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Five Books for Children #5
Lotsa de Casha
Money can't buy love and being the wealthiest person in the world doesn't guarantee happiness. Lotsa de Casha is the richest -- and most miserable -- man in the world. No matter how colossal his castles, how fast his horses, nor how big his sandwiches, he remains a gloomy old sourpuss -- until he embarks on a fantastic adventure that leads him to the discovery of life's greatest treasure... What is the secret to happiness? Read Lotsa's story and find out....
48 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Madonna
174 books321 followersMadonna Louise Ciccone is an American pop singer-songwriter. Through her music career, she has also gained some notability as a dancer, record producer, film producer, actress, author and a fashion icon. She is a multiple Grammy- and Golden Globe-award winner, known for her ambitious music videos, stage performances and use of sexual and religious themes in her work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 13, 2020
Once upon a time, there was a very excellent singer who became very famous and wealthy. But instead of feeling lucky that she had made it to the acme of celebrity, she began to resent that people thought she was just a musician without class or erudition.
So, making the frequent mistake that anyone could write a good children’s book, she wrote a book called Lotsa de Casha, a slim book with the painfully obvious message that money cannot buy happiness. How painfully obvious? The fabulously wealthy and miserable protagonist is actually named Lotsa de Casha! The prose is just as predictable as the ham-handed title. And what’s with giving the greyhound main character an on-again, off-again exaggerated Italian pronunciation of English, à la Chico Marx? Really off-putting and kind of bigoted.
For whom is that book written? Not children, as the prose is too elevated for them. Not discerning adults who will be put off by the clumsy title and the dreadful writing (if they get as far as opening the book). No, it is written for zealous fans who do not give a fig about class, erudition or writing talent.
So there are two lessons here: Money cannot buy happiness, and celebrity cannot buy literary talent. Not even a little. The end.
P.S. — That’s too bad because the illustrations by artist Rui Paes prove as delicate as Meissen china and as breath-taking as a Jean-Honoré Fragonard painting. I would give him five stars; as it is, both of the stars in this review are for him alone.
So, making the frequent mistake that anyone could write a good children’s book, she wrote a book called Lotsa de Casha, a slim book with the painfully obvious message that money cannot buy happiness. How painfully obvious? The fabulously wealthy and miserable protagonist is actually named Lotsa de Casha! The prose is just as predictable as the ham-handed title. And what’s with giving the greyhound main character an on-again, off-again exaggerated Italian pronunciation of English, à la Chico Marx? Really off-putting and kind of bigoted.
For whom is that book written? Not children, as the prose is too elevated for them. Not discerning adults who will be put off by the clumsy title and the dreadful writing (if they get as far as opening the book). No, it is written for zealous fans who do not give a fig about class, erudition or writing talent.
So there are two lessons here: Money cannot buy happiness, and celebrity cannot buy literary talent. Not even a little. The end.
P.S. — That’s too bad because the illustrations by artist Rui Paes prove as delicate as Meissen china and as breath-taking as a Jean-Honoré Fragonard painting. I would give him five stars; as it is, both of the stars in this review are for him alone.
August 30, 2017
schönes Kinderbuch von erzieherischem Wert
July 14, 2019
Minu arvamuse leiab blogist https://triinuraamatud.wordpress.com/...
September 27, 2023
"Enougha is enougha. I can'ta take it any more!"
So... I gave up reading on page 10, halfway after reading the above sentence.
Starting from this page, at the bottom apart from the usual narrative we also have FACTS about riches.
FACT NUMBER 1 for example teaches us that just because sth is expensive, it doesn't mean it is worth it. I would like to add my own FACT NUMBER 1 - just because the celebrity wrote it - it doesn't mean it's good. Just because someone knows how to sing - it doesn't mean they are good at everything, in this case - writing picture books.
FACT NUMBER 2 - the title is cringeworthy
FACT NUMBER 3 - the writing is pretty bad ((Lotsa de Casha? enougha? can'ta? what'sa thisa?)
