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Actor Kirk Cameron and Brave Books Weigh in on Controversial Revisions Made to R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" Children's Book Series

According to Texas-based Brave Books CEO Trent Talbot, "Wokeism is a virus in society." on Wednesday night, he remarked on Fox News Digital.
on Mar 10, 2023

Kirk Cameron, an actor and novelist, as well as his book publisher, Brave Books, offered their opinions on the subject to Fox News Digital on Wednesday night amid the growing controversy over revisions made to R.L. Stine's iconic "Goosebumps" children's book series without the author's consent.

The Bible says something about having a millstone tied around your neck and being tossed into the sea if you try to interfere with God's design for the moral growth of children. Cameron made this statement to Fox News Digital through email.

He said, "If I were Scholastic, I would take this heavenly warning seriously and change direction immediately. Every good parent is aware that having a precious privilege and duty to shape their children's hearts and brains."

According to Texas-based Brave Books CEO Trent Talbot, "Wokeism is a virus in society." on Wednesday night, he remarked on Fox News Digital. "It kills the art of our age and has become so strong that it is returning and killing the art of earlier generations."

According to Talbot, "the publishing business is continuing a horrible precedent created by modifying the content of works from 25 years ago."

In addition, Talbot noted that "the episode is more worrying when you realise Scholastic is not only the largest children's book publisher in the United States, but it also controls the distribution of children's books in schools and libraries."

As Fox News Digital reported earlier on Wednesday, changes were made to Stine's children's book series that was reportedly made in the interest of inclusivity and out of consideration for the feelings of some. One such change involved the description of an alien who was once said to have "at least six chins" being changed to "at least six feet six" tall. Another involved the descriptions of an African American character.

According to reports, some adjustments also involved "turning 'plump' to 'cheerful' and 'mad' to "silly," according to the U.K. Times.

In a tweet this week, 79-year-old author Stine claimed that he "never altered a word in a Goosebumps book."

He claimed that any alterations to his writing were made to his books without his knowledge or consent.

Several popular books have been recently edited, including those by the children's author Roald Dahl.

However, the new revisions to Stine's novels had been assumed to have been done by the author himself, despite Stine's denials.

The Goosebumps novels have undergone modifications, according to a recent statement from publisher Scholastic, to maintain the language appropriate for contemporary readers.

In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Scholastic said, in part, "When re-issuing titles several years ago, Scholastic reviewed the text to keep the language current and avoid imagery that could adversely affect a young person's view of themselves today, with a particular focus on mental health."

On Wednesday night, Cameron told Fox News Digital that he was "working side-by-side with Brave Books on the Freedom Island Tour," alluding to his book publisher's line of children's books with inspirational and upbeat themes.

Young readers may trace a tree's development in Cameron's "As You Grow" from "a little acorn to a magnificent tree that gives shade, nutrition, and housing."

The book also imparts insights from the Bible.

Cameron continued that we're going to libraries all around the country, "stoking the flames of bravery into communities to rise and be 'BRAVE,' to defend good ideals and eradicate evil in their backyards."

The last speech Cameron gave was in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He is continuing his cross-country tour and has scheduled appearances in Denver, Washington, D.C., and New York City, among other locations.