. Akin to a Saturday morning cartoon (and originally based on an animated series), this and its sequels are extremely formulaic and possess an easily digestible, episodic nature: Prince and Fox land on a planet; Prince discovers Snake has tricked said planet's inhabitants into grave peril; Prince and Fox then use their kindness and saccharine platitudes to save the people and sail off into the harmonious sunset. In Book 2, The Planet of the Firebird, the duo assists a feuding brother and sister whose planet has been scorched by a fire-breathing bird. Perhaps a new audience not familiar with the source might warm to this adaptation, but those who remember the original will most likely be turned off. A far cry from the original masterpiece. (Graphic fantasy. 9-13)

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September 15, 2012
Grades 2-5 Created with the approval of the estate of Antoine de Saint-Exupery but based more on the animated series than on the original novel, this reimagining of The Little Prince will please fans who are looking for more stories of the prince, the fox, and the snake. After arriving on the Planet of Winds, the Little Prince and Fox race to discover the identity of the wind pirates to stop them from destroying the threatened world. While there is no shortage of action, and the illustrations and colors are gorgeously rendered, there is very little character development and almost no exposition, but an introductory overview of the main characters and explanations of the prince's magic should help readers new to de Saint-Exupery's world. A special treat is the bonus story written and illustrated by Moebius, On the Planet of Corners. Clever, funny, and beautifully translated, this story is worth the price of admission.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2013
In each graphic novel, the Little Prince, with Fox's help, stops the Snake from destroying a planet. These stories, based on an animated TV series, lack the charm of the original but might prompt readers to seek out de Saint-Exupiry's original tale. Those looking for a more credible graphic novel adaptation should try Joann Sfar's version.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)