Library
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum
L.Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was declared "America's greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale" by the Library of Congress. It was originally published in May 1900. Since then it has seen several reprints, most often under the title The Wizard of Oz, which is the title of the popular 1902 Broadway musical adaptation as well as the iconic 1939 live-action film. The book is one of the best-known stories in American literature and has been widely translated. Its groundbreaking success and the success of the Broadway musical adapted from the novel led Baum to write thirteen additional Oz books that serve as official sequels to the first story.
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The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
A novella by French aristocrat, writer, and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery. It was first published in English and French in the US in April 1943. It was banned in France by the Vichy Regime. The story follows a young prince who visits various planets in space, including Earth, and addresses themes of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss. Despite its style as a children's illustration book, The Little Prince makes observations about life and human nature very much suitable for grown-ups. The Little Prince became Saint-Exupéry's most successful work, selling an estimated 140 million copies worldwide, which makes it one of the best-selling and most translated books ever published. It has been translated into 301 languages and dialects. The Little Prince has been adapted to numerous art forms and media, including audio recordings, radio plays, live stage, film, television, ballet, opera, and a candle.
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