Lotsa de Casha facts for kids
Book cover with artwork by Rui Paes
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| Author | Madonna |
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| Illustrator | Rui Paes |
| Cover artist | Rui Paes |
| Country | United States |
| Subject | |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Callaway |
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Publication date
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June 7, 2005 |
| Media type |
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| Pages | 48 |
| ISBN | 978-0-670-05888-4 |
| OCLC | 58843456 |
| LC Class | PZ7.M26573 |
Lotsa de Casha is a picture book written by the famous American entertainer Madonna. It was released on June 7, 2005, by Callaway Arts & Entertainment. The book is a story for young readers, especially those aged six and up.
The main character is an Italian greyhound named Lotsa de Casha. He learns a very important lesson: "money can't buy happiness." Madonna used ideas from her own life when writing the story. She wanted to show how being kind and sharing is more important than having lots of things.
A Portuguese artist named Rui Paes drew all the pictures for the book. He was inspired by old art styles like Renaissance and Baroque painting. He also looked at the works of painter Caravaggio.
To celebrate the book's release, Callaway held a party in New York City. Madonna read the story aloud at the event. She also appeared on TV shows and gave interviews to magazines to promote the book. Lotsa de Casha became very popular, reaching number three on The New York Times Best Seller list. Book critics had mixed feelings about the story, but they really liked the beautiful illustrations.
What the Story is About
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a very rich merchant named Lotsa de Casha. He owned everything money could buy. However, Lotsa was still unhappy. He felt sad and empty inside.
Lotsa asked all the famous doctors in the land for advice. He wanted to know how to find happiness. But none of them could give him an answer. One day, his driver told him about a wise old man. This man lived far away in an ancient city.
Lotsa traveled to meet the wise man. The wise man told him that the secret to happiness was sharing his wealth. He said Lotsa needed to put other people's needs before his own. Lotsa was shocked. He had always put himself first. He didn't believe the wise man's words.
While exploring the ancient city, Lotsa saw a man struggling. The man was trying to change a car wheel by himself. But Lotsa didn't stop to help. He just kept walking. Soon, Lotsa got lost. Then, two thieves robbed him, taking all his money.
A very upset Lotsa cried for help. A passing driver stopped, and Lotsa realized it was the same man he had seen earlier. The man, who called himself Mister Forfilla, agreed to give Lotsa a ride home. But in return, Lotsa had to work for him.
During their journey, Forfilla asked Lotsa to deliver many things. These included chairs, tables, and clothing to different people's homes. Everyone who received a gift was very thankful. Forfilla explained the same thing as the wise man. He said that sharing his wealth was the true way to happiness.
One night, as he was driving the carriage, Lotsa had a chance to help someone else. He gave his blanket to a beggar who needed it. He finally put someone else's needs before his own. They eventually reached Lotsa's palace. Forfilla then told Lotsa that the palace used to be his home before Lotsa bought it. Lotsa, now a changed man, invited Forfilla inside for lunch.
How the Book Was Made
In 2003, Madonna signed a deal to write five children's books. She explained that each book would deal with problems all children face. She hoped the stories would help kids learn from tough situations.
Lotsa de Casha was the fifth and final book in this series. The characters in the book are animals. The main character, Lotsa de Casha, is an Italian greyhound. The story teaches that "money can't buy happiness." Madonna said the book shows we can all avoid being selfish. We can do good things for ourselves and for others. All the money made from the book's sales was given to charity.
Madonna felt that writing Lotsa de Casha was like telling a story about her own life. She said the story showed her journey from being known as a "material girl" to becoming a mother. Like Lotsa de Casha, she felt she had changed from being focused on money. Madonna realized that "material things won't bring you happiness." She believed that very rich people are often not happy. This is because they have too much and don't share it. Lotsa de Casha was dedicated to her husband at the time, Guy Ritchie, because he inspired her.
Art and Pictures
The beautiful writing in the book was done by Julian Waters. Toshiya Masuda was the art director, and Krupa Jhaveri designed the book. The pictures were drawn by Portuguese painter Rui Paes. He was chosen after Callaway saw one of his paintings in a magazine.
Paes kept the project a secret at first. Callaway sent him the story draft. Based on this, Paes drew some first sketches. Some of these were cartoon-like drawings of animals acting like humans. The publishers liked these ideas. So, the main characters were shown as animals in the book.
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Paes spent almost two years creating the illustrations. Most of the work was done in the last year. He worked 12–14 hours every day. Madonna worked closely with Paes. She gave him ideas for what to include in the book. She even suggested he travel to Siena and Rome for inspiration. She also sent him drawings made by her own children to use.
The artist studied Renaissance and Baroque painting for more ideas. He especially looked at the works of painter Caravaggio. Paes remembered that Madonna herself became the inspiration for the wise old man's wife in the story. The animal characters were given as many human qualities and feelings as possible. Their hand and body movements helped show their emotions. Paes removed two pictures from the final book because he felt they didn't fit.
See also
In Spanish: Lotsa de Casha para niños
