Are you shocked?

So – Madonna’s children’s books?

Not Madonna-written, according to some.

Why am I not surprised?

I do not loathe all celebrity-written (or in Madonna’ case “celebrity-written”) books. I like Jamie Lee Curtis’ a lot. But let’s be honest – most of them are awful. They dishonor the trees that were sacrificed for the pulp upon which these atrocities are committed.

And people buy millions of copies.

There actually is an important role for “celebrity-written” books in children’s publishing. Celebrity books make massive profits. This allows publishers to take a gamble on new authors, or continue supporting the career of mid-list authors, whose books are not yet raking it in. We cannot forget that publishing is a business, and for a business to exist, profits must be made. No profits, no books.

The other positive side to even the crappy celebrity books is that they lure new readers and book buyers into stores. While most readers of this LJ are probably comfortable in libraries and bookstores, a lot of people are not. They find libraries and bookstores alien and intimidating. I think it is very important to understand and respect this, and support anything that helps them. If Ma-tuna’s, I mean Madonna’s new book, brings them into a bookstore for the first time, and opens their minds to literature, then All Hail Madonna.

What celebrity books do you like? Which ones bring out your evil, catty self? (When I worked in a bookstore, the books by Dolly Parton and Princess Fergie made me howl.) Is there a celebrity you would like to see write a children’s book? What’s the title?

I’ll start. I want Steve Tyler of Aerosmith to write “Tucking Little Girls Into Bed: night-time stories for the innocent.”

84 Replies to “Are you shocked?”

  1. I actually like Lotsa De Casha… When i babysit the kids in the neighbor hood i bring it along and they just love it. Whether it was written by her or “By Her” its still a very good book for young ones.

    I would actually like to see Rockey Grey (Drummer for Evanescence) put out a children’s book… possible titles include
    “The Dark Drummer”
    The story of young villian drummer whos heart is finally weakened when he meats a powerfuly talented young innocent singer.
    or maybe
    “How to Get Along With Girls”
    Simple tips he learned when he was young on how to deal with girls and not get swatted at.

  2. I actually like Lotsa De Casha… When i babysit the kids in the neighbor hood i bring it along and they just love it. Whether it was written by her or “By Her” its still a very good book for young ones.

    I would actually like to see Rockey Grey (Drummer for Evanescence) put out a children’s book… possible titles include
    “The Dark Drummer”
    The story of young villian drummer whos heart is finally weakened when he meats a powerfuly talented young innocent singer.
    or maybe
    “How to Get Along With Girls”
    Simple tips he learned when he was young on how to deal with girls and not get swatted at.

  3. I actually like Lotsa De Casha… When i babysit the kids in the neighbor hood i bring it along and they just love it. Whether it was written by her or “By Her” its still a very good book for young ones.

    I would actually like to see Rockey Grey (Drummer for Evanescence) put out a children’s book… possible titles include
    “The Dark Drummer”
    The story of young villian drummer whos heart is finally weakened when he meats a powerfuly talented young innocent singer.
    or maybe
    “How to Get Along With Girls”
    Simple tips he learned when he was young on how to deal with girls and not get swatted at.

  4. I’m not exactly sure how much of it there is and what exactly everything is, but I know Andy Kaufman wrote a lot of stuff, all of which I would like to see in stores.

    Provided it didn’t slow down any of the music, I would totally love to see Steven Page (BNL) write a children’s book (or any other type of book) for too many reasons.

    Do (auto)biographies count as celebrity books? If so, Brian Wilson’s autobiography is AMAZING, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes music or reading or both.

    And Madonna(/celebrity)-written or not, I still think that the best children’s book is The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood.

  5. I’m not exactly sure how much of it there is and what exactly everything is, but I know Andy Kaufman wrote a lot of stuff, all of which I would like to see in stores.

    Provided it didn’t slow down any of the music, I would totally love to see Steven Page (BNL) write a children’s book (or any other type of book) for too many reasons.

    Do (auto)biographies count as celebrity books? If so, Brian Wilson’s autobiography is AMAZING, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes music or reading or both.

    And Madonna(/celebrity)-written or not, I still think that the best children’s book is The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood.

  6. I’m not exactly sure how much of it there is and what exactly everything is, but I know Andy Kaufman wrote a lot of stuff, all of which I would like to see in stores.

