Rating: 
Summary: As if the First One Wasn't Bad Enough
Review: First things first: the artwork is beautiful.
Second things second: Madonna is not the illustrator (and once again the illustrator's name is left off the cover even though he is more than half responsible for the finished picture book)
Could Madonna's stories be any more heavy handed and moralistic? Yes, we get it, don't judge people. Good message. Will you stop writing books now? No? Well I guess the message will continue to be pounded into our heads with the hammer-of-obviousness-and-easily-predictable-endings through 2 more books. Even though the bruise of bad writing has barely healed. Sigh.
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant Art, Wise Message, Okay Storytelling
Review: I picked this one up because I'm a Madonna fan, and I really enjoyed her storytelling in the first book "The English Roses". Also I'd seen the cover art and was just blown away by its beauty. Loren Long creates a world that's equal parts Norman Rockwell and Edward Hopper, but it's as though you're looking at it reflected onto a fun house mirror, with slightly distorted shapes and proportions. The illustrations are, quite simply, beautiful works of art. The story itself is an important one about the power of words and the way in which gossip spreads like a virus. A simple story, and a rather good one for children to learn early. What I missed here was the charm and sense of playfulness Madonna exhibited in her first children's book. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book. Young children, I'd say ages 4-9, should really enjoy this, and be enchanted by Long's pictures.
Rating:
Summary: Madonna the cruel.
Review: Let us imagine that, at this day and age, two women and a baby are brought before a wise and kind judge, both claiming to be the baby's mother. Instead of ordering for DNA tests (that would take too long and would be too expensive, might be the argument inside his head) he just decides to tell them that he is going to cut the child in two and give a half to each. This is just a story and the reader is warned that the judge is putting the women to a test. Whoever chooses to let go of the quarrel and thus spare the baby's life is the real mother, it is explained and demonstrated. Ahh, how cunning the judge is.In real life a judge is not allowed to bluff in this fashion, it is simply illegal. Can you imagine two modern women being fooled into accepting this decision and believing that there's nothing else that can be done? What about the lawyers, what would they say? The fact that the original King Solomon's story takes place in a very distant past helps us in our suspension of disbelief - but once you updated it and brought it to our times it would become a horror story, too absurd to be believed. In a similar way, the story Madonna got her inspiration from may be a wonderful and insightful parable in its original form, but for the reasons I gave, once you modernize it, it doesn't hold water and becomes an unnecessarily cruel way to give a child a lesson.
Rating: 
Summary: Highly recommend
Review: I highly recommend this book, not only are the illustrations beautiful the story line is superb. I found this one to be much better than her first one, I would definitly give this book as a gift because it is a definite keeper to put on the shelves to enjoy for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Save a few bucks
Review: I have to agree, beautiful illustration, but P.S. everyone...MADONNA IS NOT THE ARTIST...kudos go to Ms. Long. Seems lately any celebrity can 'write' a story, find a great illustrator and they have this amazing piece of children's literature. Purchase some Roald Dahl.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful words are universal
Review: Being a fan of Madonna for over 15 years, makes it a little difficult to have an objective opinion. However, this book has left a powerful imprint in me. I am 30, but I faced a similar situation less than a year ago. A co-worker made a false judgment on my person, which created a very bad image of me. The problem was eventually cleared up, but, like in the book, my reputation changed for the worst in the blink of an eye. I think books like this one leave powerful messages in people's brains and the way the story is told and the beauty of the images makes the reader go away with a very good taste of mouth. I am not a child and I don't have children of my own, but I am pretty sure that stories like this can have a positive effect in the education of young ones. For me, Madonna has once again done an amazing job. Congratulations!
Rating:
Summary: Words of wisdom!!
Review: This book is great! i really loved it, even more that the first book! This is a wonderful story in a beautifully illustrated book which teaches both children kids and grown up's alike about judgement. That was what I saw as being of most importance anyhow, how judgement can put limitation in our lives, especially when it comes to our relationships with other people....Also, about how we can hurt people for nothing when we choose to gossip about those people we have misjudged. I really loved this book and I admire Madonna so much for her success in what she is doing to enlighten children and grown up's! ! Good Luck Madonna!
Ashleigh Stewart
The Free Spirit Centre
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Rating:
Summary: madonna the great
Review: hello madonna has always been an icon to me. i have grown up with her and have always loved the way she reinvents herself. she is a strong women and her books are great. i have started to collect them for my own self. she is a smart women and knows how to do things the right way. i will continue to buy her products. she shows us that you can do what ever you set your mind to. her books are adorable and lovely. she is a true artist.
Rating: 
Summary: My God, this is a bad book
Review: I give it two stars because the illustrations are really kind of nice -- but the writing makes one's teeth ache. Madonna is the sort of writer who thinks it's quaint and charming to have all her characters speak without contractions. Trite, boring and preachy. Skip it.
Rating:
Summary: Mr. Peabody does it.
Review: Mr. Peabody's Apples is well written & has beautiful illustrations. Very different from Madonna's 1st book The English Roses, so I can't wait to see what the next one will be like. Madonna amazes me, the way all profits are donated, plus her donating hundreds of this books' softcover issue to schools. Bravo!
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