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Big Words for Little People: A Funny Picture Book About Vocabulary and Family for Kids
“A gracefully appropriate addition to the duo’s superb collection.” —Kirkus
The eighth hilarious picture book by the #1 New York Times bestselling team of Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell helps little people communicate in a big person's world.
With grown-up words like cooperate, respect, patience, and considerate, a large, boisterous family celebrates the power of language and discovers that words—big or little—are the bridge that connects us all.
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.
The eighth hilarious picture book by the #1 New York Times bestselling team of Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell helps little people communicate in a big person's world.
With grown-up words like cooperate, respect, patience, and considerate, a large, boisterous family celebrates the power of language and discovers that words—big or little—are the bridge that connects us all.
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.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 9, 2008
8 people are currently reading
384 people want to read
About the author
Jamie Lee Curtis
55 books219 followersJamie Lee Curtis is a two-time Golden Globe-winning, BAFTA-winning, and Emmy-nominated American film actress and an author of children's books. Although she was initially known as a "scream queen" because of her starring roles in many horror films early in her career such as Halloween (1978 film), The Fog, Prom Night (1980 film) and Terror Train, Curtis has since compiled a body of work that covers many genres. She has received an Emmy Award nomination and two Golden Globe Awards. Her 1998 book, Today I Feel Silly, and Other Moods That Make My Day, made the best-seller list in The New York Times. She is married to actor Christopher Guest (Lord Haden-Guest) and, as the wife of a Lord, is titled Lady Haden-Guest, but she chooses not to use the title when in the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
October 9, 2008
I am not a fan of celebrities writing for children, often the books are mediocre and yet sell like hotcakes since we are such a "star" driven society (why, people, why?) and then it seems we are stocking bookshelves with books of tepid rhymes and patronizing stories. However, Jamie Lee Curtis left celebrity status a long time ago in her writing and is, simply, a good writer. Her books cheerlead and encourage children and yet never talk down to them and, even better, are actually well written and fun to read and share.
March 8, 2022
"When Dad takes us shopping to buy new shoes, and all of us shout, 'This one I choose!' and the salesman looks angry - he's pretty IRATE - Dad wants us to behave and COOPERATE." (I can relate! I've taken all six of my kids shoe shopping many times, and phew! You really need a good system for that to be successful!)
5 stars
I really like this picture book that my daughter brought home from school. There are no agendas being pushed that some parents may disagree with. The book is all about little children being able to use big words, and it gives many examples. It's not a story - it's just a cute book about this concept, with adorable examples of a family with a mom, dad, and seven children. The children are from a variety of ethnic groups, which I found fun, since we have three ethnic groups within our own family.
The only improvement that I could suggest is that one of the pictures was so chaotic that it was difficult to discern what I was seeing, and who was where in the picture. However, it was clear that the pictures are meant to be busy, sometimes chaotic, which was really part of the charm of the book.
5 stars
I really like this picture book that my daughter brought home from school. There are no agendas being pushed that some parents may disagree with. The book is all about little children being able to use big words, and it gives many examples. It's not a story - it's just a cute book about this concept, with adorable examples of a family with a mom, dad, and seven children. The children are from a variety of ethnic groups, which I found fun, since we have three ethnic groups within our own family.
The only improvement that I could suggest is that one of the pictures was so chaotic that it was difficult to discern what I was seeing, and who was where in the picture. However, it was clear that the pictures are meant to be busy, sometimes chaotic, which was really part of the charm of the book.
July 8, 2019
Author Jamie Lee Curtis offers a celebration of words in this rhyming picture-book, which also functions as a confidence booster for young children. "I know some Big Words. / I'll teach them to you. / Although you are small, / you can use Big Words too." So begins the rollicking text, which introduces concepts ranging from "stupendous" to "inappropriate." In the end, however, the biggest words of all - Family, Respect and Love - aren't necessarily the longest...
Big Words for Little People is the second picture-book I have read from celebrity author Jamie Lee Curtis and illustrator Laura Cornell - the first was I'm Gonna Like Me - and of the two, it is definitely the one I prefer. Although there were a few awkward moments, where I felt the word order of specific sentences was juggled, in order to shoehorn in a rhyme, overall I thought the text scanned well. I also appreciated the fact that the message of affirmation here wasn't quite as blatant as in that earlier title. The illustrations are colorful and full of energy, with lots of amusing little details - the little bits of writing on books and other objects in the paintings - that add to the fun. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books that build vocabulary. Perhaps to be paired with one of the Fancy Nancy books, which also work to introduce children to a wider lexicon...?
