Whoopi Says: Mind Your Manners
This story originally appeared in Children's Bookshelf on October 12, 2006 Sign up now!
by Jennifer M. Brown, Children's Bookshelf -- Publishers Weekly, 10/12/2006
 Illustrator Olo and author Whoopi Goldberg pose with their new picture book. |
Now, more than a decade later, comes a second book for children by the commedienne and actress: Whoopi’s Big Book of Manners, illustrated by Olo (Hyperion, Oct.). Only it’s not just for children, she says: “It seemed like parents needed it.” When asked why she decided to do a book of manners at this point in time, she explains, “Kids learn by what they see and hear. I knew parents would have to read [the book] to their kids. I think if we can remind parents how to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ and remind them of social skills, then they’ll pass it on to their kids.”
Perhaps Goldberg is on a mission of sorts. She currently hosts a national morning drive show carried by Clear Channel, called Wake Up with Whoopi. She says that in addition to the show being fun to do, “It’s really geared so that when you get into the car with your kids, you’re not ashamed of what you hear.” For this captive audience of mothers and children, she plans to eventually introduce a read-aloud component, because she believes that reading aloud teaches children to listen.
“The habit of listening is important,” Goldberg says. “There are a lot of things that we’ve let slide down the banister [as a society]. Listening is one. I teach children that when they’re talking, you’re listening, and when you’re talking, they’re listening. Reading is a good way to get them into that habit.”
