(CBS) We all know Madonna, the talented and often controversial entertainer.

But how many of us know her other sides? Madonna, the children's book author. Or Madonna, the — housewife.

She sat down with The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith in London last week and gave a rare glimpse into those other parts of her world, in the first of a two-part interview.

Tune in to The Early Show Monday to hear about a typical Madonna day, how she writes, what her children's books reveal, and which nickname leaves her cold.

"I get up in the morning with my kids, and that's really painful for me; my husband keeps me up late," Madonna reveals. "I'm with the kids, and then they go off to school, and I stay home and I become a sargeant in my house and go into my office and start going through the lists that have been made by my hardworking, diligent staff and start delegating responsibility. (I) spend several hours doing that, being a taskmaster, and then I do some kind of exercise. Is this boring?" she interrupts herself, asking interviewer Smith a question.

"No," answers Smith, "I had this vision of you padding around in housecoat and fuzzy slippers with a cup of tea."

"No," Madonna quips. "I drink very strong coffee, I have Chinese slippers, and I usually wear juicy tracksuits. Are you getting the picture? Hair messed up, grumpy expression on my face until I've had a cup of coffee."

But Madonna has found time to write four highly successful and insightful children's books, with a fifth on the way.

What does it do for her to write these books, Smith wondered. "It's another outlet for me to share my stories," Madonna answered. "I sit in front of the computer and stick my little statue, who's my writing muse, next to my computer and, OK, I'm going to write — and it comes. …It's a statue of a kneeling woman, but she has a really thoughtful expression on her face."

"A woman on her knees?" Smith interjects.

"Oh, God, don't read that into it," Madonna shoots back. …You had to go there, Harry."

"That's a Madonna response," Smith pointed out. "I was about to say that's about supplication, someone asking for some maybe even divine guidance."

"Yes," Madonna said. "That's what I do on a regular basis."

Smith told Madonna he felt that, by reading the children's books, he felt like he "had an insight into who's inside you."

"Probably," Madonna observed, "because there's more stillness in writing; with a book, you can hear me probably more clearly."

Madonna's first three children's books launched within one year of each other, and have sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide.

Callaway Books has released a boxed-set of her first three children's titles, "The English Rose," "Mr. Peabody's Apples," and "Yakov and the Seven Thieves."

The first of them, "The English Rose," was released simultaneously in 30 languages and over 100 countries in September, 2003. It became the biggest and fastest-selling book ever by a first time children's author.

It's about four 11-year-old girls who are best friends, but jealous of another girl in the neighborhood. "She's more aloof," as Madonna described her to Smith, "mysterious. …She seems like she has the perfect life. She's prettier, she seems like she's really good, so they decide to not include her in the group because she's too good at everything. A very common thing, I think with girls.

"The idea for the story came from my daughter. There was a clique of girls when she was in first grade, and the teacher called them the English roses. She told me that sometimes girls treated her different at school because I was her mother."

The four wind up getting a surprising lesson from a fairy godmother about the difference between appearance and reality.

"The English Rose" was quickly followed by "Mr. Peabody's Apples" in November, 2003.

It's a story of the power of words and the importance of teachers. The story takes place in 1949 in Happville, USA. Mr. Peabody, a beloved elementary school teacher and baseball coach, one day finds himself ostracized when rumors about him spread through the small town. Mr. Peabody silences the gossip with an unforgettable and poignant lesson about how we must choose our words carefully to avoid causing harm to others." The book is said to have been inspired by a story told to Madonna by her Kabbalah teacher. Kaballah is a form of Jewish mysticism.

"That's another story I think most people can relate to," Madonna said to Smith. "We all love to gossip, even really evolved people like me," she laughed, as did Smith. "The story's about having people stop and think every once in awhile about what they're going to say to someone and what this might do to someone," Madonna continued.

In June, 2004, "Yakov and the Seven Thieves" was released. According to Madonna, I'ts the story of how all of us have the ability to unlock the gates of Heaven, no matter how unworthy we think we are. For when we go against our selfish natures, we make miracles happen, in our lives and in the lives of others."

Last month marked the release of Madonna's fourth children's book, "The Aventures of Abdi." Like her other three, it was written for readers aged six and up.

"The Adventures of Abdi" is the story of a little boy who has been given a very big task: to deliver the most precious necklace in the world to the queen. Along the way he is robbed in the desert, thrown in a dungeon and has a surprising encounter with a snake. But no matter what obstacles he faces, Abdi never gives up hope, guided by the words of his teacher, Eli: "Everything that happens is for the best."

Madonna's fifth book, "Lotsa de Casha," is scheduled for release in June. It's the last in the five-book series. She's also coming out with an audio edition of all the books.