Big Words for Little People is the second picture-book I have read from celebrity author Jamie Lee Curtis and illustrator Laura Cornell - the first was I'm Gonna Like Me - and of the two, it is definitely the one I prefer. Although there were a few awkward moments, where I felt the word order of specific sentences was juggled, in order to shoehorn in a rhyme, overall I thought the text scanned well. I also appreciated the fact that the message of affirmation here wasn't quite as blatant as in that earlier title. The illustrations are colorful and full of energy, with lots of amusing little details - the little bits of writing on books and other objects in the paintings - that add to the fun. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books that build vocabulary. Perhaps to be paired with one of the Fancy Nancy books, which also work to introduce children to a wider lexicon...?
June 28, 2017
1. This book introduces children to big words, some of which they may hear in every day rhetoric, but don’t understand. For example, cooperation, consequence, and appropriate. This book not only introduces the word in a sentence and defines it in a kid friendly way, but also gives fun examples of how the word can be used.
2. I think this book is wonderful at engaging students. Its bright illustrations and funny scenarios make this book very relatable for young audiences, all while enhancing their vocabulary.
3. I would pair this book with Hairy, Scary, Ordinary. This book also uses a wide variety of advanced vocabulary, especially adjectives.
4. This would be a great book to utilize along with writing as a way to get students to use more advanced language. For example, instead of using the word good, students may read this book and decide to use the word stupendous.
2. I think this book is wonderful at engaging students. Its bright illustrations and funny scenarios make this book very relatable for young audiences, all while enhancing their vocabulary.
3. I would pair this book with Hairy, Scary, Ordinary. This book also uses a wide variety of advanced vocabulary, especially adjectives.
4. This would be a great book to utilize along with writing as a way to get students to use more advanced language. For example, instead of using the word good, students may read this book and decide to use the word stupendous.
September 12, 2018
This book is very clever and fun to read to younger children. It contains "bigger" words, so to speak, that younger children might not know or use in their everyday conversations. The illustrations are very bright, colorful and fun, and really add to the meanings of the words on the pages. This book doesn't have a storyline or characters, but it is a fun read to get kids thinking. There are many activities a teacher could do with this book when the class is done reading it, like having the students pick their favorite big word or think of their own big word that they know. The words used in this book are also useful, such words as "Irate" "celebrate" "intelligent" and "family" can be useful to younger children, and can make them feel smarter!
November 8, 2008
Lots of things to look at in the illustrations! I especially love the curtain dress kit and cobweb collection! Very cute and educational! Plus I love Jamie Lee Curtis!
Read
January 30, 2023Chances are, if you're a celebrity these days, you also fancy yourself a children's book author. We've got Madonna, John Lithgow, Billy Crystal, and a whole host of others who have penned tales (sometimes several) for the wee set.
While there are some very good celebrity-written children's books, in my opinion the ones by the author-illustrator team of Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell are among the very best. We own I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem and Today I Feel Silly & Other Moods That Make My Day. Even though we're starting to move away from most picture books, these are ones we continue to turn to (and hopefully, we always will).
I checked out Big Words for Little People from the library, and Betty and Boo were immediately engaged with it. They had a lot of fun shouting out the big words that they already knew, and they knew all of them.
"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."
The Big Words in this book are big words for even some adults - words like considerate. Consequence. Respect. Privacy. Inappropriate. Different.
"Different means nobody's ever the same.
All bodies are different and so are all brains.
Different is what makes this world so great.
Different is never something to hate."
Like the other seven picture books by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell, Big Words for Little People features whimsical, eye-catching, and colorful graphics, with a few in-jokes for the adults tucked into the illustrations. And like their other books, this one will undoubtedly be a delight to read - for children and adults alike - for a very long time.
While there are some very good celebrity-written children's books, in my opinion the ones by the author-illustrator team of Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell are among the very best. We own I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem and Today I Feel Silly & Other Moods That Make My Day. Even though we're starting to move away from most picture books, these are ones we continue to turn to (and hopefully, we always will).
I checked out Big Words for Little People from the library, and Betty and Boo were immediately engaged with it. They had a lot of fun shouting out the big words that they already knew, and they knew all of them.
"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."
The Big Words in this book are big words for even some adults - words like considerate. Consequence. Respect. Privacy. Inappropriate. Different.
"Different means nobody's ever the same.
All bodies are different and so are all brains.
Different is what makes this world so great.
Different is never something to hate."
Like the other seven picture books by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell, Big Words for Little People features whimsical, eye-catching, and colorful graphics, with a few in-jokes for the adults tucked into the illustrations. And like their other books, this one will undoubtedly be a delight to read - for children and adults alike - for a very long time.
