Reach for the stars with The Little Prince

Who among us doesn't know him? The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry has delighted readers, both young and old, for generations. It was first published in April 1943 in the USA and has since been translated into more than 460 languages and dialects. In our country, it has even been released in various regional dialects, such as Haná, Ostrava, Podkrkonoší, and the Brno slang known as 'hantec'. So, if you want a good laugh while reading, I highly recommend it.

Over 140 million copies of The Little Prince have been sold worldwide, making it one of the 50 best-selling books of all time. That's a lot of impressive numbers for such a slim little book, isn't it?

Three years ago, The Little Prince celebrated its 80th birthday, and on that occasion, we saw many ways to pay tribute to this now-classic, beloved story – from various themed exhibitions and theatrical performances to a special anniversary edition by the renowned graphic studio MinaLima.

If the name MinaLima doesn't ring a bell, know that it is the name used by the duo Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima. They combined their creative design forces and, since 2001, have been behind the entire graphic look of all the films about the boy wizard with the scar on his forehead – the world of Harry Potter wouldn't look the way we know it today without them. They designed almost everything, from the look of the Daily Prophet to the Black family tree tapestry.

If you're planning to check out their work and happen to be in London, their gallery on Wardour Street in Soho is definitely worth a visit – the space is quite small, but it's packed with their creations from floor to ceiling. Every potterhead's heart will surely flutter there, though you can also find pieces from other drawers of their artistic portfolio. I think it's very hard to leave without a souvenir, even if it's just a small postcard as a keepsake.

They have also directed the first two volumes of the Harry Potter series in Czech, featuring their unmistakable graphic style – these books are truly beautiful, and I can confirm from my own experience that they look stunning on a bookshelf. Beyond classic illustrations, they also include various playful elements that are simply fun for readers to discover. Who wouldn't want to pull their own Hogwarts acceptance letter out of a book, right?

And these two creatives gave the world a similarly polished gift for the 80th birthday of The Little Prince – a new edition in a charming coat from their workshop. Czech readers will also be able to dive back into this notoriously famous story, this time through the colorful lenses of Miraphora and Eduardo. In addition to dozens of new illustrations, we can look forward to interactive elements, providing new visual experiences as you discover each page.

What awaits you in the new edition? I think those who really want to know won't hesitate – it doesn't take much effort to find various previews of the upcoming illustrations or other materials online that will reveal what the book will look like.

However, I think it's best to approach reading the work in its new form without spoilers and enjoy the adventure of the pilot who crash-landed in the desert and met The Little Prince with a fresh perspective. After all, when he arrives and asks you to draw a sheep, won't it be magical to see the text with new pictures that might suddenly color the story in previously unknown layers?

Whether you feel the same way or you already know everything there is to know about the planned illustrated title, I'm not judging – to each their own.

One thing is certain, though – even in this new arrangement, the Prince's tale of his journey through the universe awaits us again. Through it, he learned about many faces of humanity and understood the value of friendship and love, which is something worth reflecting on today, just as it was 80 years ago. Because, in the words of the classic: "What is essential is invisible to the eye."