Madonna to pen 5 children’s books

She’s done music, film and an explicit sex book. Now Madonna is branching out into children’s books, signing a publishing deal with Penguin to write five titles.

Her first book, The English Roses, will be published in September, based on the adventures of a red fox and a little prince, Penguin said on Monday. The children’s books are a stark contrast to the pop queen’s previous publishing effort, Sex, which featured X-rated nude poses of the star and became a bestseller in the early 1990s.

However, the 44-year-old mother of two has attempted to tone down her risque image since her marriage to 34-year-old film maker Guy Ritchie, the father of her son Rocco.

Penguin did not reveal how much it was paying Madonna to write the books, which will be pitched at children of six and over. Each book will feature illustrations by a well-known artist, said the publisher, part of media group Pearson.