‘See You at the Library’: The Brave Books Christian Answer to Drag Story Hours

Over 100 children and adults inside the conference room at the Rohnert Park Library during the Sonoma County story hour in Rohnert Park, Calif., on Aug. 5, 2023. Courtesy of Sarah Fenske

Commentary

According to an Aug. 6 article in the Washington Examiner, Christian faith-based Brave Books story hours were held in 304 public libraries in 46 states across the nation on Aug. 5.

The story hours were well attended, usually packed. When the public library was overflowing, as in Huntsville, Wisconsin, the extra people went to a nearby church to hold their story hour.

The story hours were inspired by Christian actor and author Kirk Cameron and the Brave Books publishing company, with which he is associated. Mr. Cameron hopes “to bring faith and good moral values back into our public institutions” through the story hours.

Kirk Cameron attends the Premiere of LIFEMARK at Museum of the Bible, in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 7, 2022. Paul Morigi/Getty Images

These story hours are the Christian answer—and what they hope will be the replacement—to Drag Story Hours (DSHs), which have become more prevalent recently in public libraries, especially during the Pride Month of June 2023.

Concerned parents and grandparents, like myself, want children to have an alternative choice with uplifting books that inspire moral character and help fortify them against evil, not “groom” them to be more accepting of a transgender lifestyle.

Threatened Lawsuit Reinstates Story Hour

Extra people also went to a nearby church in Madison, Alabama, but only after a threatened lawsuit reinstated the library hour in the Madison Public Library. The library had tried to cancel the Brave Books story hour planned for Aug. 5 by a Moms for Liberty group.

The excuse the library gave for cancellation just two days before the event was that they had heard “the anticipated attendance would exceed the meeting room’s capacity.” First Liberty, the law firm representing Moms for Liberty and Kirk Cameron, wrote a letter to the library stating that if the event was not reinstated, they would “vindicate this violation of our client’s civil rights in court.”

Christianpost.com reported on Aug. 4 that the library was being accused of “unconstitutional religious viewpoint and content discrimination.”

Emily Jones, the Alabama leader for Moms for Liberty, was interviewed on FOX and Friends Weekend on the morning of Aug. 5 before the story hour was to take place. She said that sudden cancelations were going on in other libraries once the libraries found out that these proposed story hours were Kirk Cameron and Christian based.

She believes the cancelations are really because the Brave Books library hours are trying to bring back Biblical views into our public libraries.

“We are talking about God and that we are made in the image of God. For some strange reason, talking about that in a peaceful and loving way has become controversial,” she said.

A Very Successful Event

The Madison Library backed down, and the story hour did take place on Aug. 5 as planned. As reported by the Washington Examiner on Aug. 6, there were 225 people allowed inside the library. The extra 300 went to the Rock Church for a second story hour.

The storytellers at these events were Kirk Cameron himself in person and Riley Gaines. She is the award-winning swimmer who is reaching national prominence for her stand for women’s sports to be exclusively for women, not transgendered women.

As you will read later in this article, one of the books featured at the story hours reflects on the transgender theme. It is called “Elephants Are Not Birds,” by Ashley St. Clair.

Kirk Cameron’s desire is that once every year, a large group of public libraries will hold Brave Books Story hours through his “See You at the Library” campaign. For 2024, he is hoping for a much larger number than 300 libraries.

However, in Sonoma County, California, a group hosting this story hour in the Rincon Valley Public Library is hoping to continue to do so every other month. They believe a once-a-year Brave Books Story Hour is not enough to combat what is going on in our culture today.

As I discussed in a previous article, Sonoma County was the notorious place where four DSHs were held on Fathers’ Day weekend, June 17–18, with large protests and counter protests going on in front of the libraries. A drag king named Vera, a stripper in a gay bar in Oakland, was reading the books.

Opposition to such story hours was the motivation for Christian mothers and grandmothers in our county to work hard to hold Brave Books Story Hours in place of the DSH ones. We want books showing uplifting Biblical values to be read to children in the place of drag books, and we want the books to be read by exemplary parents and grandparents rather than strippers in gay bars.

Sonoma County Story Hour

The Sonoma County Brave Books story hour was under the direction of a homeschool mom of three sons, Sarah Fenske, her husband, and some of her friends. Sarah and the group of concerned grandparents hosting the event in Rincon Valley had 1,000 colorful cards printed announcing the Brave Books Story Hour, and together they distributed them all over the county, including at churches.