    Provided it didn’t slow down any of the music, I would totally love to see Steven Page (BNL) write a children’s book (or any other type of book) for too many reasons.

    Do (auto)biographies count as celebrity books? If so, Brian Wilson’s autobiography is AMAZING, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes music or reading or both.

    And Madonna(/celebrity)-written or not, I still think that the best children’s book is The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood.

  7. My grandma has that book. I think I’ve read it a million times (for myself, and then for my younger siblings and cousins).

  8. My grandma has that book. I think I’ve read it a million times (for myself, and then for my younger siblings and cousins).

  9. My grandma has that book. I think I’ve read it a million times (for myself, and then for my younger siblings and cousins).

  10. I remember that I really liked Mandy, by Julie Andrews, when I was a little girl.

    The celeb book that makes me cringe is What’s Wrong with Timmy? by Maria Shriver. She tackles Downs Syndrome, but in such an overly long, plodding way – with offensively euphemistic watercolor illustrations – that it’s an affront to the topic. If you want to explain Downs Syndrome, do it matter-of-factly, with engaging dialogue and clear illustrations!

    Celeb books I would like to read:

    My Secret to Continued Existence – by Keith Richards
    My Carefully-Considered Life Choices – by Britney Spears

  11. I remember that I really liked Mandy, by Julie Andrews, when I was a little girl.

    The celeb book that makes me cringe is What’s Wrong with Timmy? by Maria Shriver. She tackles Downs Syndrome, but in such an overly long, plodding way – with offensively euphemistic watercolor illustrations – that it’s an affront to the topic. If you want to explain Downs Syndrome, do it matter-of-factly, with engaging dialogue and clear illustrations!

    Celeb books I would like to read:

    My Secret to Continued Existence – by Keith Richards
    My Carefully-Considered Life Choices – by Britney Spears

  12. I remember that I really liked Mandy, by Julie Andrews, when I was a little girl.

    The celeb book that makes me cringe is What’s Wrong with Timmy? by Maria Shriver. She tackles Downs Syndrome, but in such an overly long, plodding way – with offensively euphemistic watercolor illustrations – that it’s an affront to the topic. If you want to explain Downs Syndrome, do it matter-of-factly, with engaging dialogue and clear illustrations!

    Celeb books I would like to read:

    My Secret to Continued Existence – by Keith Richards
    My Carefully-Considered Life Choices – by Britney Spears

  13. celeb books

    Debbie Allen has a good children’s picture callsed DANCING IN THE WINGS.
    As for the celebrity I would like to see write a book…
    Jessica Simpson title- “Fooling Around: How to Make Loads of Money by Acting Stupid.”

  14. celeb books

    Debbie Allen has a good children’s picture callsed DANCING IN THE WINGS.
    As for the celebrity I would like to see write a book…
    Jessica Simpson title- “Fooling Around: How to Make Loads of Money by Acting Stupid.”

  15. celeb books

    Debbie Allen has a good children’s picture callsed DANCING IN THE WINGS.
    As for the celebrity I would like to see write a book…
    Jessica Simpson title- “Fooling Around: How to Make Loads of Money by Acting Stupid.”

  16. I suppose this is a random fangirl’s comment, but I remember reading The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews (Edwards, at that time? I’m not sure) and liking it a lot. When I first read it, actually, I had no idea it was written by anyone remotely famous–surprised me when, a few years ago, I picked it up and read the author bio!

  17. I suppose this is a random fangirl’s comment, but I remember reading The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews (Edwards, at that time? I’m not sure) and liking it a lot. When I first read it, actually, I had no idea it was written by anyone remotely famous–surprised me when, a few years ago, I picked it up and read the author bio!

  18. I suppose this is a random fangirl’s comment, but I remember reading The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews (Edwards, at that time? I’m not sure) and liking it a lot. When I first read it, actually, I had no idea it was written by anyone remotely famous–surprised me when, a few years ago, I picked it up and read the author bio!

