The Little Prince begins with the famous pair of drawings with which the narrator, Saint-Exupéry himself, tests the understanding of adults. The first is of a boa constrictor that has swallowed an elephant. Most adults see only a hat shape; they cannot see beyond the exterior. For them, he draws another boa constrictor, this time in cross-section, so they can see the elephant inside.

After years of loneliness in the world of grown-ups, Saint-Exupéry crashes his plane in the desert. While he is trying to repair his plane, the Little Prince appears and asks Saint-Exupéry to draw a sheep for him. Saint-Exupéry first presents him with the drawing that opens the story, and the Little Prince protests that he does not want an elephant in a boa constrictor. The Little Prince rejects several of Saint-Exupéry’s attempts to draw a sheep before accepting a drawing of a box inside which he can imagine a sheep. This event marks the beginning of the friendship between the Little Prince and Saint-Exupéry.

Saint-Exupéry learns that his visitor comes from a tiny asteroid and that he is sad. The cause of the Little Prince’s melancholy turns out to be the beautiful Rose, who so tormented him with her moods that he left his planet.

The Little Prince tells the story of how he escaped from his planet with the help of a flock of migratory birds. He visited a number of planets, each inhabited by a solitary figure who represented some foible of the grown-up world, which has lost its innocence.

When the Little Prince reaches Earth, he finds a garden filled with roses. He is bitterly disappointed, as he had believed his Rose was unique. He meets the Fox, who consoles the Little Prince and teaches him wisdom. Before they can be friends, the Fox says, the Little Prince must “tame” him. Then they will need each other and be unique to each other. The Little Prince understands that his Rose has tamed him: It is the time he has spent on her that makes her so important.

When the Little Prince asks Saint-Exupéry to draw a muzzle on the sheep to protect his Rose, Saint-Exupéry knows he intends to return home. The Little Prince gives Saint-Exupéry a parting gift: As all the stars flower for the Little Prince because of his Rose, so will the stars ring with laughter for Saint-Exupéry because of the Little Prince’s laughter.

The Little Prince asks the Serpent to help him return to his planet by biting him. He tells Saint-Exupéry not to grieve over his body, as it will be simply an empty shell. The Serpent bites the Little Prince, and he falls dead. At daybreak, however, Saint-Exupéry cannot find his body. Years later, Saint-Exupéry hears the laughter of the stars but is disturbed by the fact that he forgot to add a fastening to the sheep’s muzzle, so he always wonders if the Rose is safe.

The charm of this short story lies in its simplicity and immediacy, captivating readers of all ages. The narrative is rich with dialogue, featuring many repetitions, particularly from the Prince. Like any true child, he clings to an idea once it captures his interest. His speech reveals his childlike nature, yet it also conveys a wisdom rooted in pure simplicity. The interactions between the Prince and various animals, flowers, and people are concise and impactful. Often, these scenes offer satirical commentary on societal flaws, standing alone without needing further explanation. The narrator, a pilot, speaks with the voice of an adult, yet he also embodies a father figure and friend to the Prince, who is so desperate for human connection that he leaves his planet in search of companionship. The allegory is straightforward and unpretentious, allowing readers to accept talking flowers and foxes without irritation. Luc Estang suggests that the dialogue between the Prince and the narrator can be seen as a mirage, a narcissistic monologue of the author conversing with himself. Indeed, one can perceive the author's quest for self-identity and the meaning of life through the development of the Prince. Yet, the Prince emerges as a character with his own independent existence.

To uncover the direct influences of The Little Prince, one must delve into the Bible and medieval literature. The story, as a parable, evokes Biblical themes and imagery. The serpent symbolizes death, while the pilot, akin to the Israelites of old, is lost in the desert. The fox's memory of the Prince will be like golden wheat fields. As they face death, the pilot and the Prince search for water and discover a well, a true fountain of living water. Trees reminiscent of those in the Garden of Paradise appear throughout the narrative. The Prince will return home guided by the light of his star.

The short work also draws from medieval folklore traditions. It serves as an allegory, similar to The Romance of the Rose (1240-1280) or chivalric romances. Flowers, trees, and animals speak and act as they do in fables. The fox in the renowned Roman de Renard (12th century) shares the same cleverness and cunning as his modern counterpart. He might also be inspired by the small desert foxes, known as "fenechs," which Saint-Exupery encountered during his travels. The ancient myth of Icarus comes to life in both the Prince and the aviator who aspire to fly. Additionally, both Biblical and medieval proverbs resonate in the words of the Prince, the flower, and the fox: "One sees only with the heart"; "You are forever responsible for what you have tamed"; "The essential is invisible."

Hans Christian Andersen, Saint-Exupery's favorite childhood author, also left his mark on The Little Prince. The fairy-tale essence permeates the story, from the Prince who journeys from his own planet to Earth, to the serpent who brings both death and life, and the encounter with the fox. The transformation from death to life in the desert, along with the echoes of extraterrestrial beings, evoke the realm of fairy tales and the influence of the unseen.

Saint-Exupery's works have captivated audiences on both stage and screen since their initial publication. His first significant work, Night Flight (1932), was adapted into a film by United Artists in Hollywood and transformed into an opera, Volo di Notte, in Florence in 1939, featuring original music by Luigi Dallapiccola. Southern Mail (1934; Courrier Sud, 1929) was turned into a screenplay by Billom in 1937.

The Little Prince has been adapted into numerous films and other media. However, most film adaptations struggle to capture Saint-Exupery's distinctive style and tone. A notable Hollywood production in 1974 starred Richard Kiley as the Aviator, Steven Warner, Bob Fosse, and Gene Wilder, with a score by Lerner and Loewe. Additionally, a five-part animated series for young children (1986), directed by Jameson Brewer, comes highly recommended by the National Educational Association.

Audio recordings of The Little Prince have consistently enjoyed popularity, with Gerard Philippe's interpretation standing out as one of the best.