The Little Prince is one of the most iconic books of the 20th century. It is widely beloved by children and adults. The iconic illustrations, ideas, and quotes from the books have made it a classic, and the simple yet deep story has never stopped enthralling audiences. In celebration of the 80th anniversary, another author takes the chance to explore the narrative and the biography behind it. THE LOST PILOT is a chapter book for children, full of charming illustrations. The story pays homage to the original Little Prince story as it develops the biography of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the author of this classic tale.
THE LOST PILOT is not just an exploration of the original tale but a deep dive into the meaning of books, how they inspire us, and the power of imagination. It is a wonderful new story that is sure to charm both young and older readers with a lot of love for the original story and the genius of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
In THE LOST PILOT, a traveler falls overboard, waking up to find himself on a deserted island. But he turns out not to be as alone as he thought when a strange pilot wanders toward his camp. He asks the traveler to draw an airplane, which is the spark that starts their friendship.
As the two people on an island become friends, the lost pilot tells his story and the journey he is on. A long time ago, he departed on a mission with a desire to find a distant place among the stars.
THE LOST PILOT is sure to fascinate fans of The Little Prince. It works as a sweet tribute to that story but also stands on its own as a delightful chapbook with a deep message about the power of stories, imagination, and inspiration. It can encourage readers to change the world and remind everyone that one’s ideas matter and that they have a powerful impact on everything around us.
THE LOST PILOT is full of imagination and charm. It’s sure to provide an inspiring read with a profound meaning and a message that can motivate readers to listen to their imaginations. Heartwarming and whimsical, it follows the encounters of the Lost Pilot and mirrors the adventures of the Little Prince without becoming derivative.
CA Priest is an American author. When he was little, his best friend Walter gifted him a copy of The Little Prince for his birthday. Then, Priest read it first. Since then, he has read it countless times. Beyond this book, he also read all the works that came from the pen of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, several biographies, and a lot of other material about this remarkable person, an author, and a pilot, someone with a mysterious and adventurous life. In addition to his deep fondness for Saint-Exupery, Priest is a travel author and writer with hundreds of articles and stories across literary journals, magazines, and digital publications.
You can discover the gorgeous edition of THE LOST PILOT with full-color illustrations over on Amazon. Connect with other readers and find the book on Goodreads.
We had the pleasure of interviewing CA Priest. Here are the excerpts from the interview.
Hi, Great to have you with us today! Please share with our readers about your book, THE LOST PILOT.
Hi, in celebration of the 80th anniversary of The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic children’s story, THE LOST PILOT, is a full-color, fully illustrated children’s chapter book. Part homage and part biography, THE LOST PILOT is an exploration of how books inspire and why imagination is so important.
When a traveler falls overboard during a terrible storm, he washes ashore on a deserted island. Thinking he is alone, he’s astonished when a pilot wanders into his camp and asks him to draw an airplane.
As the two become friends, the lost pilot reveals a mission that sent him far, far away a long time ago and his wish to return to this distant place among the stars.
THE LOST PILOT is a tribute to one of the greatest books of all time, an exploration of why inspiration matters, and a testament to how important using your imagination really is – it can change the world!
Please tell us about your journey.
I was given The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry as a child, and it was easily my favorite book. My mother had to read it to me over and over, and once I learned to read, I read it several times over the years. As I grew older, the themes, metaphors, and details meant more to me, and in very different, intriguing ways.
I read everything Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote, as well as several biographies, articles, and features about him over the years. I was a travel writer for a number of years, and I visited the apartment building where he wrote (mostly) The Little Prince in New York City, traveled to several of his homes in France (as well as literary haunts and cafes), went out into the Sahara Desert in search of where he crashed his plane (and he first thought of the idea for the book) and where he was stationed, and even, chartered a boat to see about where he crashed into the Mediterranean Sea.
One night, I was far out in the middle of the Sahara Desert, and I left my guides and climbed to the top of this enormous dune. I was all alone, but the sky exploded with light and beauty. The stars looked like you could reach up and touch them. I knew I was close to where he had crashed, so I just started talking to him. I imagined him flying his plane out into the stars to return to The Little Prince and his asteroid.
I had the idea for the book for years, and when I found out it was the anniversary, I finally decided to try to write it and illustrate it. I have been inspired by his work for decades, and I want others to be as well.
Thank you so much for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!