  19. The book that LeAnn Rimes and her husband co-wrote is not half-bad. It’s about a little jaguar who doesn’t fit in with the others and is afraid of water. A new kitty comes to class who looks different from the others, and suddenly, the snooty cats accept Jag because at least she looks like them. Instead, Jag befriends the new kitty, and the final picture is absolutely adorable. It’s about acceptance – accepting yourself, accepting others; about not being predjuced nor fearful of someone who is different; and about overcoming your fears.

    I don’t care for Little Red by Fergie, Halloween by Seinfeld, nor many other “big name” releases. Give me Don & Audrey Wood any day.

  20. The book that LeAnn Rimes and her husband co-wrote is not half-bad. It’s about a little jaguar who doesn’t fit in with the others and is afraid of water. A new kitty comes to class who looks different from the others, and suddenly, the snooty cats accept Jag because at least she looks like them. Instead, Jag befriends the new kitty, and the final picture is absolutely adorable. It’s about acceptance – accepting yourself, accepting others; about not being predjuced nor fearful of someone who is different; and about overcoming your fears.

    I don’t care for Little Red by Fergie, Halloween by Seinfeld, nor many other “big name” releases. Give me Don & Audrey Wood any day.

  21. The book that LeAnn Rimes and her husband co-wrote is not half-bad. It’s about a little jaguar who doesn’t fit in with the others and is afraid of water. A new kitty comes to class who looks different from the others, and suddenly, the snooty cats accept Jag because at least she looks like them. Instead, Jag befriends the new kitty, and the final picture is absolutely adorable. It’s about acceptance – accepting yourself, accepting others; about not being predjuced nor fearful of someone who is different; and about overcoming your fears.

    I don’t care for Little Red by Fergie, Halloween by Seinfeld, nor many other “big name” releases. Give me Don & Audrey Wood any day.

  22. O, I didn’t like Jag at all. I don’t know a kid that would sit still through it. For a picture book it had too many words, the pictures were boring, and the sentences told instead of showing. Maybe it wasn’t the worst picture book ever, but if it hadn’t had her name on it, it never would have made it out of the slush pile, much less onto the NYT list.

  23. O, I didn’t like Jag at all. I don’t know a kid that would sit still through it. For a picture book it had too many words, the pictures were boring, and the sentences told instead of showing. Maybe it wasn’t the worst picture book ever, but if it hadn’t had her name on it, it never would have made it out of the slush pile, much less onto the NYT list.

  24. O, I didn’t like Jag at all. I don’t know a kid that would sit still through it. For a picture book it had too many words, the pictures were boring, and the sentences told instead of showing. Maybe it wasn’t the worst picture book ever, but if it hadn’t had her name on it, it never would have made it out of the slush pile, much less onto the NYT list.

  25. That was my initial thought as well: “What, they paid somebody to write five shitty books so that nobody would gossip that they were ghost-written? Wow, Madonna sure has some devoted publicity folks.”

  26. That was my initial thought as well: “What, they paid somebody to write five shitty books so that nobody would gossip that they were ghost-written? Wow, Madonna sure has some devoted publicity folks.”

  27. That was my initial thought as well: “What, they paid somebody to write five shitty books so that nobody would gossip that they were ghost-written? Wow, Madonna sure has some devoted publicity folks.”

  28. I hate the Madonna books. Not so much because they are didactic, boring and hypocritical, but because of the shoddy way she credits the illustrators. Which is to say, not at all.

    The thing is, the only redeeming factor about the books is the GORGEOUS illustrations by some of the world’s top illustrators. Hello, the Dugins? Loren Long? Gennady Spirin? Look at this Amazon listing for Abdi. There is no illustrator listed, not even in the publication info, and you have to scroll down three customer reviews to learn that it is the Dugins that did them. If you looked on the books itself, you would have to flip inside and search to figure it out. But the book would be NOTHING without those illustrations. ARRRRGGHH!

    Whew. Sorry about that, but it really pisses me off.

    Celeb ones I like: Jamie Lee Curtis. The John Lithgow picture books are OK, but I really like the Lithgow-Palooza books for parents.

    I reject that god-awful Billy Crystal book, those nightmarish Maria Shriver books, and any book featuring a comedian with gigantic-head illustrations (Jerry, Jay and Ray, I am looking in YOUR direction!)

  29. I hate the Madonna books. Not so much because they are didactic, boring and hypocritical, but because of the shoddy way she credits the illustrators. Which is to say, not at all.

