Pop superstar Madonna is planning a new children's book to teach kids that wealth is overrated.
The multi-millionaire -- who is currently promoting her fourth novel, "The Adventure of Abdi" -- will have "Lotsa de Casha" ready for release next summer.
Publisher Nicholas Callaway describes the tale, "All the characters in the book will be animals and Lotsa de Casha is an Italian greyhound who has all the money in the world but no happiness. He thinks only of himself."
LONDON — Hundreds of Madonna fans lined up for 24 hours outside a central London bookstore where the pop singer signed copies of her new children's book Thursday.
But only the first 250 hopefuls were allowed into Selfridges on Oxford St. to watch Madonna read from "The Adventures of Abdi" before signing copies.
Crowds who gathered on the shopping street for a glimpse of the singer were disappointed when she was smuggled into the store through an underground car park.
Madonna later gave a 10-minute reading to a group of 30 schoolchildren, aged eight to 10, from St. Winifred's Catholic Junior School in south London.
"The Adventures of Abdi," is the fourth book in a five-book children's series Madonna has penned for Callaway Editions. Callaway has already published "The English Roses," "Mr. Peabody's Apples" and "Yakov and the Seven Thieves."
Madonna's fifth book, "Lotsa de Casha," is due for release next summer.
You have got to be thye biggest fan ever to wait 24 hours just to see her and get her to sign a kiddies book. It's not even something original like the "Sex" book, it's a flaming kiddies book. I could understand if you waited that long for concert tickets or something, but for a signature on a book - that's insane
Madonna delighted a group of British schoolchildren on Thursday with a reading from her latest book.
A large crowd of older fans queued up overnight for the chance to meet the Queen of Pop in Selfridges department store. But the pupils of Winifred's Junior School in south London were treated to a private audience, when Madge read extracts from the The Adventures Of Abdi in a specially prepared playroom.
The tome, which is inspired by the singer's Kabbalah faith, is the fourth in a series of children's books written by the 46-year-old. It tells the story of a little boy who must deliver the world's most precious necklace to a queen. Along the way he is robbed, thrown in a dungeon and has a surprising encounter with a snake - but he never gives up hope.
Madonna has been anxious that her stories should carry a positive message. And the next installment may come of something of a surprise to her fans, because the Material Girl is working on a tale about the pitfalls of being wealthy.
Lotsa De Casha will follow the exploits of an uppercrust pooch who has plenty of money but not many friends. "All the characters in the book will be animals and Lotsa de Casha is an Italian greyhound who is very rich but very unhappy," revealed publisher Nicholas Callaway. "He thinks only of himself."
After the book-signing, the children from Winifred's Junior School were treated to a private audience with the singer
Her audience may have been a little younger than usual but Madge put on a stellar performance. The pop star is hoping her books will be a positive influence on young children
MADONNA will this week sign a lucrative deal to direct a film version of her children’s book English Roses. She has penned the screenplay with hubby GUY RITCHIE and will start shooting next summer.
Sony have given Madge total control of the project. As well as the film she has launched a range of products to go with the books . . . which just leaves the action figures and bed sheets to complete the set.
Their first hubby-and-wife film was such a turkey that if it turns up in your stocking you won't know whether to watch it or roast it. But the public humiliation of Swept Away has not dented Madonna's determination to be a movie star.
The megastar - who now prefers to be called by her Hebrew name Esther - has talked hubby Guy Ritchie, 36, into giving her a part in his latest gangster movie, Revolver. And he wisely agreed.
They have already secretly filmed her scenes on the Isle of Man.Sources tell us: "Everyone knows Madonna gets what she wants and she still loves to act. One of the things that most attracted her to Guy was the fact that he is a film director - she is fascinated by his art."
Despite the straight-to-video Swept Away being described as "a soggy piece of flotsam" and "a shipwreck", Madge, 46, seems intent on being involved in Guy's projects.
We're told: "Guy's very respected and is doing his best to make Revolver as controversy-free as possible. But the missus really wanted a walk-on part - and who is he to say no?" Spies on the scenic Isle of Man watched the mother-of-two filming her scenes.
We hear: "Madonna came to spend a week with her husband while he was over here and she seemed to enjoy it. Everyone thought she was here for a holiday so it was a bit surprising to see her filming on Athol Street. She was really getting into it so it's clear she's taking it seriously. But it's obviously not a major role as she wasn't on the island very long."
Guy, meanwhile, is defensive about his wife's acting abilities.
Talking of their first collaboration, Guy told the Oxford University Union: "We had the absolute faeces kicked out of us. But I've got to say, I still think it's a good film. I'm left shaking my head."
An industry insider says Guy has very good reasons for keeping his wife's involvement in his latest film, which also stars Jason Statham and Ray Liotta, quiet.