FACT NUMBER 3 - the illustrations are amazing, done in medieval style, but although I don't mind anthropomorphized animals in general, it doesn't work for this story. The illustrations are like serious paintings, with very realistic human bodies and hands but animal heads: dog heads, squirrel and hare heads, cow heads etc and it just looks bizarre. And the writing is in a totally different style and so all this creates discord for me.
It is not a picture book, it's a long storybook. 48 pages with a lot of text. It ends with a moral aka FACT NUMBER 6 - "When you learn to share, you will not only find happiness. You will also find a friend."
FUN FACT - Madonna doesn't like anybody else's name on the cover apart from her own, so the illustrator is only credited on the flap and the copyright belongs to Madonna, not how it is usually done in traditional publishing. I hope the illustrator got enough money upfront as it looks like he isn't going to get any royalties from book sales. This fun fact was actually mentioned in Wild Things! Acts of Mischief in Children's Literature that's why I decided to check if it's true, and it is, for this book anyway.
And thata is alla, my friends.
So... I gave up reading on page 10, halfway after reading the above sentence.
Starting from this page, at the bottom apart from the usual narrative we also have FACTS about riches.
FACT NUMBER 1 for example teaches us that just because sth is expensive, it doesn't mean it is worth it. I would like to add my own FACT NUMBER 1 - just because the celebrity wrote it - it doesn't mean it's good. Just because someone knows how to sing - it doesn't mean they are good at everything, in this case - writing picture books.
FACT NUMBER 2 - the title is cringeworthy
FACT NUMBER 3 - the writing is pretty bad ((Lotsa de Casha? enougha? can'ta? what'sa thisa?)
FACT NUMBER 3 - the illustrations are amazing, done in medieval style, but although I don't mind anthropomorphized animals in general, it doesn't work for this story. The illustrations are like serious paintings, with very realistic human bodies and hands but animal heads: dog heads, squirrel and hare heads, cow heads etc and it just looks bizarre. And the writing is in a totally different style and so all this creates discord for me.
It is not a picture book, it's a long storybook. 48 pages with a lot of text. It ends with a moral aka FACT NUMBER 6 - "When you learn to share, you will not only find happiness. You will also find a friend."
FUN FACT - Madonna doesn't like anybody else's name on the cover apart from her own, so the illustrator is only credited on the flap and the copyright belongs to Madonna, not how it is usually done in traditional publishing. I hope the illustrator got enough money upfront as it looks like he isn't going to get any royalties from book sales. This fun fact was actually mentioned in Wild Things! Acts of Mischief in Children's Literature that's why I decided to check if it's true, and it is, for this book anyway.
And thata is alla, my friends.
November 20, 2023
Written by Madonna and Illustrated by Rui Paes, Lotsa de Casha is a fictional picture book that tells the story of its titular character, a wealthy but selfish dog looking to find the secret to true happiness. The targeted reading age of this book is ages 8-10. After getting attacked by thieves, Lotsa is saved by a kind stranger who aids him on his long journey to get home. Throughout this adventure, Lotsa learns valuable lessons about the importance of generosity and giving back to others, and ultimately realizes that the key to happiness is a life rich with kindness and love. I don’t think the story itself is unique, but I still think the message is important to instill in young readers to teach them about generosity. This is actually such a basic moral tale, with simple prose, that I think this book is more suitable to 6 or 7 year olds. What really stands out to me in this book are the illustrations. Rui Paes does an extremely good job of creating illustrations that enhance the storytelling. Paes uses a very whimsical and highly detailed style that perfectly captures the luxurious lifestyle Lotsa has at the beginning, using decorative elements like fancy frames to create a sense of opulence, like these are all paintings that could be hanging in Lotsa’s mansion. I also think the illustrations are well suited for the intended audience of children, with Pae’s use of bold primary colors like Lotsa’s red boots or the bright blue sky keeping young readers’ attentions on the page. The detailed and decorative illustrations captivate and stimulate their eyes and brains.