    The thing is, the only redeeming factor about the books is the GORGEOUS illustrations by some of the world’s top illustrators. Hello, the Dugins? Loren Long? Gennady Spirin? Look at this Amazon listing for Abdi. There is no illustrator listed, not even in the publication info, and you have to scroll down three customer reviews to learn that it is the Dugins that did them. If you looked on the books itself, you would have to flip inside and search to figure it out. But the book would be NOTHING without those illustrations. ARRRRGGHH!

    Whew. Sorry about that, but it really pisses me off.

    Celeb ones I like: Jamie Lee Curtis. The John Lithgow picture books are OK, but I really like the Lithgow-Palooza books for parents.

    I reject that god-awful Billy Crystal book, those nightmarish Maria Shriver books, and any book featuring a comedian with gigantic-head illustrations (Jerry, Jay and Ray, I am looking in YOUR direction!)

  30. I hate the Madonna books. Not so much because they are didactic, boring and hypocritical, but because of the shoddy way she credits the illustrators. Which is to say, not at all.

    The thing is, the only redeeming factor about the books is the GORGEOUS illustrations by some of the world’s top illustrators. Hello, the Dugins? Loren Long? Gennady Spirin? Look at this Amazon listing for Abdi. There is no illustrator listed, not even in the publication info, and you have to scroll down three customer reviews to learn that it is the Dugins that did them. If you looked on the books itself, you would have to flip inside and search to figure it out. But the book would be NOTHING without those illustrations. ARRRRGGHH!

    Whew. Sorry about that, but it really pisses me off.

    Celeb ones I like: Jamie Lee Curtis. The John Lithgow picture books are OK, but I really like the Lithgow-Palooza books for parents.

    I reject that god-awful Billy Crystal book, those nightmarish Maria Shriver books, and any book featuring a comedian with gigantic-head illustrations (Jerry, Jay and Ray, I am looking in YOUR direction!)

  31. I agree that it was lengthy. I said it wasn’t half-bad, meaning it wasn’t the best by far, but it was better than some of the others. 🙂

  32. I agree that it was lengthy. I said it wasn’t half-bad, meaning it wasn’t the best by far, but it was better than some of the others. 🙂

  33. I agree that it was lengthy. I said it wasn’t half-bad, meaning it wasn’t the best by far, but it was better than some of the others. 🙂

  34. The other side of the story…

    …about the economics of celebrity “writers” is that they take huge, huge advances and huge, huge cuts of the marketing pie–and almost never “earn out” their huge advances, despite big sales–so there is much, much less left for other, more deserving authors. (This is a point that an agent for children’s book writers makes in a story I have coming out in Pages magazine in September on fall kids’ books.)

    I agree with you, Laurie, I like the Jamie Lee Curtis books. I wasn’t surprised at all the read about Madonna’s alleged ghost-writer, but hate that her “name” then sells the books. (That’s the big world of business and publishing, I guess.)

    I’m shocked by the celebrities (including several b-listers) who have books coming out this fall. A partial list includes the guy who plays Bobby on the Sopranos (middle grade novel written with a co-author), Paul McCartney (again, written with a co-author), the winner of the first Apprentice (middle school book on business), Carson from Queer Eye (a picture book about a lovable unicorn), poems by Amber Tamblyn, another Jag book for you fans out there, another Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon, Spike Lee, Lynne Cheney, etc. etc. One that I hope will be pretty good is Jazz ABZ, a picture book by Wynton Marsalis.

    In other business, loving the new icon, Laurie!

  35. The other side of the story…

    …about the economics of celebrity “writers” is that they take huge, huge advances and huge, huge cuts of the marketing pie–and almost never “earn out” their huge advances, despite big sales–so there is much, much less left for other, more deserving authors. (This is a point that an agent for children’s book writers makes in a story I have coming out in Pages magazine in September on fall kids’ books.)

    I agree with you, Laurie, I like the Jamie Lee Curtis books. I wasn’t surprised at all the read about Madonna’s alleged ghost-writer, but hate that her “name” then sells the books. (That’s the big world of business and publishing, I guess.)

