Fathers, Children, and Books
Today, June 21, 2026, marks Father’s Day, and we’re highlighting the nonprofit The Library Dads, which puts fatherhood first through literacy. The Atlanta-based nonprofit’s main event is its Library Link-up, a curated program that helps dads and their children bond at the library on Saturdays.
The Library Dads was started by Khari Arnold when he began taking his then four-month-old daughter to the library every week and posting recaps of their time together. Now his daughter is excited to go to the library and treats it like a scavenger hunt to find her next read. Arnold said his daughter is currently into series books.
“This is our thing,” Arnold said. “This is a daddy-daughter thing.”
The Library Dads instantly became a hit, which shows that fathers have a strong interest not only in being with their children but also in connecting with them.
“I saw the desire of men wanting to spend time with their kids, to spend time with other fathers,” Arnold said. “I said we do have something here.”
The nonprofit has partnered with Dunkin’ Donuts, Chick-fil-A, the Fulton County Library System, and more. They’ve also received numerous coverage from local and national media outlets. Billionaire and businessman Robert Smith has shouted out the importance of The Library Dads, but Arnold said it’s less about virality and more about impact.
“One skill that is going to be needed in the future is critical thinking. What helps build critical thinking? Reading,” he said.
He said that in a world of artificial intelligence, you have to learn how to prompt. He added that they are also teaching the kids about wealth.
“There’s a reason it’s called financial literacy,” Arnold said.
Along with the weekly library trips, The Library Dads offer summer field trips that are geared towards education. Arnold said the weekly reading sessions have increased attention spans, vocabulary, and empathy. One of Arnold’s favorite things about The Library Dads is how each week, Black men have shown up for their children.
“I think the world should see Black fathers as active and not stereotypical Black men,” Arnold said. “We’ve never listed on any of our marketing that this is for Black fathers…but you see who’ve shown up, it’s Black fathers.”
The Library Dads is geared for children from birth to third grade.
“Our goal is to teach them to want to read and build that desire by spending time with them in books,” Arnold said.
A Love for Reading from Grandma, Mom, and Dad
Arnold said his grandmother was the very first person to read to him, and he has pictures to prove it. His mother used to read to him at night, and he always saw a book in his father’s hand. Now, as a father himself, he uses reading as a bonding tool with his daughter.
Through his nonprofit, Arnold hopes other fathers read with their children.
“I want them to feel empowered to…spread the word that we’re in a national literacy crisis, and it’s important to start [reading] early…and to focus on community,” Arnold said. “Let’s do the work to remove the literacy crisis.”
To learn more about The Library Dads, click here.
Nyesha Stone founded Carvd N Stone in 2017 to cover positive news while attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Stone has a B.A. in Journalism. She has raised over $30,000 to award grants and scholarships. She has also been featured in ESSENCE and worked with the American Black Film Festival.
- Nyesha Stone