The backs of the cards let us know that the story hour was neither sponsored by nor affiliated with the Sonoma County Library. That meant that the story hour was not on the library’s official calendar, nor would anyone from the library let anyone know about the story hour if someone called to ask questions.

Jennifer Gunderson, a homeschool mom of 9 children and now a grandmother of 21, called the library and asked what time the two Brave Books story hours were being held on Aug. 5. The lady she spoke to told her that she knew nothing about them. It wasn’t until Ms. Gunderson asked, “Don’t you have some events scheduled in your community rooms on August 5?” that the lady acknowledged them and told Ms. Gunderson that they were both at 11 a.m. Had Jennifer not already known about them, nothing would have been mentioned to her.

In spite of the library not sponsoring, advertising, or supporting the story hours, the turnout for them was quite remarkable. The conference room where the story hour was held in the Rohnert Park Library was packed, with standing room only. People were even standing outside the main doors looking in.

The first book read was “You are Special,” by Max Lucado. After an opening prayer, a friend of Ms. Fenske’s read the first book. It tells of a village made up of wooden puppets where everyone is vying for who can get the most star stickers on their bodies. A clumsy man named Punchinello never gets stars, only dots. He is made fun of and thinks of himself as worthless, without any talents and not being special.

One day, Punchinello meets a beautiful girl named Lucia who has no stickers on her body. They won’t stick to her. She tries to persuade him to come and visit the woodcarver Eli.

Punchinello finally gets up the courage to do so. He is surprised that Eli knows him by his name. Why? Because Eli made him. Eli convinces him that he is special and not because of stickers.

He says, “You are special because I made you, and I do not make mistakes.”

From then on, Punchinello knows who he really is, who his creator is, and that he is special, and he doesn’t need stickers to let him know his worth.

“Dawn of the BRAVE,” by Mike Waltz, was the second book read. Ms. Fenske sent me the following about the story plot: “Five brave and gifted characters come together in humility to form a team and defeat the evil that threatens Freedom Island. When the characters recognize their own limitations and the strengths of others they become an unstoppable bunch fighting for good.”

“Everyone seemed to enjoy the story hour,” reported Pat Whitemore, a grandmother who was in attendance. “The children were engaged and attentive, and they also enjoyed the songs that were sung.”

One of those songs was “This Little Light of Mine,” a very popular Christian children’s song about keeping your little gospel light always shining and not letting it be blown out or hidden under a basket.

Ms. Whitemore was impressed with how large the crowd was. She, Ms. Fenske, and others are in hopes that the library staff also noticed how many more children and parents and grandparents were at this story hour compared to the four drag story hours held in June. Then maybe the library commissioners will allow more Christian story hours to take place and actually fund them and sponsor them so they can be listed and promoted on their calendar.

Sarah Fenske (L) leads the group in songs, accompanied by a father playing his guitar at the Rohnert Park Library during the Sonoma County story hour in Rohnert Park, Calif., on Aug. 5, 2023. A slide is shown on the wall of some of the places across the nation where Brave Books story hours were being presented on Aug. 5. Courtesy of Sarah Fenske

Rincon Valley Story Hour

The Rincon Valley Brave Books story hour was in the city of Santa Rosa and was also held at 11 a.m. on Aug. 5.

The leader of this story hour was Sharon Bailey, a homeschool mom for 28 years and now a grandmother. Out of concern for the DSHs that were coming to Sonoma County in June, she formed a prayer group of some close friends, which met once a week to pray to know what to do.

They also found out about the Brave Books Story Hour idea and decided as a group to try hosting one. They were able to secure the community room at the Rincon Valley Library.

Ms. Bailey said that a weekly prayer group of pastors in the area were also praying about the DSHs and what to do about them. They were very supportive of the idea of having a Christian story hour to take the place of DSHs, organized by a grassroots group of parents and grandparents rather than pastors. Several of them were in attendance at the Rincon Valley story hour on Aug. 5.

The women’s husbands were also there helping out as watchmen or greeters and praying for the success of the event.

Patty Regalia, who used to work for the Parks and Recreation Department of Sonoma County and has also led many Vacation Bible Schools, conducted the story hour. It started with a prayer and a flag salute.

