Product Description

Have you ever heard of the English Roses? Here is what they are not: a box of chocolates. A football team. Flowers growing in the garden. What they are is this: five girls named Nicole, Amy, Charlotte, Grace and Binah. And a story about feeling.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17950 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-15
• Released on: 2003-09-14
• Original language: English
• 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

Synopsis
Have you ever heard of the English Roses? Here is what they are not: a box of chocolates. A football team. Flowers growing in the garden. What they are is this: five girls named Nicole, Amy, Charlotte, Grace and Binah. And a story about feeling.

About the Author
Madonna is an international celebrity - pop star, film star and mother. She has recorded 16 albums and appeared in 18 films and is now making a very exciting move into children's books. She is married to the film producer, Guy Ritchie, and has two children. She spends her time between London and Los Angeles.

Customer Reviews

Lovely illustrations, sweet story
A surprisingly sweet story about friendship which is raised above the ordinary by the lovely illustrations which certainly captured my daughter's attention. The group of girls embrace all the nice character types you'd expect at school - studious, sporty, etc, so everyone can easily pick a favourite.
Like Lauren Child's Clarice Bean books which started out as picture books, Madonna has now produced a series of chapter books (with a matching website) for confident readers and we're finding them a cut above some of the other celeb offerings for young girls.

Enjoyable and thought provoking
We bought this book on spec and both my five year old daughter and I were delighted with the story and pictures. She really identified with the characters and though she is not normally that thoughtful, this did provoke us into bedtime discussion about jealousy and making assumptions. We loved it and cant wait to read more. She is hoping Daddy will read it to her again tonight.

Who's That Girl? Who Cares?!
Is there anything the ‘Material Girl’ has not tried to put her badge to? This is the first of a famous five-book deal that the multifaceted Madge has bagged to publish. (The fact that she has never heard of Enid Blyton is something else altogether!) ‘The English Roses’ is a featherweight fable penned by an American trying to appear English. It reeks of paltry pretension, lacks originality and humour and is an awkward stab at a contrived Cinderella concept. It has already been reviewed as a magical traditional story with the modern lightness of touch that teaches about the healing powers of forgiveness and friendship. In other words four spoilt brats who envy a more beautiful and intelligent girl who they ignore and exclude from their circle. They are then visited by a ‘fairy godmother’ in their dreams who shows them that this poor girl is not only motherless and does all the housework, but has minimal possessions too. This shocks the brat pack and suddenly they befriend her and then all grow up to be “incredible women”. I failed to find any magic or healing powers and cannot forgive those who applaud or appraise its so-called appeal.
The most interesting aspect of this book is the jacket cover and the pretty illustrations that are stylistic sketches of what could be the modernised version of the ‘Four Mary’s’ (anyone old enough should remember the Bunty/Mandy characters), or a bittersweet version of pre-teen Spice Girls or the possible precocious baby offspring of toothpick super models. God help us. The only other positive point, (was there one to start with), is that all proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to a children’s charity.