Madonna targets 50 languages with book
Madonna‘s publisher has an ambitious target at the Frankfurt book fair – he is determined to hit 50 languages for her first children’s book.
Having just signed on the Indonesians, Koreans, Japanese and Georgians, Nicholas Callaway told Reuters: “We are now at 37 languages. We hope to reach 50 by the end of the fair.”
The pop superstar reinvented herself yet again last month, turning children’s author to launch her moralistic little tale “The English Roses” in a publishing blitz in 100 countries and 30 languages. The hype paid off.
“We have surpassed 500,000 in sales around the world so far. We are on track to reach a million by the end of the year,” Callaway said of the book, which is be followed up next month with the second of five Madonna tales for kids.
The United States is into its third print run. Madonna beat Harry Potter in the New York Times Children’s Book List. Britain is into a fourth printing. Finland sold out in two hours.
“We are not done yet,” Callaway said. “I want to go into Arabic countries, Indian languages and Africa. Madonna is surprised and delighted.”
Callaway was quick to praise JK Rowling for her Harry Potter wizard sagas that have transformed children’s publishing.
“They are epic tales of fantasy and imagination and they are glorious. Everyone should thank JK Rowling for taking children to wonderful places of the imagination.
“But Madonna is using the power of her fame to encourage and inspire children how to live life rightly and thoughtfully.”
At breakfast before a day meeting publishers, Callaway offered a peep into the next book, the lavishly illustrated “Mr Peabody’s Apples“.
“The English Roses” was for the girls. This tale of a teacher falsely accused of theft in the Middle American town of Happville is one for the boys.
Madonna says of the book: “It is dedicated to teachers everywhere. It is a story about the power of words and how we must choose them carefully to avoid causing harm to others“.
The contrast with Madonna’s last publication, her 1992 X-rated photo collection “Sex“, could not be starker.
Click to enlarge MadonnaTribe’s exclusive Peabody logo image
Source: Reuters/Paul Majendie.