Actor Kirk Cameron has recently called out Scholastic Books, one of the most well-known children’s book publishers, for pushing “sexually explicit” material in their books and glamorizing gender transitioning. In a lengthy post on social media, Cameron discussed his new partnership with non-woke SkyTree Book Fairs and accused Scholastic of being a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” that has infiltrated schools and libraries.
Cameron shared images from two books published by Scholastic, “Welcome to St. Hell” and “Melissa,” both of which he claims contain explicit content and glamorize gender transitioning. He also mentioned another book, “Rick,” which depicts a grandfather and grandchild coming out as transgender to each other. These books, according to Cameron, are marketed towards children as young as eight years old.
1/ MUST READ! Ever wondered how all the sexually explicit, morally disgusting, and dangerous books get into our children’s schools, classrooms, and libraries?@SkyTreeFairs and I did a deep dive and discovered who the real wolf in Grandma’s clothing is.
We see you @scholastic!— Kirk Cameron (@KirkCameron) November 7, 2023
Cameron also highlighted the fact that a Facebook ad by BraveBooksUS featuring images from Scholastic’s book “Heartstopper” was rejected for showing “people in explicit or suggestive positions or images that show nudity or cleavage.” He then went on to point out that Scholastic has published a list of over 100 LGBTQ-themed books on their website, which he believes is just the tip of the iceberg.
The actor urged parents to download a PDF from SkyTree Book Fairs that documents the inappropriate and sexualized content in books published and distributed by Scholastic. He also encouraged them to share this information with school leaders and advocate for a switch to SkyTree Book Fairs.
7/ Some assume that because @Scholastic is a world-renowned children’s publisher, these books we’ve highlighted are the exception. That is incorrect.
Scholastic prioritizes LGBTQIA+-themed books—including those that have obscene, graphic content. pic.twitter.com/avgdPHz5Fj
— Kirk Cameron (@KirkCameron) November 7, 2023
In response to Cameron’s remarks, a Scholastic spokesperson told The Daily Wire that the publisher believes in providing children with diverse and inclusive reading materials, and their selection of LGBTQ-themed books is a reflection of that. They also stated that they take their responsibility as a publisher of children’s literature seriously and continue to engage in conversations with educators and families about their books.
However, Cameron’s concerns are not unfounded. A study published in the Journal of Sexuality Research and Social Policy found that a significant portion of Scholastic’s books depict LGBTQ themes or characters, and many of them are marketed towards younger readers. This raises concerns about the age-appropriateness of these books and whether they are being used to push a certain agenda on children.
EXPOSED: Kirk Cameron shows how Scholastic funnels “sexually explicit, morally disgusting” books into American schoolshttps://t.co/7bRyGZTFpmhttps://t.co/7bRyGZTFpm
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) November 8, 2023
In light of this, many parents are finding Cameron’s call to action timely and necessary. They believe that books with sexually explicit and gender-confusing content have no place in schools and libraries, and they are concerned about the impact these books may have on their children’s development.
Kirk Cameron’s partnership with SkyTree Book Fairs and his campaign against Scholastic have brought the issue to the forefront and sparked an important conversation about what constitutes appropriate books for children. As more parents and educators become aware of this issue, it is likely that there will be increased scrutiny on the content of books published and distributed by Scholastic, and a push for more responsible and inclusive publishing practices within the industry.
Girls are being told by a children’s book publisher @scholastic that double mastectomies and cross-sex hormones are a route to happiness. Imagine if, instead, they told girls to love their bodies, reject negative gender stereotypes and …to stand up for their rights.👇 https://t.co/PzK5Js9PP1
— Malcolm Clark (@TwisterFilm) November 7, 2023