December 30, 2016
Everything about this book is incredibly strange. The illustrations are, I suppose, really well done, but so effing creepy. Why is the main character a buff, romance-novel-cover guy with a greyhound head? Why do the trees on page 38-39 have such terrifying faces creepily watching weird people-animals dancing and why does one look like it's getting to third base with another tree? The story itself is supposed to illustrate a good point, but it takes FOREVER to get there and it's so in-your-face that it really could have been over in a few pages. But instead Madonna draws it out to a million pages of creepish nonsense. Also it's vaguely racist? Why does the main character have a stereotypical Italian accent on some words but not on others? I feel weird now. I assume this was what she intended.
July 8, 2018
Ainda que talvez um pouco simplistas ou inverosímeis as mensagens que estas histórias de Madonna tentam transmitir , a verdade é que acabamos por gostar muito de as ler. Eu pelo menos, gostei! Ainda para mais, com ilutrações belíssimas que acompanham muito bem a história (e que, neste livro em específico, foram feitas por um pintor português, nascido em Moçambique, radicado em Inglaterra).
February 29, 2020
No one in my class had any clue who Madonna was. I left that alone.
I found this story a little strange. The pictures were elaborate and over the top and the story was quite drawn out. My class seemed to quite enjoy it. They listened quite intently and in the end, caught the play on words.
I found this story a little strange. The pictures were elaborate and over the top and the story was quite drawn out. My class seemed to quite enjoy it. They listened quite intently and in the end, caught the play on words.
October 8, 2017
This is such an enjoyable that children will love to hear.
This book is good to talk about morals and provides the opportunity for lots of questioning.
This book is good to talk about morals and provides the opportunity for lots of questioning.
May 24, 2018
Money can't buy happiness
December 3, 2018
Livro bastante divertido e adoravelmente ilustrado.
Tem uma excelente mensagem para os mais pequenos.
Tem uma excelente mensagem para os mais pequenos.
November 2, 2019
If you share what you have and put others before you you will find happiness
I loved that it was written in a way to force you to speak in an Italian accent when reading it aloud.
I loved that it was written in a way to force you to speak in an Italian accent when reading it aloud.
November 29, 2019
Amazing
September 19, 2021
Ñeeee pretty bad tbh I love Madonna but this was pretty bad LMAO. I love the English Roses books but maybe they were as bad and I just loved them because I was a child and they had pretty drawings.
February 4, 2022
The illustrations are gorgeous!
September 23, 2016
Like other of Madonna's books, it's beautifully illustrated. The story is nice and as always there is a strong lesson behind, but I find it a bit 'forced', a good story with a good moral does not need to be so explicit. I would still read it to children but it's not my favourite one of hers.
February 24, 2009
In her fifth book, Madonna touches on a very important lesson.
Lotsa de Casha is a very wealthy man, yet he is very unhappy. He sets off on a journey to lean what would make him happy, since he was unable to purchase it on his own. Throughout the story, he is told how to be happy, but he ignores it. After a series of event, he is left penniless. He is aided by Mr. Forfilla with a ride back to his castle under the condition that he helped him along the way with his deliveries. The journey back home helped Lotsa to see the error of his ways and be happy.
I love the way Madonna takes a very important subject and relates it in such a way as to be understood by both children and adults alike.
Lotsa de Casha is a very wealthy man, yet he is very unhappy. He sets off on a journey to lean what would make him happy, since he was unable to purchase it on his own. Throughout the story, he is told how to be happy, but he ignores it. After a series of event, he is left penniless. He is aided by Mr. Forfilla with a ride back to his castle under the condition that he helped him along the way with his deliveries. The journey back home helped Lotsa to see the error of his ways and be happy.
I love the way Madonna takes a very important subject and relates it in such a way as to be understood by both children and adults alike.
June 28, 2015
It's cute. Just like all good fairytales geared toward a young audience, it had a very valuable lesson-- that all the money and riches in the world won't make you happy. Granted, it probably would be a more profound message had it not come from a multi-billionaire who I'm sure is enjoying 90% of her (deservedly earned) richess but then again, maybe she is just the credible source to deliver such a message-- maybe, she is speaking from personal experience which would make this her seem a bit more brave for speaking out and a little sad too.
