Conversation | 11/25/2008 10:00 am

Whoopi Goldberg Talks Exclusively to Liz Smith About Her New Children's Book

Liz Smith caught up with Whoopi Goldberg to talk about the inspiration behind Sugar Plum Ballerinas, the Google effect and much more

With Liz Smith and Whoopi Goldberg

WHOOPI: It’s a huge thing. They are smarter in that if they have a question, they don’t need you to answer it. They can go to Google. But they lose out because they don’t know how to use a library. They don’t have the social skills to go up to a librarian and say, "This is what I’m looking for." It becomes insulating. It becomes a very singular thing. So, they don’t learn the other skills that come with learning, you know. They’re able to get everything and they don’t have any practical understanding of it because there’s no conversation about it. It’s just an answer.

So they don’t learn as practically as we had to. OK, you could ask this question, this question and this question. And if you started to ask this question, it was a little dicey. And you learned how to read people. You learned how to read when you were going too far, because your parents told you. Well, you don’t have that here, you know. And so they’ll never come to you and say, "What do you think of …" They won’t say that to you. So they’ll carry Wikipedia in their heads.

WHOOPI: It's funny because we wrote this before Barack was elected and we've got a child who's half and half.

LIZ: Well, I’ve already asked you if ballet is a desirable career. But is show business a desirable career for a kid?

WHOOPI: I think for kids who want it. And they know early.

LIZ: They do?

WHOOPI: Yeah. They do.

LIZ: Did you know?

WHOOPI: I knew instantly. I knew the moment I saw light from the great beyond.

LIZ: Do children, in your estimation, do they get this book? There’s a lot of comedy in this, human comedy. Do they get comedy?

WHOOPI: Kids? Oh, yeah. We have kids’ humor.

LIZ: I particularly liked the little girl in this book who speaks everything backwards. She is great. That’s a great character.

WHOOPI: Yes. They’re all great. They all have something about them, you know. It’s funny because we wrote this before Barack was elected and we’ve got a child who’s half and half.

LIZ: And one of the children is Latin. Latino. Yeah, it’s great. Well, you know, in spite of my expressed reservations for brief career … too brief, as you say, everything is too short. I know that ballet teaches grace and all kinds of other things – how to stand up straight and …

WHOOPI: And discipline.

LIZ: That’s right. Discipline especially. How do you write? Do you write by hand or do you write on a computer or what?

35 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

I wish I had grandkids to buy this for! it sounds great. Whoopi discussing that parents are pushing their kids and living vicariously through them… that discussion is something my husband and I have a lot. Now that our kids are grown we can see how we did that at times and we can see how it’s even worse now for this generation. I mean…. come on… all those SUV’s with their kids names and numbers of their jersey on them like they were some kind of sports star??? waht’s that about? and it’s become some kind of badge of honor for mothers especially to live their lives around their kids sports or talents? I think it’s actually very self centered of these adults. It’s martyring themselves and making it about them and they can’t see it. And lastly i wanted to comment on Whoopi’s comment about kids and google and libraries and what it’s doing to their social skills…. My 21 year old was signing up for school (on line of course) and ran into a road blocks. A couple days later I said “hows such and such going?”. She informed me that she hadn’t been able to do it because she couldnt find the link online. I said “call the school” and the look on her face was utter shock. The thought that she’d make a PHONE CALL to do something instead of click a link… had never even OCURRED to her… I see that in some form with my kids every day. including with my 26 year old looking for work. Back in the day we walked in somewhere, asked for a manager, asked if htey were hiring… now days if htey can’t just apply on line and get a job they are lost!

By Chrome Toe on 11/25/2008 9:04 am

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Kelly, maybe you could buy the book to donate to a local school library in memory or honor of someone. I would suggest an elementary school which might benefit from some cultural diversity, I enjoy writing,and friends often say I should write a children’s book. I’m not sure why adults assume writing for children is somehow a talent we all possess, but personally capturing the imagination of children, touching and/or entertaining them in some way seems particularly challenging to me. Brava, Whoopi! I will place a copy of your book in our local elementary school library in your honor. The parents will flip as I am sure you have a huge audience of’View’ watchers here. Peace and grace

By beth willis on 11/26/2008 6:12 pm

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I will buy this book for my girls who are 9 and 12. They each take 6 hours of dance lessons weekly (because they want to). The problems that most parents face are the cost of dance lessons, they are very expensive (including costumes) and the time it takes to get children back and forth to their lessons. With the amount of single parent homes dance and music lessons become a luxury that many parents cannot afford. My wife is a homemaker and I work from home, this allows us to give the attention to our children. There must be a way to help other parents and children. Perhaps some money should be provided to those parents who want to give their children dance and music lessons. This will not be done because it involves women and girls who do not even have equal rights in our country. The men have control over the money and it is unlikely that they will provide money for dance lessons.

