Note: This article may contain commentary reflective of the author’s opinion.
Recently, at a library in Placentia, California, a spokesman on behalf of actor Kirk Cameron said that over a thousand people lined up to hear his reading of “As I Grow”. Parents and their children waited in the rain outside the library just to get a chance to hear the Christian actor’s reading.
This reading was part of the Brave Books Story Hour. Since releasing his book “As I Grow” with Brave Books, Cameron has faced considerable controversy. Libraries are refusing to host the actor, claiming the Christian values promoted in the book are hateful and offensive.
However, once parents heard that Kirk Cameron would be on tour reading his book during story hours, families flocked in massive numbers to attend these events. Sometimes the story hours even occurred at the same public libraries that are hosting drag queen story hours.
Brave Story Hours posted a message on its Twitter account stating, “BRAVE Books and Kirk Cameron will be at Placentia Library for LIVE readings of the most controversial children’s books to hit the shelves in 2022 and 2023 “As You Grow!”
BRAVE Books and Kirk Cameron will be at Placentia Library for LIVE readings of the most controversial children's books to hit the shelves in 2022 and 2023 "As You Grow!"
10:15am-1pm, Saturday January 14th
Placentia Library
411 E Chapman Ave, Placentia, CA 92870 pic.twitter.com/X8rqvjWUne— BRAVE Story Hour (@BraveBooksUS) January 14, 2023
The Post Millennial reported on the evangelical actor’s tour:
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“Brave Books knows what they are talking about. The book tour for As You Grow has been contentious, to say the least. Cameron and Brave first approached 55 libraries asking if they would host the reading, only to be rejected by all of them. Cameron wrote open letters to the libraries, asking why his reading had been rejected despite those libraries also hosting Drag Queen Story Hours, which in New York City are sponsored by the local City Council.”
In response to Cameron’s letters, libraries in both Scarsdale and Indianapolis eventually allowed the actor to conduct his story hour at their libraries. The crowds that attended far overwhelmed the capacity in these locations, showing the demand for his Christian message. At the Placentia reading, Cameron had to read his book five times so everyone who waited in line had a chance to hear it.
Cameron stated that his book, “teaches kids biblical wisdom, through the seasons of life and how to grow the fruits of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control.”
“You think everybody would be thrilled with something like that,” the actor said, “And so I wanted to do a book reading at a public library, since lots of people like to do those. I was denied by over 55 Zero libraries, which also host Drag Queen Story Hours.”
Kirk Cameron is using his power and influence as a celebrity to spread the great Christian message. The fact that public, taxpayer-funded libraries are canceling Cameron’s story hours, but are opting to host other immoral activities is a sign of where our society is. The inverted morality our culture embraces becomes evermore apparent every day. Despite this, there are still people who want to raise their children with traditional Christian values this country once embraced.