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Overview

The English Roses by Madonna - more than 500,000 copies sold!

An inspiring story about the importance of compassion and the rewards of friendship in a new Anniversary Edition in a beautiful larger format.

Madonna's The English Roses is a story of rivalry and friendship among schoolgirls in contemporary London. Four girls—Nicole, Amy, Charlotte, and Grace—are eleven years old and the very best of friends. They have sleepovers, picnics and ice-skating parties that exclude Binah, a beautiful girl whose seemingly perfect life makes them "green with envy." However, when a feisty, pumpernickel-loving fairy godmother takes them on a magical journey, they learn to their great surprise that Binah's life is not nearly as enviable as it had seemed.

This tale is cleverly told, with many teaspoonfuls of good humor. Children and adults alike engage with this story that celebrates friendship as much as it teaches compassion. Jeffrey Fulvimari's illustrations are no less than stunning—they fill every page with vivacious black ink lines and gorgeous watercolor reminiscent of 1960s fashion sketches.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780935112108
Publisher: Callaway
Publication date: 12/01/2017
Series: The English Roses , #1
Pages: 48
Product dimensions: 9.10(w) x 11.80(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range: 8 - 10 Years

About the Author

Madonna is an American singer, songwriter, actress, author, businesswoman, and global cultural icon. Since the beginning of her career, she has had an immense social-cultural impact on the world through her recordings, attitude, clothing, and lifestyle. Called the "Queen of Pop," Madonna is not only known as one of the most influential woman in music and one of the most iconic female recording artists of all time, but also as one of the greatest pop icons of all time.

Jeffrey Fulvimari began his career in illustration in New York City. He is most notably known for winning a 1995 Grammy Award for Best CD Package (Ella Fitzgerald, The Complete Songbooks), and illustrating the bestselling children's book series, The English Roses with the one and only Madonna. He has collaborated with many top brands and fashion designers and has a line of leather accessories, bath goods, stationery and bath/beach apparel in Japan. His cheeky fashionistas, patterns, and prints have appeared in galleries and publications and on products worldwide.

Interviews

Q&A with Madonna

Q: You've said that although you'd envisioned yourself doing many things in your life, writing children's books was never one of them. Why did you decide to write a series of books for kids? And why now?

Madonna: For two reasons:
I have two children now, and they are a source of great inspiration for me.
I am on my own spiritual path and have learned a great many things. Among them is the importance of sharing and the desire to enlighten others. Children are naturally open and expansive, so I thought I would start sharing what I have learned with them first.

Q: You've described this [The English Roses] as a book about jealousy and envy and how these emotions cause so much unnecessary suffering in our lives. Was there anything in particular from your own experiences, as a child or an adult, which made this an especially relevant subject for you to explore?

Madonna: As a child I experienced jealousy and envy towards other girls for any number of reasons: I was jealous they had mothers, jealous they were prettier or richer. It isn't until you grow up that you realize what a waste of time those feelings are. I now, of course, experience the reverse, with people either being jealous of me and being unkind as a result, or little girls being jealous of my daughter and alienating her.

Q: You say your daughter was very helpful in the process of creating this book and in letting you know when it was finished. How so?

Madonna: She was very involved in the creative process. She told me when the story was boring. She asked for the girls to do particular activities (her favorite things to do) and she helped me choose illustrators.

Q:What were your favorite books when you were a child?

Madonna: The Giving Tree, Charlotte's Web, Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Secret Garden.

Q: Is there a common theme that ties the five books together?

Madonna: Each book deals with issues that all children confront:
Uncertainty
Jealousy/Envy
Overcoming obstacles
Learning not to judge people
The power of our words

Hopefully there is a lesson in each book that will help kids turn painful or scary situations into learning experiences.

Q: In 1992, you shocked the literary world with your photo essay, Sex. This is clearly a publishing foray at the other end of the spectrum. What runs through your mind when you think of the journey you've traveled from then to now and the arc of your life that falls between these two very different literary projects? How have you changed?

Madonna: The journey I have traveled between my Sex book and now is too vast and complex to define in a few sentences. Suffice it to say that I see the world and my responsibility to it in a very different way.

Q: You've said most people think you've made a career out of doing the unexpected without, as you've said in earlier interviews, "thinking too deeply about the consequences." What changed for you that made you begin to think about the consequences of your actions?

Madonna: Having children set off a chain reaction of asking questions and looking for answers. I found answers when I began to study Kabbalah seven and a half years ago. I realized that there was, and continues to be, a reaction in the world to all of my words and my actions, good and bad. I felt the implications of personal and global Karma.

Q: You've achieved great success in so many different areas: as a savvy businesswoman and as an artist in music, videos, films, television, live performances, and so on. How was the experience of writing these children's books different from your experience preparing or a new album or video? And how does the satisfaction you feel from writing children's books differ from the satisfaction you've felt in those other arenas?

Madonna: Because I am donating all of my proceeds to charity, I knew when I began writing that every penny I earned would be used to help children. I was liberated, and my creativity was not motivated by ego or greed for the first time in my life.

Q: What's the most important lesson kids need to learn today about life, love, and the pursuit of happiness?

Madonna: The most important lesson kids can learn is that we all are connected to each other on a soul level and we need to learn to love and care for our fellow man, no matter what! That our thoughts, words, and actions really do affect other people around us. That changing the world starts with a thought. That love really does conquer all.

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