Synopses & Reviews
Ichiro lives in New York City with his Japanese mother. His father, an American soldier, was killed in Iraq. Now, Ichiand#8217;s mom has decided they should move back to Japan to live with Ichiand#8217;s grandfather.
and#160;and#160;and#160;Grandfather becomes Ichiand#8217;s tour guide, taking him to temples as well as the Hiroshima Peace Park, where Ichi starts to question the nature of war. After a supernatural encounter with the gods and creatures of Japanese mythology, Ichi must face his fears if he is to get back home. In doing so, he learns about the nature of man, of gods, and of war. He also learns there are no easy answersand#8212;for gods or men.
Review
"There is always the question of whether this story is best suited for children or adults, but legions of admirers prove that it sits in the rarified air of literature that works both ways. A worthy tribute that's most worthy of its own share of applause."and#8212;
Booklist, starred review "The graphic novel's text conveys the wisdom of the original book, in which a childlike perspective illuminates the absurdity of adult living while attaining its own hard-won maturity. Sfar's loose but masterful art supplements the book's themes with a supple visual style that appears accessibly artless on its surface, but occasionally blossoms into symbolism and abstraction. The book abounds with individual panels that are profound in their meaning and striking in their simplicity."and#8212;Publishers Weekly, starred review
"[Sfar's] adaptation is as classic as the original, and it will bring this quiet yet thought-provoking story to a new generation of readers. The format will be especially attractive to teens who might have missed this story when they were children, and to adults who are interested in revisiting their own childhood memories."and#8212;School Library Journal, starred review
"This unique adaptation combines fable and social commentary, luring readers to consider stereotype, racism (in the account of the Turkish astronomer whose discovery of an asteroid was ignored by European scientists because of his Eastern culture), and respect for our environment. Those taking time to pore over the manga-influenced artwork will feel the Little Prince's frustration at the adults who refuse to take him seriously, the sorrow that comes from adults isolating themselves, and the joy of seeing the world through a child's imagination."and#8212; VOYA
Praise for Le Petit Prince Graphic Novel, French Edition and#160; "This life-long artist has chosen a simple layout to focus on the adventures of these two characters who share the dreams of millions of kids. Sfar keeps our childish dreams intact." and#8212;Ca Se Passe Comme Ca and#160; and#160;and#8220;Always prolific, always generous, always sensitive, Sfar has succeeded in giving life to the aviator and his Petit Prince. Any successful adaptation is a revelation. This is faithful to the text, but the aesthetics of Sfarand#8230;reveal the full dimension of melancholy and contemplation [in the story]. Sfar joins [Saint-Exupeand#180;ry]and#8230; and#8216;a thousand miles from any human habitationand#8217;and#8230; where only children can venture.and#8221; and#8212;Lire Magazine
and#160; Praise for The Little Prince and#160; "A lovely story...which covers a poetic, yearning philosophyand#8212;not the sort of fable that can be tacked down neatly at its four corners but rather reflections on what are real matters of consequence." and#8212;The New York Times Book Review and#160; Praise for The Little Prince (1993) and#160; "An edition of Saint-Exupand#233;ry's most famous workand#8212;a gentle fable of love and peaceand#8212;contains a thoughtful assessment of the details of its composition...[T]he special allure of the work is still the naively sophisticated, heartwarming tale of the little prince and his small planet." and#8212;The Horn Book and#160; Praise for The Little Prince (2000 hardcover edition) and#160; and#8220;This new translation into 'modern' English brings a classic tale into sharper focus for today's teens without sacrificing the beauty and simplicity of the author's writing, and the 'restored' artwork has all the charm of the original drawings. What appears to be a simple tale of two lost souls-one, a pilot marooned in the desert next to his ditched plane; the other, a minuscule prince in self-imposed exile from an asteroid so small that he can watch the sunset 44 times a day-reveals itself as something far more complex. What appears to be a fairy tale for children opens like the petals of the Little Prince's flower into a fantasy that has lessons for all of us.and#8221; and#8212;School Library Journal and#160; Praise for The Little Prince: Sixtieth-Anniversary Gift Edition and#160; and#8220;Always welcome is that charming visitor from another planet, Antoine de Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince...The fable remains as lyrically haunting as ever.and#8221; and#8212;Publishers Weekly
Review
"Beautiful and thought-provoking; questions unanswered will linger in readers' minds."--