    I’m shocked by the celebrities (including several b-listers) who have books coming out this fall. A partial list includes the guy who plays Bobby on the Sopranos (middle grade novel written with a co-author), Paul McCartney (again, written with a co-author), the winner of the first Apprentice (middle school book on business), Carson from Queer Eye (a picture book about a lovable unicorn), poems by Amber Tamblyn, another Jag book for you fans out there, another Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon, Spike Lee, Lynne Cheney, etc. etc. One that I hope will be pretty good is Jazz ABZ, a picture book by Wynton Marsalis.

    In other business, loving the new icon, Laurie!

  36. The other side of the story…

    …about the economics of celebrity “writers” is that they take huge, huge advances and huge, huge cuts of the marketing pie–and almost never “earn out” their huge advances, despite big sales–so there is much, much less left for other, more deserving authors. (This is a point that an agent for children’s book writers makes in a story I have coming out in Pages magazine in September on fall kids’ books.)

    I agree with you, Laurie, I like the Jamie Lee Curtis books. I wasn’t surprised at all the read about Madonna’s alleged ghost-writer, but hate that her “name” then sells the books. (That’s the big world of business and publishing, I guess.)

    I’m shocked by the celebrities (including several b-listers) who have books coming out this fall. A partial list includes the guy who plays Bobby on the Sopranos (middle grade novel written with a co-author), Paul McCartney (again, written with a co-author), the winner of the first Apprentice (middle school book on business), Carson from Queer Eye (a picture book about a lovable unicorn), poems by Amber Tamblyn, another Jag book for you fans out there, another Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon, Spike Lee, Lynne Cheney, etc. etc. One that I hope will be pretty good is Jazz ABZ, a picture book by Wynton Marsalis.

    In other business, loving the new icon, Laurie!

  37. “What, they paid somebody to write five shitty books so that nobody would gossip that they were ghost-written?”

    *shakes head* I know, I know. Go figure, eh?

    ~Maggie 🙂

  38. “What, they paid somebody to write five shitty books so that nobody would gossip that they were ghost-written?”

    *shakes head* I know, I know. Go figure, eh?

    ~Maggie 🙂

  39. “What, they paid somebody to write five shitty books so that nobody would gossip that they were ghost-written?”

    *shakes head* I know, I know. Go figure, eh?

    ~Maggie 🙂

  40. Billy Corgan

    Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumkpins, wrote a book of Poetry “Blinking With Fists” I’m really enjoying it, in bits and pieces of my free-time I devour it. the thing is, celebrities of Billy Corgan caliber are already established in thier own writing voice, they don’t need much help or excuse, and writing books is just another way to branch off and thrill the world with an extent of their talent.

  41. Billy Corgan

    Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumkpins, wrote a book of Poetry “Blinking With Fists” I’m really enjoying it, in bits and pieces of my free-time I devour it. the thing is, celebrities of Billy Corgan caliber are already established in thier own writing voice, they don’t need much help or excuse, and writing books is just another way to branch off and thrill the world with an extent of their talent.

  42. Billy Corgan

    Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumkpins, wrote a book of Poetry “Blinking With Fists” I’m really enjoying it, in bits and pieces of my free-time I devour it. the thing is, celebrities of Billy Corgan caliber are already established in thier own writing voice, they don’t need much help or excuse, and writing books is just another way to branch off and thrill the world with an extent of their talent.

  43. I just had to pick the most unusual pairing I could think of…

    I would like to see Marilyn Manson write a childrens book tentatively title…

    “Fit for a Princess (or How Princess Grace Saved The Kingdom)”

    Ohhh… the first half of that title could also work for a different kind of book…

    “Fit for a Princess (Workout Plans and Techniques For Your Little Girl)”

    Heh. That one might actually sell if written by a real nutritionist/trainer that realizes that while kids should be healthy and active they don’t need to be anorexic.

  44. I just had to pick the most unusual pairing I could think of…

    I would like to see Marilyn Manson write a childrens book tentatively title…

    “Fit for a Princess (or How Princess Grace Saved The Kingdom)”

    Ohhh… the first half of that title could also work for a different kind of book…

    “Fit for a Princess (Workout Plans and Techniques For Your Little Girl)”

    Heh. That one might actually sell if written by a real nutritionist/trainer that realizes that while kids should be healthy and active they don’t need to be anorexic.