Madonna and Smith wrap up the first part of the interview with a discussion of how British newspapers came to call her "Madge," a nickname she dislikes. When it's pointed out to her that "Madge" could be short for, "Her Majesty," Madonna relents and says that might not be such a bad moniker, after all.

Tune in to The Early Show Tuesday for the second part of Smith's interview. They'll discuss Kaballah, and how it's helped her marriage.

Asked by fellow co-anchor Hannah Storm what surprised him about Madonna, Smith said, "So smart. So funny. Amazing sense of humor. And...We were
sitting there looking at the tape late Friday night, and I said, 'I am completely beguiled.' She charmed my socks off."

source: CBS

If you want to view the footage, go to www.cbs.com

Part 2 is on tomorrow

My thoughts: What did she do to her hair? She looks like she just crawled out of bed too, oh well.

I thought it was cute when she finally embraced the name "Madge" she hated for so long.

Also, i didn't want to start a new Madonna thread but there is talks about a 2006 summer tour. Keep glued to www.drownedmadonna.com for details.

my lord she looks horrid in that pic....

=

"I'm with the kids, and then they go off to school, and I stay home and I become a sargeant in my house and go into my office and start going through the lists that have been made by my hardworking, diligent staff and start delegating responsibility. (I) spend several hours doing that, being a taskmaster, and then I do some kind of exercise. One moment, please....CHRISTINA, BRING ME THE AXE!!!"

sosgemini said:

It doesn't seem like Madonna will be the next Susan Sarandon with respect to over-50 hotness.

Is her next image reinvention going to be "frumpy middle-aged hausfrau"?

Is her album coming out in 2005?

Do you think she has another hit in her?

What do you think about her alliance with Britney nary-a-thought Spears?

I heard her children's books are poorly written and lousy.

Still waiting for "Truth or Dare II".

Is that picture unflattering?

Are her and Guy getting divorced?

VoicesCarry said:

Oh go masturbate to damita jo

jayaredee said:

You already said she wasn't looking too hot here. I thought that was the all-clear to make honest comments about Madonna.

CynicKill said:

1. Yes
2. Potentially, if Cher could do it at 51 Madonna could do it at 70
3. I didn't like it that much, but the video was neat
4. At least the profits go towards sick children and not in her purse
5 April, along with the dvd of reinvention
6. She's 46, what do you want
7. Not to my knowedge

VoicesCarry said:

But you dissed her re-invention persona, that's like taking a dagger to Madonna
[Edited 12/20/04 12:17pm]

jayaredee said:

I'm sorry I'm unaware of The Covenant Of Madonna. Are the rules posted anywhere?

jayaredee said:

sosgemini said:

sosgemini said:

What are you trying to prove

jayaredee said:

that you can age gracefully and still be beautiful and styled...

and dont give me this, "oh but she has her mother hat on today" bullshit...

woman, your gonna be on tv? put on your face!!!

and wash your damn hair!! Fiona Apple you are not!!

sosgemini said:

I think it's cruel of you to judge people on their looks, it's not like she's had needles shoved in her face like Cher and Janet. Not everyone can meet society's view of beauty you know. I think you should learn to look deeper and realize that you won't be young forever.
Some people age better than others

I give Madge props on her stance concerning her re-invention persona in which, during 20/20, she said people always never took it seriously yet she said it's a lot of work, which I agree with. It kinda amazes me (cowboy chic aside) that she can do it over and over again. Christina Aguliera is trying to be the next one but so far she's a pretender to the throne. Mistake number one is that she doesn't seem to have a theme. She changed TOO often, though it seems she has learned something from the master with her new "Hollywood glamour" phase. Apparently she wants it to be the theme of her next project.

jayaredee said:

You are really trying your best to turn this into another Janet Vs. Madonna thread, aren't you?

jayaredee said:

if you make your living by selling your mug the best you can do is make it presentable...its not a matter of societies perception of beauty....its called a facial scrub.

VoicesCarry said:

No im just pointing out some facts. I also mentioned Cher
And if you want i'll mention Michael Jackson and Joan Rivers for the record

I have nothing against plastic surgery, accept when we start giving those people props and Madonna the thumbs down because she doesn't use it.

sosgemini said:

Ummmm she's not wearing any make up, stop trying to say she doesn't wash.

So was this on today? Will there be a rerun?

Madonna could come into an interview with her hair all over the place and in her pajamas and she would still be able to sell out a tour

GangstaFam said:

No but you can watch it on the cbs website

Part 2 is on tomorrow

jayaredee said:

and we would still be saying she looks hagard in that there pic up there...

sosgemini said:

But it shows how irrelevant her age is to her performing.