MADONNA READS TO 30 CHILDREN IN WESTWOOD BORDERS STORE

LOS ANGELES, December 9, 2003. For Immediate Release . . . Madonna made an exclusive West Coast appearance at Borders’ Westwood store in Los Angeles on Tuesday, December 9, at 4 p.m. and signed 250 copies of her children’s books to fans pre-selected through local radio station contests. Additionally, Madonna held an intimate storytime where she read her No. 1 best-selling book, Mr. Peabody’s Apples, to a select group of thirty children from the Community Magnet School who achieved placement in the school’s “Above and Beyond” program this week.

“Madonna’s children’s books have been top sellers at Borders throughout the fall, and we know our customers were thrilled at the opportunity to meet her in our Westwood store,” said Tami Heim, president of Borders. “Madonna has once again proven her versatility with these well-written stories that not only entertain, but teach children valuable life lessons.”

Mr. Peabody’s Apples, a story about the power of words and the importance of teachers, was released on November 10, 2003, and instantly debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times’ best-seller list. Madonna’s first book, The English Roses, was released on September 15, 2003, and also instantly debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times’ best-seller list. Both books have appeared in 37 languages and have been distributed in more than 110 countries worldwide.

“There is no precedent for two children’s books by the same author to climb to the top of The New York Times’ list in such quick succession,” said Nicholas Callaway, president of Callaway Arts & Entertainment and publisher of Madonna’s children’s books. “This represents a first in publishing history.”

The English Roses and Mr. Peabody’s Apples are the first two books in a series of five that Madonna has written. The third book is scheduled to be released in spring 2004.

Both of Madonna’s children’s titles will be prominently featured in Borders stores nationwide during the month of December. On Saturday, December 13, select Borders stores nationwide will host Storytime With Madonna Day, broadcasting footage of Madonna reading Mr. Peabody’s Apples to 500 schoolchildren via in-store video.

In addition, Callaway Arts & Entertainment, Scholastic Inc., Penguin Group (USA), and Sappi Fine Paper have joined forces with Madonna to produce a special soft-cover Teachers’ Edition of the book that is being distributed this week to 100,000 schoolteachers and principals nationwide through Scholastic’s network of school Book Fairs and Book Clubs.

Appearing at the Scholastic Book Fair at Montclair Kimberley Academy in Montclair, New Jersey, on November 11, 2003, Madonna said, “It’s an honor . . . to be a part of the world of books and reading, which means so much to me.”

Barbara Marcus, president of Scholastic Inc., says, “We would like to thank Madonna for writing a book that can inspire teachers.”