  45. I just had to pick the most unusual pairing I could think of…

    I would like to see Marilyn Manson write a childrens book tentatively title…

    “Fit for a Princess (or How Princess Grace Saved The Kingdom)”

    Ohhh… the first half of that title could also work for a different kind of book…

    “Fit for a Princess (Workout Plans and Techniques For Your Little Girl)”

    Heh. That one might actually sell if written by a real nutritionist/trainer that realizes that while kids should be healthy and active they don’t need to be anorexic.

  46. I am really disgusted of most celebrity “written” books. I wrote myself a good novel but nobody wants to take the “risk” to launch a new unknown writer…I was advised to find somebody “with a name” to back me up… I have a name , and a good one too, to bad that people are attracted to trash only because it is famous….

  47. I am really disgusted of most celebrity “written” books. I wrote myself a good novel but nobody wants to take the “risk” to launch a new unknown writer…I was advised to find somebody “with a name” to back me up… I have a name , and a good one too, to bad that people are attracted to trash only because it is famous….

  48. I am really disgusted of most celebrity “written” books. I wrote myself a good novel but nobody wants to take the “risk” to launch a new unknown writer…I was advised to find somebody “with a name” to back me up… I have a name , and a good one too, to bad that people are attracted to trash only because it is famous….

  49. celebrity books

    well i’ve never read madonna’s or jamie lee curtis’s children’s books, so i guess my opinion wouldn’t count. but i’d like to see lauren graham write a children’s book. she plays lorelai gilmore on gilmore girls. i think she’d make a good children’s author. maybe her book could be “the legends of stars hollow” or something. i don’t know. or maybe it could be about her life. or maybe alexis bledel could write a good one. she’s lorelai’s daughter rory on gilmore girls. she could probably write about her life in texas and how her parents had her dress up very fancy for dinner every night. -ashley 🙂

  50. celebrity books

    well i’ve never read madonna’s or jamie lee curtis’s children’s books, so i guess my opinion wouldn’t count. but i’d like to see lauren graham write a children’s book. she plays lorelai gilmore on gilmore girls. i think she’d make a good children’s author. maybe her book could be “the legends of stars hollow” or something. i don’t know. or maybe it could be about her life. or maybe alexis bledel could write a good one. she’s lorelai’s daughter rory on gilmore girls. she could probably write about her life in texas and how her parents had her dress up very fancy for dinner every night. -ashley 🙂

  51. celebrity books

    well i’ve never read madonna’s or jamie lee curtis’s children’s books, so i guess my opinion wouldn’t count. but i’d like to see lauren graham write a children’s book. she plays lorelai gilmore on gilmore girls. i think she’d make a good children’s author. maybe her book could be “the legends of stars hollow” or something. i don’t know. or maybe it could be about her life. or maybe alexis bledel could write a good one. she’s lorelai’s daughter rory on gilmore girls. she could probably write about her life in texas and how her parents had her dress up very fancy for dinner every night. -ashley 🙂

  52. One celebrity book that I really like would definitely have to be Jewel’s “A Night without Armor”. It’s not a children’s book, but just poetry that she describes as something that cannot be put to music. Beautiful stuff. Somtimes the things she writes tend to be a little different, but I only think that because I shy away from such writing myself. Her other book “Chasing Down the Dawn” has the same type of poetry, but is filled with vignettes and drawings. I really don’t think of Jewel as a “celebrity”, but more as an artist, but people usually have an idea who she is.

  53. One celebrity book that I really like would definitely have to be Jewel’s “A Night without Armor”. It’s not a children’s book, but just poetry that she describes as something that cannot be put to music. Beautiful stuff. Somtimes the things she writes tend to be a little different, but I only think that because I shy away from such writing myself. Her other book “Chasing Down the Dawn” has the same type of poetry, but is filled with vignettes and drawings. I really don’t think of Jewel as a “celebrity”, but more as an artist, but people usually have an idea who she is.

  54. One celebrity book that I really like would definitely have to be Jewel’s “A Night without Armor”. It’s not a children’s book, but just poetry that she describes as something that cannot be put to music. Beautiful stuff. Somtimes the things she writes tend to be a little different, but I only think that because I shy away from such writing myself. Her other book “Chasing Down the Dawn” has the same type of poetry, but is filled with vignettes and drawings. I really don’t think of Jewel as a “celebrity”, but more as an artist, but people usually have an idea who she is.