Kirkus "Inzana uses separate visual styles throughout the book to indicate the human world, the spiritual world, and the shared past which resonates through them both.and#160; While the action is at times chaotic, it is never confusing. The excitement and intensity kept me turning the pages, each one more exciting than the next.and#160; I was captivated by Ichiro from the first page.and#160; It kept me guessing and presented me with more ideas and entertainment than I had predicted would come from this book. Make sure you get yourself a copy!"--Stumptown Trade Review "The fluid, expressive brushwork brings the streets of New York City and mythical Japanese creatures to life, allowing the fantastical aspects to be both beautiful and vividly creepy."--
Horn Book "
Ichiroand#160;is a refreshingly honest, well-conceived narrative that is sure to delight, entertain and perhaps educate readers both young and old. Ryan Inzana masterfully integrates a difficult period in history with complicated mythologies and timeless social issues into an enjoyable fantasy adventure. His beautiful black-and-white brushwork is enviable in its fluidity and expressiveness. Whether he's tackling a tender moment between a single mother and her distant son at the dinner table or illustrating mystical battles between gods, his practiced skills shine through with the perfect tone."--
Rations Magazine "This is a graphic novel that explores the Asian American experience by blending modern, ancient, and fantastic elements."--
School Library Journal "Beautiful, full-color art abounds in the folkloric scenes, which sharply contrast with the black-and-white and occasionally sepia-toned reality of Ichiroand#8217;s day-to-day activities, in which dashes of bright color punctuate the action. Inzana brings home another powerful post-9/11 fable, directed this time to a younger audience than he targeted with Johnny Jihad (2003).
Ichiro asks the hard questions for readers but challenges them to arrive at their own conclusion.."--
Booklist "Inzana mixes the mystery with the matter-of-fact in his lively artwork, creating a mood of enlightenment throughout and offering an insight into Japanese culture with a maximum of imagination."--
Publishers Weekly "What really makes the book stand out is Inzana's mixed media artwork. It's a lush looking book, with rich details and a very thoughtful handling of the world Ichiro moves through. The book is somewhat broken up visually, with mythology told in full and rich color, while the present day is told in a muted set of greens and the mythological world Ichiro finds himself color coded based on mythology (a subtle nod to Oz, assumedly), an element that makes sense the more you read the book. In one large hardcover book like this, it certainly makes for a beautiful collection of pages. Both the personal storytelling from Inzana and the illustrations go a long way to selling the title, and it's familiar yet new all the same tale of a boy discovering his ancestry amount to quite a wonderful read, and it's certainly an early contender for graphic novel of the year; a compelling story sure to wow and impress on many levels."--Multiversity Comics.com
Synopsis
For over sixty-five years Antoine de Saint-Exupand#233;ry's The Little Prince has captured the hearts and minds of its readers. The whimsical story with a fairy tale touch has sold over 80 million copies in 230 languages. This exciting graphic adaptation features beautiful, new artwork by Joann Sfar. Hand-chosen by Saint-Exupand#233;ry's French publishers for his literary style and sensitivity to the original, Sfar has endeavored to recreate this beloved story, both honoring the original and stretching it to new heights. Aand#160;vibrant, visualand#160;gift for longtime fans and those experiencing the story for the first time.
Synopsis
Hand-chosen by Saint-Exupry's French publishers for his literary style and sensitivity to the original, Sfar has endeavored to recreate this beloved story, both honoring the original and stretching it to new heights.
Synopsis
This striking, full-color graphic novel follows Ichiro as he moves from New York to Japan where a shapeshifting tanuki brings him on a fantastic adventure into the mythological world of Japanese gods.and#160; This journey brings him closer to his Japanese roots, and to understanding the nature of good and evil, war and peace, gods and men.
About the Author
ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPand#201;RY, the "Winged Poet," was born in Lyon, France, in 1900.andnbsp;A pilot at twenty-six, he was a pioneer of commercial aviation and flew in the Spanish Civil War and World War II. His writings include
The Little Prince,
Wind, Sand and Stars,
Night Flight,
Southern Mail, and
Airman's Odyssey. In 1944, while flying a reconnaissance mission for his French air squadron, he disappeared over the Mediterranean.
andnbsp;Joann Sfar is a French comic artist and author of The Rabbi's Cat,andnbsp;Little Vampire Goes to School (a New York Times best-seller), and the Eisner Award-winning Little Vampire Does Kung Fu! He was awarded the Rene Goscinny Award for young comics in 1998 and has continued to garner international critical praise. He was most recently nominated for a 2007andnbsp;Ignatz Award for Best Series. His original French edition of The Little Prince graphic novel was released in 2007.