By brad berger on 11/25/2008 9:21 am

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Brad: I’m sure both your daughters came up to you one day and said they’d like to take six hours of dance lessons a week. You’re giving too much attention to your children. You’re pushing them. They need to grow up on their own. You and your wife are the nucleus of the family. Be good examples for them without smothering them. Your children will grow up to be good women as long as you teach them a few valuable lessons. 1. Always say please and thank you. 2. There are only two kinds of people in this world. The kind that behave and the kind that misbehave. 3. The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary. You mentioned that women do not have equal rights. First, you’re wrong. Second, Don’t teach that to your daughters. You mention other peoples problems as if everything is based on money. Its not. Some of best dancers never took a lesson in their lives. When Jimi Hendrix was alive, he was considered the greatest guitar player in the world. He never took a lesson. You also mentioned single mothers as if you’re an expert. Why don’t you and your daughters help raise money for children that would like to learn the arts. You also mentioned how men have control over the money. Where do you live? Your kids are too young for 6 hours of dance classes a week. Here is an article you should read. http://hubpages.com/hub/Overworked-Children-and-Their-Parents

By Frank Marks on 11/25/2008 1:24 pm

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Frank we can agree to disagree and we do disagree.

By brad berger on 11/25/2008 2:08 pm

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Brad, I congratulate you on being an involved father and guiding your children into something that will give them self-esteem and self-discipline that will remain with them for life. Six hours a week, especially today with physical education classes cut, and most kids stuck in front of a computer screen or TV, is definitely not too much. My son at that age had a paper route, was in scouts, trained as an equestrienne, ran a gardening service in our immediate neighborhood. He charge homeowners $20 a week and paid his two friends $5 each a year, he also worked with them….so his ‘profit’ was $5 a yard. He was an excellent student, went on to one year of HS in France, speaks 4-5 languages, and completed grad school in Paris at age 23. Again, I commend you for being a wise and involved parent. Although I was too tall for ballet (I’m 5’9”) it is excellent to know and study….also stress relieving. As Bogart said of Audrey Hepburn when they starred in ‘Sabrina’ together “All those ballet broads are disciplined.” Audrey Hepburn, btw, when she was a child in occupied Holland during WWII taught other children ballet and put on shows to raise a little money for the resistance. She lived not far from Anne Frank and said she experienced so many of those things too….family members taken out and shot, stravation, cold, being forced onto a busline to a work camp that she narrowly escaped by running when the armed guard turned his back. But her ballet was a release. And when the war was over that ability got her her first small audition/part and of course she used that skill in films like “Funny Face” as in dancing in this scene with Fred Astaire that was a dream of her life. Imagine if she’d not taken ballet when she was your girls ages……all that would have been lost to the world. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp-MTdE0MBo And here she is dancing to “How to be Lovely” with Kay Thompson the creator of “Eloise” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YOeFBSVhu8&feature=related And from the same film her athletic dance that became a modern Gap Commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Di5XPllM18&feature=related Again, Brad….cheers to you!

By Delete This on 11/25/2008 3:00 pm

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Thank you for your kind comments, we were neighbors for 8 years when I lived in Rancho Santa Fe and ate VJ Donuts and watched the surfers. Have a great Thanksgiving, we try.

By brad berger on 11/25/2008 3:59 pm

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Carmel: Your son trained as an equine because he’s a rich kid. Whats he doing now? You really believe six hours of dance classes a week for a nine year old is fine? PE in school hasn’t gone anywhere. What kid doesn’t cut grass or shovel snow to make a few bucks? The only stress that Brads kids have are parents that won’t leave them alone.

By Frank Marks on 11/28/2008 2:45 am

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Brad: You can disagree with me all you want. You and your wife, or just one of you push your kids to do something you want them to do. After awhile they’ve become immune to the dance lessons. They know who feeds them. Let them have a life, not yours. I do agree it is good that you’re involved with them. Drop them off at class, then pick them up afterwards, kids hate when their parents watch them practice.

By Frank Marks on 11/28/2008 2:35 am

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Frank I am telling you the truth I would love to stop these dance lessons tomorrow they cost a small fortune you even have to buy the trophies if they win a competition. There is absolutely nothing in dance for me other than the pleasure of seeing my children happy. I do not watch them practice, I am not a big dance person. You assume too many facts and then make your conclusions based on your own wrong assumptions. My life is not dance.

