Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #600764 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 48 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Madonna hangs up her material-girl cloak to teach children the importance of looking beyond a surface sheen. In The English Roses, the superstar's children's book debut, four little girls (the roses in question) "play the same games, read the same books, and like the same boys".

Nicole, Amy, Charlotte and Grace all love to dance the monkey and the tickety-boo... and they all are horribly jealous of Binah, the perfect, beautiful, smart, kind girl who lives nearby. Even though they know Binah is lonely, she makes them sick. They would say "Let's pretend we don't see her when she walks by", and even "Let's push her into the lake!" The pleasantly bossy narrator explains "And that is what they did. No, silly, not the lake part, the pretending not to see her part".

One night, however, the four girls all have the same dream that sets them straight. A fairy godmother sprinkles them with fairy dust and takes them to spy on Binah. When they see that she lives alone with her father, slaving away night and day at household chores, the four girly grumblers feel very sorry for her. The fairy scolds them: "... in the future, you might think twice before grumbling that someone else has a better life than you." And they do.

This morality tale is nothing new under the sun, but it is cleverly told, with many teaspoonfuls of good humour. Jeffrey Fulvimari's illustrations are no less than stunning, filling every page with vivacious black ink lines and gorgeous watercolour reminiscent of 1960s fashion sketches. Children will enjoy this don't-hate-me-because-I'm-beautiful story that celebrates friendship as much as it teaches compassion. It's recommended for ages six and above. --Karin Snelson

Customer Reviews

English Roses by Madonna
This is the first book I have read by Madonna although I am a fan of her music.I like the book because when you read the first word you are hooked.You can't wait to find out what happens.My mum said she has never known me to keep quiet for so long.

Celia Hulse age 9

A treasured keepsake
The English Roses is beautifully illustrated with a welcome moral message. The voice is good, original and connects well.

For the British market the story could have been improved with a a good editor's tight overview. A number of small adjustments could have improved the text .. "nice" is not a word that is encouraged in descriptive writing in schools, "very" and on one occasion "very, very" is a little clumsy and "neighbourhood" would probably be referred to as town. Children - particularly for SATS are discouraged from writing stories that end "it was all a dream" so it would have been good to have had another vehicle for that element of the story and the introduction of a fairy godmother removes the story to the realms of fantasy. But the book is beautiful, would make a treasured keepsake and if proof were in the pudding my two children enjoyed it - and that's what really matters.

The English Roses
This book is a modern tale for children in today's world. I am glad that Madonna come out with something original. Envy is something children come across in a day to day basis and it is a great idea to illustrate the damage it may do to innocent children in this beautiful book. I am looking forward to the other titles by Madonna. The collaboration with famous illustrators are at great advantage too when it comes to children book publishing.
This is a very enjoyable book.