★ This book has been awarded the Leningrad Children’s Book Club Jury’s Certificate for Best Book of the Year!
★ He is the creator of “The Little Prince” and, more than that, a dreamer who wrote the epic of adventure with his very life—Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. He transformed the solitude of the clouds and the romance of the starry sky into a literary treasure that has nourished generations.
★ From the attic of his childhood home in Lyon to the starry skies over the Sahara Desert, this book uses rich illustrations to tell young readers the fairy-tale-like, almost unbelievable life story of Saint-Exupéry, a master of children’s literature!
★ Created by Mikhail Bychkov, a nominee for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and recipient of the IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) “World’s Best Illustrator” honor!

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, a renowned French poet, writer, and pilot, is the author of many beloved world classics, including “The Little Prince.” His life was short yet extraordinarily busy, filled with incredible adventures. International award-winning illustrator Bechikov brings historical scenes to life with delicate brushwork; each illustration is both a work of art and a window into another time and place. Through stunning illustrations, Bechikov invites young readers to explore the astonishing life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry—and to discover the rich inner world of this remarkable man.
This book is more than just a biography; it is a key that opens the door to the romantic age of adventure in the 20th century. It invites us to follow the pilot and writer who “never wanted to grow up but understood the childlike heart better than anyone,” and to discover that the loftiest dreams begin with the purest gaze toward the sky. Let’s turn the pages of this book and meet the storyteller who wrote fairy tales from the clouds. This book is perfect for young readers aged 8–14 who are eager to explore the world, for families who love “The Little Prince,” and for households seeking high-quality, artistically enriching books for children.

[Author] Mikhail Bychkov
One of Russia's most outstanding contemporary illustrators and artists, renowned for his exquisite artwork, particularly his remarkable contributions to book illustration. He is a recipient of numerous prestigious national and international awards!
He has participated multiple times in the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB) and has served as the chairman of the IBBY jury for the St. Petersburg section of the BIB International Biennial of Children's Illustration in Bratislava for over a decade!
His works are regularly exhibited in museums and libraries and are preserved in Russian museums such as the Dostoevsky Museum and the Tolstoy Museum, as well as in other Russian museums and private collections, and in collections abroad.
In 2020, the renowned Russian documentary filmmaker Evgeny Gorinkin produced the documentary "Return to Childhood," which focuses on creators of children's books, with Mikhail Bychkov as one of the key figures!
In 2021, Mikhail Bychkov was awarded the Gold Medal—the highest honor for artistic achievement in book illustration—by the Union of Artists of Russia!
In 2020 and 2021, he was nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, an award in the field of children's literature that is considered on par with the Hans Christian Andersen Award!
From April 12 to May 20, 2023, the exhibition "Mikhail Bychkov: Illustrations and Books" was grandly held at the Russian State Children's Library, featuring several top Russian artists, including Igor Oleynikov, winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration!

Mikhail Bychkov was born in 1951 and graduated in 1969 from the Secondary Art School affiliated with the I.E. Repin Academy of Arts. From 1970 to 1973, he studied in the mural painting studio of the I.E. Repin Academy of Arts under Professor A.A. Mylnikov. In 1975, he graduated from the Book Graphics Department of the Leningrad Branch of the Moscow Polygraph Institute. Since 1982, he has been a member of the Union of Artists of Russia. Since 2011, he has served as the chairman of the IBBY jury for the St. Petersburg section of the BIB International Biennial of Children's Illustration in Bratislava.
Bychkov's illustrative style is typically characterized by its fine details and vivid expressiveness, bringing the plots and characters in texts to life for readers. Having grown up reading classic works, he approaches creating illustrations for them with both reverence and trepidation, producing page after page of artistic masterpieces. Before creating his works, he not only carefully reads the original texts but also studies the historical and cultural contexts of the literary works, delving into even the smallest details before picking up his brush. Bychkov respects tradition while daring to innovate; his illustrations are delicate, refined, and beautiful. The timeless exotic charm in his oil paintings seems to leap off the canvas, perfectly blending art with literature. This not only enriches readers' sensory experience but also deepens their understanding of the emotional, cultural, and historical backgrounds of literary works, greatly influencing how readers grasp and feel about these works as a whole. Mikhail Bychkov is committed to creating illustrations that have literary value. He believes that in children's books, the artist's task is to create a world of kindness, love, and confidence, to showcase the beauty of the material world created by human hands, and to foster children's love of books, as well as their admiration for beauty and the diversity of nature.

Bychkov's work is not limited to book illustration; he has also participated in numerous art projects and exhibitions, theatrical productions, museum exhibitions, educational programs, and various cultural and artistic activities. His artistic style and techniques have received widespread acclaim and recognition both domestically and internationally, making significant contributions to contemporary Russian art. Several of his works, including "Diving • Rescue Dog • Shark," "The Sea," "Childhood," and "The Silver-Hoofed Goat," have already been licensed for publication in China!

[Awards and Honors]
1997—Silver Medal for Illustration at the Moscow International Book Fair!
2002—Honorary Certificate from the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)!
2002—Included in IBBY's list of the world's best illustrators!
2003—Awarded the "Book of the Year" prize at the All-Russian "Illustrator Writer Competition"!
2004—Awarded the Annual Book Prize by the Russian Publishers Association!
2004—Awarded the Honorary Medal at the Second Independent Graphic Biennial in St. Petersburg!
2005—Awarded an Honorary Certificate by the Russian Academy of Arts!
2006—Winner of the "Best Book of the Year" competition by the Russian Publishers Association!
2006—First Prize in the International Art Competition for Books in the CIS countries!
2008—Awarded the Literature and Arts Prize by the Government of St. Petersburg!
2013—First Prize in the "Image of the Book" category ("Best Illustration for Children and Adolescents") at the Russian International Competition for Illustration and Book Design!
2013—Awarded the Certificate for the Best Book of the Year by the Jury of the Leningrad Children's Reading Club!
2014—Awarded the Marshak Literary Prize—“Artist of the Decade”!
2015—Awarded the Certificate for the Best Book of the Year by the Jury of the Leningrad Children's Reading Club!
2015—Grandly honored by the St. Petersburg State Academic Institute of Art!
2016—Awarded the Certificate for the Best Book of the Year by the Jury of the Leningrad Children's Reading Club!
2020—Nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award—one of the world's largest awards in children's and青少年 literature!
2021—Awarded the Gold Medal for Achievement in Book Illustration by the Union of Artists of Russia!
2022—Nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award—in the field of children's literature, this award is considered on par with the Hans Christian Andersen Award!