Overall, the book was nicely written, the story was enjoyable to read and had a good lesson. The images were beautifully illustrated and gave the book a bit of a uniquely classic chic feel to it. It was cool.
Overall, the book was nicely written, the story was enjoyable to read and had a good lesson. The images were beautifully illustrated and gave the book a bit of a uniquely classic chic feel to it. It was cool.
November 20, 2016
Hypocritical tale from a millionaire celebrity who from my perspective has always put herself first.
Lotsa de Casha was always told “if he wanted to become rich and successful, he had to think about only one thing: himself!” He’s right, but the other characters tell him he’s wrong and to be nice and put others first. Listen kiddies if you do that and you want to get ahead, you will get stomped on, taken advantage of and looked over. You think that ever happened to Madonna? No, I think not.
Now that my bitterness has shown through, there are good lessons for kids on sharing, friendship, attitude, hard work and smiling. I would have loved this book and the fabulous illustrations as a little kid.
Lotsa de Casha was always told “if he wanted to become rich and successful, he had to think about only one thing: himself!” He’s right, but the other characters tell him he’s wrong and to be nice and put others first. Listen kiddies if you do that and you want to get ahead, you will get stomped on, taken advantage of and looked over. You think that ever happened to Madonna? No, I think not.
Now that my bitterness has shown through, there are good lessons for kids on sharing, friendship, attitude, hard work and smiling. I would have loved this book and the fabulous illustrations as a little kid.
July 16, 2007
My good friend Mr. J. Van Thiel once invited me and one of my best friends to his place for a day of movies, gossips and books. At the end of the day, he showed me this book written by Madonna, and made me read the whole story aloud. I couldn't stop laughing at Madonna's wit! She made Lotsa De Casha so real in its fantasy setting. Who would've thought that a girl who once burned a cross, had a wild and widely-publicized sex life and known for her pointy bustier could come up with very original stories for
children
?
April 22, 2014
The story is didactic, boring, and way too lengthy. The art is borderline sinister. Spend a second REALLY looking at it. Weird, sexy animals with human butts and limbs are never okay. There also appears to be a face in a tree performing fellatio on another tree on page 38.
And what is the deal with Lotsa de Casha's accent? Are we making fun of Italian immigrants with that wildly stereotypical garbage? Itsa crap.
And what is the deal with Lotsa de Casha's accent? Are we making fun of Italian immigrants with that wildly stereotypical garbage? Itsa crap.
September 25, 2016
I'm a little bit freaked out with the illustrations (Humans with animal head). But the story is very good. There are 6 fun facts about unhappy people. And then I'm realize, I'm one of them.
I can't believe a musician who sung a song titled Bitch I'm Madonna can write such a good story for both adults and children about respecting others and not all things can be bought with money
I can't believe a musician who sung a song titled Bitch I'm Madonna can write such a good story for both adults and children about respecting others and not all things can be bought with money
August 5, 2016
Dragged. Too simple-minded a protagonist as well. I know Madonna's no Hans Christian Andersen, but I'm stunned that with her resources she didn't bother to study his body of work. The best children's books are methodically crafted... she without doubt views them as vehicles for more cash and newer markets. You know... Madonna.
January 7, 2012
KARMA .. What goes around comes around!!
A tale full of facts and good messages for children.
"if you share what you have and put others before you, you will find happiness"
Nice illustrations suits the story just well!
A tale full of facts and good messages for children.
"if you share what you have and put others before you, you will find happiness"
Nice illustrations suits the story just well!
April 24, 2008
ok then, arrrrr
Shelved as 'will-never-read'
June 16, 2009It is painful just to look at the title of this book.
January 7, 2010
I absolutely love this children's book. The artwork is gorgeous. A great book for children and their parents!
September 5, 2010
All about where GREED gets you! Great lesson for children and adults. Loved the illustrations.
September 22, 2010
A cute story and, like Madonna's other books for children, a good message. I loved that it was written in a way to "force" you to speak in an Italian accent when reading out loud. Fun.
January 19, 2011
The artwork creeped me out a little. Why would a greyhound have human hands?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews