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Title: The English Roses by Madonna, Jeffrey Fulvimari ISBN: 0-670-03678-1 Publisher: Callaway Editions Pub. Date: 15 September, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.05 (282 reviews)
Rating: 1
Summary: An insult to anyone who truly loves children's stories
Comment: I have tried to read this book twice to my girls (who received it as a birthday present), but was not able to make it beyond cliches like "skin like milk and honey" and the narrative's fifth-grade heavy-handedness.
The truly sad thing is there are writers who love kids and appreciate children's literature (as opposed to the highly patronizing Madonna), who have dedicated themselves to writing for children (a finely crafted children's book, a la Sendak, is as hard to write as poetry), yet will not receive one-hundredth the hype and publicity churned for this drek. In fact, many deserving works may not even get published, while Madonna gets signed for a series of five (five!) books.
This trend of authors (Madonna, Jay Leno, Jamie Lee Curtis) published for their celebrity rather than for the quality of their prose reflects a truly sad state within the children's publishing industry. I'd use a more colorful term to describe such children's publishers, but there might be kids reading this review.
Rating: 2
Summary: Thorn among the roses...
Comment: Having read hundreds of children's books over the years, I was willing to keep an open mind. Against my better judgement (and the hundreds of reviews warning me not to), I still went ahead and purchased this book. What a mistake! I must admit, the illustrations are beautiful and very engaging and I was almost able to forgive the words on the page... Almost.
Madonna's writing is patronising and, quite frankly, rude! I was faced with the question of "Why is she mad at me? I didn't ask that!" when Madonna's writing informed my child to "Stop interupting (her)". Honestly, sometimes that style of writing can be done fantastically well and with humour, but Madonna's "wit" and "style" are just rude. There was more than one occasion when we put the book down and considered not reading any more. Unfortunately, we kept going. What a waste of 48-pages.
As for the story, it is basically the simple notion that you shouldn't judge people by their appearances and that even 'perfect' people have problems. A good lesson, but I think it was lost in the last few pages when the girls (named the English Roses) made friends with Binah and they ALL became beautiful and popular and without problems. Hrm.
I give it 2 stars - mainly for the illustrations. They really are gorgeous and they alone are worth the money. The story, however, isn't worth a cent. I don't recommend it at all. Hopefully Madonna's next efforts at writing will be more encouraging!
Rating: 3
Summary: I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CRITICISM
Comment: I have collected and read kids books for years and I thought this one was great. (My only problem with it is that half the fun of it is in the illustrations and the illustrator was not credited on the cover).
Other than that, it was a really charming and relevant story told in a very likable way. I wonder if all the negative reviews would have been different if Madonna (who doesn't mean much to me either way) had used another name.
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Title: Mr. Peabody's Apples by Madonna, Loren Long ISBN: 0670058831 Publisher: Callaway Editions Pub. Date: 10 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Little Red by Sarah Ferguson, Sam Williams ISBN: 0689843402 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Pub. Date: 01 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Yakov and the Seven Thieves by MADONNA ISBN: 0670058874 Publisher: Viking Childrens Books Pub. Date: October, 2004 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title:Remixed & Revisited ASIN: B0000TSQJI Publisher: Warner Brothers Pub. Date: 25 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $9.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $9.98 |
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Title: Mr. Peabody's Apples : Las Manzanas Del Sr. Peabody by Madonna ISBN: 0439622794 Publisher: Scholastic Pub. Date: 10 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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