American Libraries

Loriene Roy: Thank you all for coming today. My name is Loriene Roy. I'm president of the American Library Association. We are so thrilled that Miss Curtis has taken time from her busy schedule to be here today. I'm a big fan of your work, wherever you are. And I’m sure that after today's reading, you'll have many more fans. Service to children is at the heart of what libraries do. Wherever you are, would you like to begin? (Applause)

Jamie Lee Curtis: Before I get to the reason why I'm here—just to warm up the room a little—I have one thing to ask, "How old is the baby? Is it a two-month-old baby, four-month-old, six-month-old? How old is the baby? Two months.” (Mimicking crying baby, applause) Okay, this book is called Big Words for Little People and it's written by me, Jamie Lee Curtis. And it is illustrated my partner, Laura Cornell. “I know some big words, I'll teach them to you. Although you are small, you can use big words, too. Big words aren't scary, they're big fun to learn. I was taught once and now it's your turn. When Mommy can’t fasten the brand new car seat and the twins don't like what they got to eat, this is impossible mom says to us, ‘Please, we can't leave for school until you help find the keys.’ But many things are too old for you that lots of your friends may still get to do. Inappropriate is the word our mom picks if you want to watch PG-13 when you're six.”

Audience Member: What about rated T?

Jamie Lee Curtis: You don't play M games, do you?

Audience Member: My brother does.

Jamie Lee Curtis: How old is your brother? Eleven? Inappropriate! (Laughter) “See? Big words are easy and how well you've done. Now go on off and have some really big fun. And next time a grownup thinks you don't have sense, show them with big words your intelligence.” I never thought I'd write a book in my life—barely got out of high school. And my daughter was four years old. And my daughter Annie walked into my room and went, "When I was two and a half, I used a diaper. Now I use a potty." I looked at her and it made me laugh. She just walked out of the room. And I wrote down—I remember where I was sitting¬—and I wrote down, “When I was two and a half: A four-year-old's memoir of her youth.” And at the end of it I went, “Oh, this is a book for children. Oh, wow.”

And I think actors, as I explained to kids, we're responsible for taking the wrap and and the kudos for other people's ideas. When you tell me you loved A Fish Called Wanda, I didn't write it, I didn't create it, I didn't dress myself. I basically showed up and read the words that you all loved and you say to me: "I loved you in A Fish Called Wanda." But I don't feel particularly good about that. I like it, it's better than saying I didn't like it. But ultimately I'm not going home that night going, "I'm good, I'm good, I’m a really good person." You don't build self-esteem because other people tell you you're good. You build self esteem because you build it on building blocks of doing things for other people, doing things that are hard for you, persevering, trying, all of those things. Acting—I'm a ham. It's a great book.