Madonna Signs Children's Book Deal With Penguin Group

Posted on March 7, 2003

Madonna and Callaway Editions are creating an original series of five illustrated storybooks for young readers in association with Penguin Group. The English language rights to the five books have been acquired by Penguin from Callaway Editions in New York, represented by Andrew Wylie of The Wylie Agency in New York. Each of Madonna's books will feature a different, internationally acclaimed artist. The target readership will be ages six and older.

In the United States, the titles will be published by Callaway Editions, an illustrated book publisher, and distributed by Penguin Group (USA). In all other English language markets, they will be published by Puffin, the children's imprint of Penguin Group (UK). The first title written by Madonna, The English Roses, will be published in hardcover in September 2003 and distributed simultaneously worldwide.

"Madonna is an artist with a universal appeal and these books will touch children of all backgrounds everywhere in the world. Penguin is delighted to be working with Madonna and with Callaway Editions on this distinctive and exciting publishing venture," said John Makinson, Chairman & CEO of Penguin Group.

Nicholas Callaway, Founder and Publisher of Callaway Editions, said, "With these books, Madonna has accomplished something rare and wonderful. Despite the astonishing range and variety of her stories, they all evoke the secret that the red fox shares with the Little Prince: 'It is only with the heart that one can see rightly.' These, too, are magical stories for children of all ages-even grown-up ones."

Callaway is an illustrated book publisher. Callaway's titles include the bestselling Miss Spider series, written and illustrated by David Kirk, Hilary Knight's When I Have a Little Girl/When I Have a Little Boy, Georgia O'Keeffe: One Hundred Flowers, and Irving Penn's Passage. Callaway has also expanded beyond books. Callaway's 3-D computer-animated television special, Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Kids, will debut on Nickelodeon on March 31 and Callaway's Sunny Patch brand of children's lifestyle products has just launched at Target Stores.