Rating: 
Summary: A great book for children!
Review: This book is a great addition to any child's catalogue. It is simplistic enough for children to grasp and yet touches on a familiar subject that both children and adults (both male and female) could learn something from. It's straightforward, to the point and yet provokes thoughts in a gentle way, opening the door for family bonding with further discussion of the topic after the book has been read. It is cleverly told with a bit of humor thrown in which is a nice surprise in my opinion. The illustrations are vibrant and keep your eyes wandering from page to page. And just a side note to the critical eye out there who may assume that this is just another way for Madonna to make a little money off of the little tikes... all the proceeds of the book are being donated to children's charities. A gem of a purchase that I'd recommend to anyone possibly interested!!
Rating: 
Summary: Mediocre.
Review: This book is hard to read. It's hard to get over the fact that it's written by Madonna -- teeny bopper turned leg spreading sex symbol turned yoga/kabbalah metaphysic microbiotic freak. The book screams her name -- small references are made to her music (i.e. she mentions her song "Vogue") and the whole book sounds very "American woman trying to be British." You'll understand if you read it.
As an adult, I find all this distracting. However, for a child, this would probably be a decent story book. The writing is far from great, but it's not bad either. A bit condescending maybe, but not bad. The illustrations are fabulous. However, the moral of the story is pretty cliche. "Don't judge people by their looks." Of course, you can't expect anything too deep from Madonna.
I guess I'd recommend getting this book... at the library. It's good, but not good enough to add to your home collection. Besides, enough people bought this book simply because Madonna wrote it -- the bookstores and publishers don't need anymore money for this mediocre piece of work. Like I said, hit the library for this one.
Rating:
Summary: Way to go Madonna
Review: I bought this book for a gift, but I read it before I placed it in the giftbox. I love the pictures but even better the story. I felt that this book is a great addition to any children library. The pictures are really beautiful and the message is one in which every child can relate to. I couldn't believe that such a great book was written by the "material girl". Way to go Madonna, and I can not wait to read the next books in her series.
Rating:
Summary: Much better than expected
Review: Having had a love/hate "relationship" with Madonna's work, I truly expected the worst from her first picture book effort. While not on the same level with Jamie Lee Curtis' works, this does capture the feel of young girls' friendship in a charming and engaging story. As a youth librarian, I would have no problem reccommending this book. However..wouldn't I have liked to see something just a tad more original; in real life (of which I wonder, does Madonna have a clue?), the beautiful ones are not the targets, ever. I watch this scenario play out every day: poor, homely, super smart girl (my daughter) with working mom (me)struggling to keep her in a private school. This is not the stuff of beautifully illustrated children's books though(and The English Roses is one of the most visually "pretty" to come out in a while).
Rating:
Summary: Just doesn't grab me :-(
Review: I am sorry to say that this story just doesn't do anything for me.
The illustrations are great and I believe make this book because there is very little content in the story.
Meant to be a modern fable, it just falls flat. I believe that Madonna tried to write it in a chatty, friendly style with a touch of humour but it just doesn't work. The idea is great, but the finished product comes across as awkward and patronizing.
I do look forward to reading further offerings from Madonna as her style may impove in time.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful
Review: I loved this book so much because there are many people in the world that pass judgement on others without knowing anything about their lives. If more people were like the little girls in this book and give someone a chance, then this world would be a nicer place to live. I can't wait for my daughter to be old enough to read this book to me and realize just how important it is to treat everyone the same and be nice to everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: madonna is a filthy skank
Review: spare the kiddies this ridiculous ho. which one of the roses was the illigitimate child of Mama Rose's choreographer? what about the morality tale of being a gap toothed scandalous no talent promiscous tramp? write a children's book on the life lessons on sleeping with an NBA team. What a loser.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!!I'm Truly Impressed!
Review: As a Elementary School Counselor, I was amazed at how well this book covers cliques and, as the native american proverb says, "walking a mile in anothers' mocassins." All the girls are acting petty and jealous over Binah, until they realize what a tough life Binah actually has. After they are visited by a fairy godmother, they repent their ugly, cliquish,gossipy ways and accept Binah for who she actually is. The story is wonderfully written and illustrated, and I plan on using it in classroom guidance!
Rating:
Summary: Ruined popular music? Let's move on to publishing!
Review: This book sounds like it was written by someone who speaks English as a third or fourth language. The attempt at cute, lyrical storytelling is stilted and wooden. "You think you know about the English Roses? No! I am going to tell you about them now." (Okay, that's not a real quote. I obviously wouldn't buy this book, so I don't have it here in front of me.) The story is thin and falls into a lot of cliche, lazy story development. The wise Mother tells the girls the lessons they need to hear because Madonna can't think of an interesting way for them to learn the lesson on their own. And since the Mom telling them the lesson isn't visually interesting enough, the girls have a collective dream reiterating the lesson so they can wake up much wiser. Then Madonna can't think of a way to end the book, so a random mouse appears and tells you it was the narrator all along. This book doesn't teach you the first thing about being a girl or how difficult it is to be hated/bullied by other girls. There are wonderful books for children out there. Why waste your money on this junk? This book is all about marketing. ...
Rating: 
Summary: pleaze we expect more
Review: this book is fundamentally rite on...but it lacks,,,,,,,yes shes beatiutiful and of course shes hated, of course her life is less than purfecto.........comon, we can project better, can't we? Bitter, alittle, Material gal, well, shes soundin' alotta lika ita.
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