★A work by Antonio Malpica, one of the most influential writers in Mexican children's and young adult literature.
★Winner of the 2013 Venezuela Library Best Original Book Award! Shortlisted for the 2013 White Ravens Award!
★An alternative biography paying tribute to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the author of The Little Prince, and also a hymn to dreams and friendship.
★This book combines the real-life story of Saint-Exupéry with the author's imagination, wonderfully revealing the power of dreams, and affectionately celebrating the inseparable friendship between Saint-Exupéry and his friend, the writer Werth.
★Full English translation available.

The book begins with the young Tonio, who at the age of 23 secretly writes a short story in his office. Soon after, Tonio, having decided to explore the world, encounters a strange little boy—who turns out to be the protagonist of Tonio's story: "Little Lázaro." This is a very endearing character, and Tonio discusses with him the stories he has written, the people he has met, and his special friends. Tonio embarks on yet another journey, but never returns. And so the story ends.

This is a literary biography of the author of The Little Prince, full of creativity and literary allusions. Fragments from The Little Prince that speak of friendship are subtly woven into this novel by both the author and the illustrator.

About the author
Antonio Malpica is among the most prolific and renowned writers in the realm of Children’s and Young Adult Literature in Mexico. Despite being interested in music, he decided to study computer engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). However, he opted to focus on his career in literature, all the while maintaining a level of involvement in the music scene and gradually stepping away from his engineering profession.
In addition to his extensive literary work, he co-founded “In-Crescendo”, an independent theater company, through which he successfully brought his own plays to the stage. His work is distinguished by the depth of its characters, its captivating plots, and the frequent inclusion of fantasy and mystery elements.
His work has received recognition and acclaim both nationally and internationally. His dedication to literature is further demonstrated through his involvement in workshops and conferences, where he promotes reading and creative writing among young people.
Malpica’s works have been honored multiple times, securing the “Gran Angular” Mexico Award on three occasions. Furthermore, he has received the El Barco de Vapor Award and the Norma International Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature.
His name is also featured on the prestigious White Ravens list by the International Youth Library in Munich. Moreover, he is the first Mexican to receive the Ibero-American SM Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature.
His literary works have been a commercial success, with tens of thousands of copies sold.

About the illustrator
Iban Barrenetxea worked for a decade in the field of graphic design before turning to illustration in 2010. Nevertheless, writing is another one of his great passions and he has authored many children’s books, such as Brujarella (Thule) or Andanzas de un flautista llamado Tristrás (“The Adventures of a Flautist Named Tristras”, Nórdica). He has received great recognition for his work, such as the prize of the Cuatrogatos foundation, the Euskadi award for children’s literature or being included in the prestigious White Ravens list. He has also been translated into several languages, such as Slovene or Japanese.