By brad berger on 11/28/2008 8:40 am

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I have faith in the power of women to get the ERA amendment passed. Let the women who own this web site and this web site www.wowowow.com become the voice for the ERA amendment. Other powerful women should join in as well. In the 30 years since the last attempt many things have changed and now there is a Democrat President and Congress and they all preach equal rights. The amendment should start from the beginning since the old amendment if ratified now will only bring lawsuits. Don’t worry about the opposition and this shouldn’t be a name calling contest. Since women now serve in combat there are very few excuses for not having the amendment. Men wouldn’t want to be drafted either and there is no draft. Let this country show the world that we believe in democracy for women and men and they both have equal rights. There is no better time than now and women should concentrate on the passage and not concentrate on the negative past. This is a new day in America and all people should have equal rights and opportunities under the laws. Women have to start this and then the men will join in. There can be no stopping women in 2009. There should be a group of very prominent women quickly and quietly organized to announce an immediate effort in January to get the ERA amendment passed. Today, as opposed to 1980, there are many women with the money who are able to mount this campaign whether they are actresses, politicians, corporate heads or other wealthy women. Where are the elected women in congress hiding and why don’t they bring on this amendment? Hello!!?? There should be full page ads taken out in newspapers and on radio and television a few weeks before the inauguration along with other publicity making all women aware of the need for the amendment and telling the President and Congress to make this a first priority since the majority of the country - women - have second class status. How can this country or a Secretary of State Rice or Clinton preach and call for women’s rights when women in America are not equal to men. Women should rise up to challenge the new congress to immediately pass the amendment or else. Or else those who do not vote to pass it will be challenged by women candidates in the congressional and senate elections in 2 years. As a man I doubt these male politicians have the nerve to not vote for passage (unless they plan to retire). The next step are the states, where Governors and state legislature representatives should also be challenged to ratify the amendment quickly or else. Or else many of these people will face challenges from women in 2009 state elections and the 2010 elections. The women in Congress must join in and take a leading role, Democrats, Republicans, liberals and conservatives, we are talking about human rights. Women have to convince other women that the time is now. I believe that with a surge of effort and publicity coupled with a sound plan and leadership the amendment can be passed by Congress by March 1, 2009 and ratified by the states before summer or at the latest before the 2009 state nominations and elections. Black and white women elected President Obama and the women in Congress. There is a time for everything under heaven and now is the time to see if these elected officials believe in equality for women as well as men.

By brad berger on 11/25/2008 6:46 pm

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Frank Marks, I’m not going to be as polite as Brad………..I want to ask you a question………..who do you think you are to tell another man how to raise his daughters? You know nothing about them except the fact that Brad said they took 6 hours of dance a week…………….my gosh that’s just a tiny bit over an hour a day. Would you rather they be sitting in front of a TV? What do you think they are made of………..puffy cotton? My gosh when I was that age I was outside jumping……….running………..climbing trees, play dancing, putting on plays So much physical activity……….. Children are certainly capable of 6 hours a week of good dancing. They will be healthy………disciplined……….and further more it’s none of your business. Now you have my 2 cents worth………..that’s what it’s probably worth to a man like you.

By Dona Howlett on 11/27/2008 12:49 am

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Thank you Donna - you are correct and children who are on school teams usually spend 2-3 hours of after school time practicing. Yes my girls did ask for the lessons. I pride myself on my parenting and have written a book to help teenagers “AIM HIGH! 101 Tips For Teens.” The wonderful Liz Smith - I say this with great respect - who has done more than anyone else I know over the last 30 -40 to encourage literacy and reading has been kind enough to give “AIM HIGH!” a special review in the Book section of this web site. “AIM HIGH!” is only sold on amazon.com but I hope that one day a corporation or foundation will distribute it to every 7th grader. Thank you to all the members of wowowow.com who have purchased the book for teenagers. Peace and love to all this holiday season.

By brad berger on 11/27/2008 7:19 am

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Dona: I didn’t bad mouth you, or call you a name. A man like me. Lets take this from the top. Brad said his two daughters 9 and 12 take 6 hours of dance classes a week. Lets understand that is after all their homework is completed, and they’ve had dinner. Maybe they go before homework and dinner? Maybe they take 6 hours on Saturday? Of course what parent would make their kids waste their whole day off for dance classes? You answered my question when you said you jumped…ran…climbed trees all day. That what he should let his kids do, be kids. It is my business, I don’t like seeing these young girls that look like they’re 20 years old with make up on dancing and competeing in pageants because mom and dad said so. Your opinion was not worth two cents to me, it meant nothing.

By Frank Marks on 11/28/2008 3:01 am

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Frank, My opinion must have meant something to you…………otherwise why did you respond. You could have just ignored my comments. I don’t think I read anything about his children competing in pageants……or making themselves up to look like they are 20 years old……(If that had been the subject of discussion I would be inclined to agree with you). It wasn’t. It was about 2 little girls taking lessons for 6 hours a week. If you had approached his comments about his children in a generalized conversation that would be one thing. But you choose to personally attack him with very little information to base your comments on. When my two sons (many years ago) were in High School they both swam on the Swim Team. They also played Water Polo. They spent app. 15 hours a week in the swimming pool for practice sessions plus many hours for swim meets. . Children who participate in sports and other activites spend many hours a week in their individual tasks. I just found it very strange that anyone would attack a parent when they are sharing the activites of their children with other people on this site.

By Dona Howlett on 11/28/2008 5:12 am