Julianne Moore recently expressed her shock and disappointment upon learning that her children’s book, Freckleface Strawberry, had been banned in certain Department of Defense (DoD) schools under the Trump administration. The 2007 book, inspired by Moore’s own childhood nickname, carries a heartfelt message about self-acceptance, encouraging young readers to embrace their unique features with pride.
Despite its uplifting and empowering theme, Moore revealed on Instagram that Freckleface Strawberry had been prohibited in some schools. For the acclaimed actress and author, this revelation was both surprising and deeply personal. Having grown up in a military family, Moore attended a Department of Defense school herself, and her father, Peter Moore Smith, was a paratrooper in the U.S. Army. Given her strong ties to the military community, she found it especially disheartening that a book designed to boost children’s confidence and promote kindness had been deemed controversial.
In her post, Moore questioned the reasoning behind the ban, wondering how a story about self-acceptance could be seen as inappropriate. “It’s shocking to think that a book meant to help children feel good about themselves is considered controversial,” she wrote, reflecting on the growing trend of book censorship in schools. She also took a moment to thank PEN America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting free expression and fighting book bans, for shedding light on the issue.
The censorship of Freckleface Strawberry is part of a larger wave of book bans that have swept through schools in recent years. Across the United States, books touching on themes of diversity, inclusion, and self-empowerment have been increasingly targeted for removal from libraries and classrooms. Many of these bans have sparked heated debates about the role of literature in shaping young minds and whether restricting access to certain stories does more harm than good.
For Moore, Freckleface Strawberry was never intended to be controversial. It was simply a story inspired by her own childhood struggles with self-image—an attempt to reassure children that being different is something to be celebrated, not hidden. As a young girl, Moore often felt self-conscious about her freckles and red hair, but over time, she learned to appreciate what made her unique. Through her book, she hoped to instill that same confidence in children facing similar insecurities.
As book censorship continues to be a hotly debated issue, Moore remains vocal about the importance of allowing children access to stories that promote self-love and acceptance. She hopes that by speaking out, she can encourage more conversations about the dangers of restricting literature and inspire action to protect the right of every child to see themselves represented in the books they read.