Cindy Pedrazzini, who helped with the event, told me that the group sponsoring the story hour had to bring their own U.S. flag. Libraries don’t seem to have American flags anymore, but we noticed plenty of rainbow flags during Pride Month inside and outside the libraries. Not even on the Fourth of July did we see any U.S. flags inside the library.

Following the flag salute, Ms. Regalia led the children and adults in the song “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know, for the Bible Tells Me So.” Other songs that were sung between stories were “This Little Light of Mine” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”

The first book, “As You Grow,” was read by Sharon Bailey’s very tall husband, Forrest Bailey. At 6 ft. 6 in., he didn’t scare anyone; with his big smile and grandfatherly ways, he charmed all ages young and old. He read “As You Grow,” written by Kirk Cameron, with pictures from the book reflected on a large screen.

The Baileys’ two grandchildren were on the floor listening to him read, along with about 25 other children. Others were scattered around the room, seated on chairs with their parents. Ms. Bailey believes there were about 50 children in total, judging from the number of U.S. flags and pictures to color that were handed out at the end.

The book “As You Grow” tells of a little oak tree that is in a fantasy land called “Freedom Island, the Home of the Brave,” with all sorts of cute animals who live on the island. Each year the little tree grows larger and receives help along the way. When it is leaning to one side, a little animal helps prop it up with his cane. When evil weasels come and set fire to the tree, the neighbors drive them away and work hard to put out the fire and rebuild the parts of the tree that were burned. They fortify it with steel and bulletproof windows.

The tree learns to give back as it grows bigger and stronger. It provides more and more housing for many little animals and birds, and they all live as a happy community. Children learn from the book that it takes many people working together, helping each other grow and develop and protecting each other, to have a happy society.

The second book, “Elephants Are Not Birds,” by Ashley St. Clair, was read by Cindy Humphrey. It is obviously written as an answer to the many children across our nation who are being groomed and programmed to be confused about their gender and go through gender transitioning, taking hormone therapy and even operations to try to become a gender opposite of who they are.

Bravebooks.com states: “Most can see that there is a distinct difference between an elephant and a bird but in this story, those lines are blurred when the lies of Culture the Vulture are accepted as truth. Culture the Vulture convinces Kevin [the little elephant] that his ability to sing is one that only birds have, so logically this means that Kevin is a bird. The lies and logic from Culture the Vulture parallel what our culture is attempting to feed the youth of today.”

Fortunately, Kevin the elephant does not go through any hormone therapy or surgery. His illusion of being a bird comes crashing to a halt when, attempting to fly, he falls out of a tree when a branch breaks. Bruised and sore, he feels pretty miserable about his new identity.

He then hears cries of help because the tree has caught fire. The animals are shouting for someone strong who can carry water to help put out the fire. Kevin comes to his senses. He knows that as his real self as an elephant, he is strong and can carry water in his trunk.

He takes off the fake beak he was wearing. His fake wings have already broken and crumbled from his fall from the tree. He goes to two buckets filled with water, sucks up the water with his long trunk, sprays the water on the tree, and puts out the fire. Everyone thanks him and praises him.

Kevin now feels good about his true self as an elephant. He no longer listens to Culture the Vulture, and he tells the bird, “I am no more a bird than you are a bunny.”

The story hour ended with the song “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” Sandy Caverilere, a member of the prayer group, thanked everyone for coming and announced that for all of those who had signed their names and given their contact information, they would be notified when the next story hour would take place. They would try to hold them the first Saturday of every other month. There was big applause at that suggestion.

Ms. Bailey told me that at their follow-up prayer group meeting on Aug. 10, they discussed how the story hour went and decided that at their next story hour in October they would read one more book from Brave Books but also read other uplifting children’s books.

A Family’s Response

At the end of the Rincon Valley Story Hour, I asked a mother seated next to me, Louise Clark, what she and her children thought of the story hour. Her 11-year-old son, Nathan, said he liked it. He especially liked the story about the elephant.

His little sister, Rachel, age 5, said she liked singing the song “This Little Light of Mine.” They both said they would like to come back for more story hours.