March 8, 2024
This was our bedtime read and I ( hopefully we ) loved it! It felt a bit long to me so I kept asking one sick toddler and her sister if they were tired and wanted to stop after every two pages. Apparently, they weren't. They were quiet only because they were really into it and absorbing stuff. I am sure we are going to come back to this one again, several times. I didn't know much about Jamie Lee Curtis ( I LOVED her in NCIS!! ) so honestly, I just went with the blurb and the title without being influenced by her celebrity status. Don't regret it at all! A caveat that I would like to add - "big" words are often contextual. So you might not be able to relate to the example/experience mentioned in the book. It might take a bit of an extra effort to explain, especially if you are reading to 3 YOs like me. :)
October 29, 2018
A wonderful and approachable book that teaches words like 'respect', 'perseverance', and 'appropriate' as well as plenty of other big words. Loved the Julie Andrews references that were slipped in!
Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
September 13, 2017
I recently rediscovered this one on my class shelf. It's a very positive one for kids to spend time with. It's has great vocabulary and a great message for kids to be positive and confident in themselves. Most of the books I've read and own from Jamie Lee Curtis are great positive behavior books, and a focus of our school and district currently.
December 30, 2018
LOVE Big Words for Little People because the big words are woven into a narrative about the reader. It's fun to look at the illustrations but more than that, the words are instructive and illustrative for a child to live successfully in the world: 'privacy', 'consequence', 'cooperate', 'inappropriate', 'patience', 'persevere'.
5 star Kudos to the author!
5 star Kudos to the author!
March 9, 2023
A look at some big words adults use in trying to help kids operate well in the world: words like cooperate and perseverance.
Some of the words in this book don't seem to match as well as others, like disgusting. Most of them are words about acting appropriately and politely. Mostly a good book to use to talk about social skills.
Some of the words in this book don't seem to match as well as others, like disgusting. Most of them are words about acting appropriately and politely. Mostly a good book to use to talk about social skills.
November 17, 2017
This book takes learning new, challenging words and makes it fun. These short poems/stories are fun to read and hear with humorous details and illustrations. The illustrations are bright and the fun visualizations will help students make deeper connections with the meanings of words.
March 21, 2018
This book is fun and whimsical while also teaching new vocabulary to students. The descriptions of each word are simple yet accurate and the pictures that accompany it develop the meanings and engage children. Very cute, and a very good tool in teaching vocabulary.
August 30, 2018
I love when adults make an effort to use higher level vocabulary with young children. However, this book really doesn't have a story line; each 2-page spread is an introduction to a different word. It does make for a good rhythm to the story.
May 22, 2019
The words may be a little too big for these small people and the pages are kind of busy for us, but we know mu-mmy was excited about teaching us new words, so there's that. This book will likely resurface when we're a little older.
July 10, 2020
Yes I've struggled with reading during this pandemic so I'm catching up on some kids books. This was a really cute story though and I love this for children. There are lots of big words but the rhyming scheme makes it fun for little minds. I want this for my own kids one day!
October 20, 2020
This book is perfect for emotional intelligence and vocabulary. This book is about a girl that learned big words to impress people. Most of them talk about emotional states and how using bigger more descriptive words has a bigger effect on people.
March 15, 2023
This is a fun read aloud book to "teach" these big words to little ones. For native English speakers, I'd think some of these words would already be known while others could be new. For EFL students, this would be a fun read. The pictures are engaging with lots of little humorous details to note.
August 28, 2024
I was excited to see Jamie Lee Curtis as the author. Read this to my 4 yr old granddaughter. It was a good conversation piece even though she didn't under the words. It was nice to help expand her vocabulary.
Wasn't satisfied completely on the font type the book.
Wasn't satisfied completely on the font type the book.
November 28, 2024
Modern Fantasy
Grade Level: 2-3
This book is a great way to introduce tricky words to kids! It is from the perspective of a child, making it more interesting to read, and more relevant to those who would read it.
Grade Level: 2-3
This book is a great way to introduce tricky words to kids! It is from the perspective of a child, making it more interesting to read, and more relevant to those who would read it.
January 24, 2026
Several of the words were too hard for my kids so they quickly lost interest. Even as an adult some of them were tricky. It had potential, and some of the words were fun, but overall I was disappointed.
January 16, 2018
I'm a sucker for books with good vocabulary.
February 2, 2018
3.5 stars
a little busy for small children. but the rhythm of the writing is enjoyable.
a little busy for small children. but the rhythm of the writing is enjoyable.
February 9, 2018
Introduces kids to some big words. It has silly pictures that are fun to interpret given the context of each word.
March 22, 2018
Rhyming, good messages, fun pictures!
August 3, 2018
Really adorable kids book. I loved how it teaches important words and new words. We got to talk about what they mean and how to use them. My 4 and 6 year old loved it.
December 6, 2018
Some of the rhymes are a bit forced, but overall some fun big words to learn in this one!
January 7, 2019
Love all of her inspiring books for children!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews