Books, bookmarks and signings await as “Fathers Are Nurturing and Lit” opens free to all
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Little Rock is getting a literary treat this week, with a free community event designed to put dads, kids and books in the same happy place.
Three-time New York Times best-selling author Derrick Barnes is in town for Fathers Are Nurturing and Lit, an event meant to encourage fathers and other men in the community to show up for young readers. Barnes, who has been touring around the country, said it’s been a while since he was last in Little Rock.
“It feels great,” Barnes said. “It’s it’s been a while. Last time I was here, I believe it was for a book event that you put on a few years ago.”
Barnes writes for children “of all ages, from early readers to teenagers,” though many of his best-known titles are picture books. He listed "I Am Every Good Thing", "Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut", and "The King and Queen of Kindergarten" among his most popular books. Barnes said he is the author of 24 published titles and has been writing for 22 years.
The event is being organized with Say It Loud founder Patrick Oliver, who said the goal is to get fathers more involved in literacy—whether that’s attending literary events, visiting the library, or reading at home.
“We’re trying to encourage fathers to get out with young people to literary events, take them to the library, you know, pull a book off the shelf, read to them, see where they are in terms of of reading,” Oliver said.
Oliver said he grew up seeing men read regularly, his father, grandfather, cousins, and uncles—and he wants young people to have that same example.
Barnes, a father of four sons, said it matters that children see men they respect reading.
“Oh yeah, yeah, so important,” Barnes said. “You know, children, you know, they, I think they pay more attention to what we do than, you know, what we say.”
Barnes said books are a big part of his household, and he often talks about the importance of reading as he travels. He also said he tries to center “the humanity and brilliance and beauty of black children” in his work.
The gathering is also tied to an inaugural literary award honoring Janice Barbara Wilson, an educator and librarian in Little Rock who died earlier this year. Oliver said Wilson helped shape how he works with children and previously hosted Barnes during what he believes was Barnes’ first visit to Arkansas.
“She hosted Derrick, I think Derrick’s first time in Arkansas. And so it will be the inaugural awards celebrating who she is as an individual,” Oliver said, adding that Wilson left “a really strong legacy in Little Rock, Arkansas, as an educator and in librarian.”
As for the event itself, Oliver said it’s free and open to everyone.
“It’s absolutely free. You just walk in,” Oliver said. He said the event will include bookmarks and displays, a talk from Barnes, book signings, and a video or slides highlighting Wilson’s work in the community.
Books will be available for purchase at the event. Barnes also noted that his books can be found online and encouraged readers to support independent bookstores. Oliver added that TRB. on Wheels will serve as the official bookseller at the event, and Pyramid Art, Books & Custom Framing also carries Barnes’ books in Little Rock.