We're told: "Guy won't want anyone to judge the film before it comes out. And it's still not clear whether Madonna's scenes will even make the final cut."
We wouldn't want to be in his shoes if they don't.
schmiggens said this in post #1 : SPEARS TO STAR IN MADONNA'S FILM
MADONNA has persuaded BRITNEY SPEARS to appear in the animated film version of her children's book THE ENGLISH ROSES. The MATERIAL GIRL superstar pleaded with the TOXIC singer to voice the story's heroine BINAH - and Spears was eager to accept.
Madonna, 46, has also managed to secure the vocal skills of DAVID BOWIE and rapper SNOOP DOGG for the big-budget movie, which will be produced by her husband GUY RITCHIE. The pop veteran herself will voice the FAIRY GODMOTHER in the tale of a girl - based on her eight-year-old daughter LOURDES - excluded by a group of schoolmates who are jealous of her beauty.
Queen of Pop Madonna insisted on bringing her own lighting team with her while appearing on a BBC show, The Mirror claims. Madonna appeared on a benefit show to raise money for victims of the Asian tsunami, but seemed to be more worried about her appearance.
"She insisted on her halo lights as they don't show as many wrinkles," a source told the Sunday Mirror. "Madonna dipped into her own pocket to pay for it."
Pop superstar Madonna has turned down an offer from British comic Ricky Gervais to appear in his new TV comedy, "Extras."
Gervais, who starred in and created the cult show "The Office," has already landed homegrown actors Jude Law and Kate Winslet, while Hollywood stars Ben Stiller and Samuel L. Jackson have also confirmed cameo appearances.
Each big name actor will be cast as themselves in their own episode of the new BBC comedy series, about film extras chasing their big break.
However, the Material Girl refuses to play herself and will only agree to appear in the show if a character is developed for her.
Madonna is planning to play a transvestite in a new Hollywood film. And according to The Sun, the singer is so keen to take on the part that she's agreed to do it for free.
The paper reports that the Queen of Pop has signed up to play Candy Darling, who starred in a series of Andy Warhol's experimental films in the 1960s.She was the inspiration behind the Velvet Underground classic Candy Says and Lou Reed's solo hit Walk On The Wild Side.
A source told the paper: "Madonna has been desperate to make a film where she can earn respect for her acting abilities. She is still trying to shake off the bad publicity from the movie Swept Away. She sees this as her big chance. She said she would do anything for the part and has agreed to work for free."
Madonna secured the part after jetting to New York last month to meet with long-time friend and movie agent Bryan Lourd, to discuss her film career. Soon after, the Material Girl met with producers of the as-yet unnamed film and agreed to star, says FemaleFirst.
Madonna is reportedly fuming with film director husband Guy Ritchie after he cut a scene featuring her from his new film 'Revolver'.
The sexy singer, who has appeared in a string of big screen flops, had filmed a cameo for the British gangster movie last November, but according to a source her performance does not feature in the final edit after Guy - whose previous films include 'Snatch' and 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - decided it wasn't up to scratch.
One insider is quoted by Britain's Mail On Sunday as saying: "Perhaps Guy did not want Madonna's kiss of death on his latest movie, or perhaps he just decided the scene wasn't quite right, but either way Madonna does not make the final cut."
The couple previously worked together three years ago on 'Swept Away', which was universally paned by film critics and failed to gain a cinema release instead going straight to rental.
Guy's production company SKA have denied the reports, insisting Madonna never shot a scene for the movie insisting all she was never involved in the project.
However, Outkast singer Andre 3000, who also appears in the film, confirmed in a recent interview that the 46-year-old singer did shoot a scene for the film.
He said at the time: "I'm a big Madonna fan. When she turned up I was completely star-struck."
Madonna has turned her back on acting to focus on producing movies, after her onscreen efforts were axed from husband Guy Ritchie's latest movie. The 46-year-old pop superstar's scenes in the new film, "Revolver," have reportedly been cut, but the disappointment hasn't deterred Madonna from pursuing her big-screen ambitions.
She's now hoping a feature-length documentary -- based on her 2004 Re-Invention world tour -- will bolster her status in the movie industry, especially if it's included in the line-up of films to premiere at this May's prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France.
Madonna's also eager to appear at Cannes so she can chat to directors about some of her film ideas.
A source tells British newspaper the Mail on Sunday, "Madonna has learned the hard way from 'Revolver' that the only way to have a say is to become a producer. It's been her dream to premiere in Cannes, but she cannot afford to make another mistake so she's working with Swedish director Jona Akerlund, who directed Mickey Rourke and Brittany Murphy in 'Spun.' She also plans a light, fluffy teenage movie called 'Material Girls' about a pair of cosmetic company heiresses who lose their family fortune."
11-12-2004 05:33 AM