  55. The English Roses is mildly entertaining at best. I wish to throw Mr. Peabody’s Apples at the wall. I actually think that if Madonna didn’t write them, they have less of an excuse to be bad. Madonna is a very talented musician and a semi-decent actress, that doesn’t make her a good writer. If she’s hiring a ghostwriter, she should get one who is a talented writer. Duh.

    Jamie Lee Curtis’s children’s books are AWESOME.

    I read Katie Couric’s children’s book at work today and literally gagged.

  56. The English Roses is mildly entertaining at best. I wish to throw Mr. Peabody’s Apples at the wall. I actually think that if Madonna didn’t write them, they have less of an excuse to be bad. Madonna is a very talented musician and a semi-decent actress, that doesn’t make her a good writer. If she’s hiring a ghostwriter, she should get one who is a talented writer. Duh.

    Jamie Lee Curtis’s children’s books are AWESOME.

    I read Katie Couric’s children’s book at work today and literally gagged.

  57. The English Roses is mildly entertaining at best. I wish to throw Mr. Peabody’s Apples at the wall. I actually think that if Madonna didn’t write them, they have less of an excuse to be bad. Madonna is a very talented musician and a semi-decent actress, that doesn’t make her a good writer. If she’s hiring a ghostwriter, she should get one who is a talented writer. Duh.

    Jamie Lee Curtis’s children’s books are AWESOME.

    I read Katie Couric’s children’s book at work today and literally gagged.

  58. I see paris, I see france

    Paris Hilton’s book sucks.
    let’s see, I agree with the person aboves title for Britney Spears, but I think a book from K-Fed would be even funnier.
    Kevin Federline: K-Fed; How to get two girls pregnant in one year, marry a superstar and live the life of the rich and famous

    yeah I know that was too long. oh well. Still would be funny.

  59. I see paris, I see france

    Paris Hilton’s book sucks.
    let’s see, I agree with the person aboves title for Britney Spears, but I think a book from K-Fed would be even funnier.
    Kevin Federline: K-Fed; How to get two girls pregnant in one year, marry a superstar and live the life of the rich and famous

    yeah I know that was too long. oh well. Still would be funny.

  60. I see paris, I see france

    Paris Hilton’s book sucks.
    let’s see, I agree with the person aboves title for Britney Spears, but I think a book from K-Fed would be even funnier.
    Kevin Federline: K-Fed; How to get two girls pregnant in one year, marry a superstar and live the life of the rich and famous

    yeah I know that was too long. oh well. Still would be funny.

  61. very good point about madge hiring a ghost writer. In fact, I think lots of celebs probably work with ghost writers, where are the good ghost writers out there!?!

  62. very good point about madge hiring a ghost writer. In fact, I think lots of celebs probably work with ghost writers, where are the good ghost writers out there!?!

  63. very good point about madge hiring a ghost writer. In fact, I think lots of celebs probably work with ghost writers, where are the good ghost writers out there!?!

  64. This is late, because I tend to read back-blogs all at once, but for the record:
    Mandy was one of my most favorite little-girl books,
    Jamie Lee Curtis seems to take writing seriously. Thank goodness.
    Celebrity suggestions:
    Jodie Foster, a YA
    Angela Lansbury- a picture book
    Michael Pailin- a travel book
    Sting- anything (he was a teacher, and what a way with words!)

  65. This is late, because I tend to read back-blogs all at once, but for the record:
    Mandy was one of my most favorite little-girl books,
    Jamie Lee Curtis seems to take writing seriously. Thank goodness.
    Celebrity suggestions:
    Jodie Foster, a YA
    Angela Lansbury- a picture book
    Michael Pailin- a travel book
    Sting- anything (he was a teacher, and what a way with words!)

  66. This is late, because I tend to read back-blogs all at once, but for the record:
    Mandy was one of my most favorite little-girl books,
    Jamie Lee Curtis seems to take writing seriously. Thank goodness.
    Celebrity suggestions:
    Jodie Foster, a YA
    Angela Lansbury- a picture book
    Michael Pailin- a travel book
    Sting- anything (he was a teacher, and what a way with words!)

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