Kirk Cameron rejects drag queen story time, is instead speaking about faith, family at Arkansas library

Actor-writer Kirk Cameron is taking his next story hour book reading to Arkansas this week — all part of his cross-country effort to speak to families and children across America at various public library book events and to discuss his pro-faith, pro-family and pro-country beliefs. 

On Friday, he'll be appearing in Fayetteville, Arkansas, at the public library there, Fox News Digital has learned from Cameron's book publisher, Brave Books. The event will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Fayetteville Public Library, which confirmed Thursday that the event — a "private event," a library official said — will take place at the library on Friday. 

The Cameron book event will occur just one day before New York Attorney General Letitia James is scheduled to hold a "drag queen story hour" event in New York City, as Fox News Digital previously reported.

DRAG QUEEN BOOK EVENT IN NEW YORK CITY NOW HAS COMPETITION: LIBS OF TIKTOK CREATOR WILL HOST ONE FOR FAMILIES 

A flyer for this "drag story hour" held by James said, "Families with children are invited to join Attorney General James, drag storytellers and city and state elected leaders." In a caption for an Instagram post, James declared, "My office is proud to host a drag story hour read-a-thon on Sunday." 

Kirk Cameron, in comments shared with Fox News Digital, said on this point, "In the Garden of Eden, God used a piece of fruit to expose man’s willingness to betray God and harm the family. In the Big Apple this weekend, God is using the attorney general."

Trent Talbot, CEO of Brave Books, based in Texas, told Fox News Digital in an email, "It’s clear our society has reached a new low with one of the most powerful public officials in New York participating in a ‘drag queen story hour’ for kids."

He added, "So what do we do about it? I believe the best way to fight back against these sick and deranged events is to offer a better alternative with wholesome and uplifting events that have more appealing messaging and visuals."

He said as well, "This is what you will see Friday in Fayetteville."

‘DUCK DYNASTY’ STAR MISSY ROBERTSON SLAMS BEHAVIOR OF LIBRARY STAFF AT KIRK CAMERON EVENT IN TENNESSEE

Also on Friday, Laura Perry Smalts will be joining Kirk Cameron at the library in Fayetteville, Fox News Digital is told, "to participate in the story hour."

She plans to read the children's book "Elephants Are Not Birds," which teaches kids about the biblical view of gender. 

"I am supporting Kirk Cameron’s work in the Freedom Island Tour because children deserve to be taught good, wholesome, truth-based books from someone who is safe and trustworthy, not an adult entertainer," Smalts said in comments shared with Fox News Digital. 

"I believe children should be taught that who they are created to be is good — and should not be indoctrinated by ideology they are not old enough to comprehend."

Smalts — who was born female — spent nearly nine years living as a transgendered individual. She took the name "Jake" during that period of time. 

She writes on her website, "I am a former transgender, having lived it for almost nine years. I underwent years of cross-sex hormone therapy, two major ‘gender-affirming’ surgeries, and all of the legal changes."

She ultimately rejected that and detransitioned — and is today happily married to her husband, Perry.

She writes that God "has healed me and brought forgiveness and wholeness to my heart. He has revealed His heart for women and how wonderful His creation of the woman is and how beautiful it is."

She said in further comments shared with Fox News Digital, "I am participating in the library reading in Fayetteville because I want kids (and parents) to hear the truth about transgender identities from someone who has gone through it. I want to warn parents that it is dangerous to allow children to ‘transition.’"

NASHVILLE-BOUND KIRK CAMERON RIPS TODAY'S WOKE CULTURE, ‘TIDES MIGHT FINALLY BE TURNING’

She added, "Most parents are uninformed about the realities of medical transition and the dangerous path their child is being enticed to go down. I want to help kids see that they don’t have to compare themselves to others — but that they can embrace and love who they are created to be."

She said she "loves" the book "Elephants Are Not Birds." 

She said she is choosing to read it to those who gather at the library event "because it illustrates to children the simple reality that they cannot be someone other than who they were created to be."

Said Smalts, "The book also shows that even though the elephant, Kevin, wanted to be like the birds, the town needed him to be an elephant, and he became a hero. I think this book has an excellent message for children."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

A Brave Books spokesperson told Fox News Digital that "the library staff" in Fayetteville have "been phenomenal" to work with and "we are excited about this story hour. We believe the turnout is going to be incredible."

A musician outside the library will lead those assembled in patriotic songs before the book event, the publisher said.

Gabriel Hays of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.

Missing 2.5 tons of Uranium has been recovered, Libyan army claims

The 2.5 tons of uranium that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) declared missing in Libya on Wednesday has been recovered, the Libyan National Army (LNA) claims.

Libyan forces announced the recovery of the natural uranium on Thursday, saying they found the 10 drums of ore near the border with Chad. An IAEA spokesman told Fox News Digital that the organization has yet to verify the claim.

"We are aware of media reports that the material has been found, the Agency is actively working to verify them," the spokesman said.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog inspectors made discovered that the uranium was missing while carrying out an inspection that had been postponed last year due to the country’s deteriorating security situation.

RUSSIA ACCUSED OF KIDNAPPING HEAD OF UKRAINE NUCLEAR PLANT 

The agency says it is still investigating how the 10 barrels were moved from where the Libyan government said they would be.

HOPES FOR LIBYAN UNITY DASHED BY ELECTORAL DISPUTES

The agency acknowledged that the missing nuclear material presents a "radiological risk, as well as nuclear security concerns." 

Libya’s security deteriorated following the NATO-backed uprising that ousted the country’s leader, Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Since 2014, rival political factions have competed for control, with the last bout of conflict ending in 2021. 

The division of the oil-rich nation has fueled violence between armed groups and driven many refugees to attempt the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean Sea. Many of these journeys end in drownings.

Gen Khaled al-Mahjoub of the LNA says the 10 barrels of uranium were found "barely 5 kilometers" from where they were supposed to be stored.

Fox News' Bradford Betz contributed to this report.