The English Roses (The English Roses (1)) - Hardcover

Madonna, Madonna

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0935112103 ISBN 13: 9780935112108

Publisher: Callaway Arts & Entertainment, 2017

Synopsis

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 15th 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.

About this title

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

Review:

"Madonna has written a whole series of children's books, illustrated by Jeffrey Fulvimari. The ongoing story is about four girls who become jealous of another girl who they believe lives a perfect life....Whatever wisdom they contain has certainly been shared widely - the first book was published simultaneously in 100 countries, something most debut children's authors could only dream about." (Telegraph)

"The story explores several issues, among them the idea that one can be envied or pitied and the emotional deprivation that often motivates overcompensation in both children and adults...Forget Madonna's wild ways. She offers a vital message for girls." (USA Today)

"This book deals with a group of friends who snub a beautiful girl because they are 'green with envy;' ultimately they learn to have empathy for her, and include her. While a picture book, this is really more for the pre-tween crowd: It may be a good bridge for early readers who are feeling too big for picture books but aren't quite ready to tackle chapter books." (Common Sense Media)

About this edition

• Publisher: Callaway Arts & Entertainment
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0935112103
• ISBN 13: 9780935112108
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 48
• Illustrator: Fulvimari Jeffrey