Material girl shuns money

Madonna's next children's book will be called Lotsa de Casha, and its moral will be how wealth is overrated.

The pop star and multi-millionaire is to release the new illustrated novel next summer. In the style of Aesop's Fables, it will centre on Lotsa de Casha, the richest creature in the world.

The singer's publisher, Nicholas Callaway, said: "All the characters in the book will be animals and Lotsa de Casha is an Italian greyhound who has all the money in the world but no happiness. He thinks only of himself."

Madonna is currently engaged in a publicity drive for her current children's book - her fourth - called The Adventures of Abdi.