Ms. Clark said she has four children. The oldest one is now 18. She used to bring the older two to the public library for story hours all the time, but little by little, the stories began to become very different, with a leftist agenda. She no longer trusted them and did not bring her children anymore.

That is why she is delighted to now have another choice so her younger children can attend and hear stories that are wholesome and good and uplifting with a moral message. She would like these to continue.

Three little girls listen during the Rincon Valley Library story hour in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Aug. 5, 2023. Courtesy of Cindy Pedrazzini

Responses From Library Representatives

Ms. Pedrazzini sent me a copy of a letter she had emailed to the director of the Sonoma County Library on May 26, before the Drag King Story Hour was to take place the next month. In the email, she asked why they were doing this and said that it was really contrary to their own policies.

She wrote: “According to your policies you are to provide, and, I assume ensure, a safe and appropriate environment and material that is not harmful to minors. In addition, prevent inappropriate behavior. Drag queen story hour is not appropriate for young children, is harmful to young ones and is inappropriate outside an adult only night club. In addition, you are not to display signs or flags that promote an agenda outside the library that is political in nature, i.e., the rainbow flag. I look forward to a response that does not try to justify your political stance, but explains why you are not conforming to your own policies. Thank you for your time.”

Cindy received a reply from Erika Thibault, library director of the Sonoma County Library, on May 31.

It stated: “The library is fully committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, as evidenced by the library commission’s adoption of a Statement of Inclusivity.”

Ms. Thibault gave the link to read the statement, but when you go to that link, it states, “The requested page cannot be found.”

In addition, I spoke to the lady at the reference desk at the Rincon Valley Library. I told her that I had heard at the end of the Brave Books story hour that the group that organized it would like to do this on a regular basis every other month.

She said that they don’t like a group to come every month, but every other month might be possible. They just have to make sure the room is free.

I asked her if she thought the turnout was much larger than the Drag Story Hour that happened on June 17. I also asked whether that influences the library as to who can use the room and if the library would sponsor them.

She said it really depends on whether the room is free and has not already been booked. She also suggested that I speak to the Director of Communications, Ray Holley, with any further questions. She gave me his phone number.

I called and talked to Mr. Holley. He said he was there at the Rincon Valley Library when the story hour took place on Aug. 5. He said he saw me there wearing my red hat, but he did not go into the room to experience the story hour for himself.

He did see the huge crowd that had gathered with lots of children in attendance. I told him that between the two library hours at Rohnert Park and Rincon Valley, there were about 150 children gathered and about 150 parents.

I asked him what determines if it is a successful story hour. If it is the large attendance of children, then would the Sonoma County Library Commission agree that the two Brave Books story hours with a total of 150 children were more successful than the DSH ones, which only had 132 children in total with all four of their story hours?

He said he could not really reply to that question.

I asked if the library board was more interested in diversity, equity, and inclusion, in bringing in the Drag Story Hours? He said he and the library commissioners were mainly interested in “motivating kids to want to read books.”

I then asked him about the costs. I said I had heard that the library does not charge nonprofits or groups like the parents who have put together these story hours. They get to use the community room free of charge.

He said that was correct. He said it was part of their service to the community.

I then asked what determines if the Library Commission chooses to pay a storyteller like Drag King Vera, who received $500 per performance for her four story hours—adding up to $2,000. Could these mothers and grandparents who were story presenters also be paid for their performances and all the materials and costs that they paid for by themselves?

Holley replied, “Yes, they just need to submit their request for payment to the library commissioners, and the commissioners will determine if it can be granted.”

I am in hopes that will be the case. It would be amazing if the parents and grandparents could have some reimbursement for their personal expenses putting on such big events as the ones on Aug. 5. It would also make it possible that the Brave Books story hour would be posted on the county library calendar and advertised in their mailings and postings.

Hopefully, they would then also carry the Brave Books series in their libraries. When I tried to check them out at the Rincon Valley Library, I found them missing and not even listed. Yet the drag queen and king books were proudly displayed at the Sonoma County Libraries during Gay Pride month, as were the rainbow flags.

What is good for the gander is also good for the goose, no matter if one is a liberal gander and one is a conservative goose. With taxpayers’ dollars paying for the library’s expenses, we need to have equal privileges and justice for all taxpayers.

Our rights as citizens will only be there if we stand up for those rights and demand equal treatment and justice under the law.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.