Actress Julianne Moore, who won an Academy Award for her outstanding work in movies like Still Alice and The Room Next Door, recently opened up about a very private and surprising event. Moore, the author of multiple children’s books, expressed her surprise and disappointment upon learning that the Trump Administration has prohibited her first book, Freckleface Strawberry, from being taught at Department of Defense (DoD) schools.
Moore’s own childhood served as the inspiration for the 2007 children’s book Freckleface Strawberry, which is semi-autobiographical. The character Freckleface Strawberry was called after Moore’s nickname from childhood, which was given to her at the age of seven due to her bright red hair and freckles. One of the main themes in the novel is Moore’s recollection of how she “hoped that they would go away when she grew up, but they didn’t.”
The protagonist of the narrative is Freckleface, a little child who finds it difficult to accept herself because of her freckles. But as she travels, she comes to value the distinctiveness of her look and understands that what makes her unique also makes her wonderful. The book emphasizes that everyone has uniqueness and that differences should be cherished, sending a positive and inspiring message.
On February 16, 2025, Moore shared an emotional Instagram post that revealed her dismay at the ban. According to the actress, her favorite book was “banned by the Trump Administration from schools run by the Department of Defense,” even though it offered a positive message about accepting oneself, being unique, and embracing one’s peculiarities.
Given her personal ties to military families and her pride as a graduate of Frankfurt American High School, a DoD institution that was formerly situated in Frankfurt, Germany, the actress expressed profound surprise. Moore was raised by her father, a Vietnam War veteran who was a member of the U.S. Army, and she is very proud of his national service. She considered how crucial it was that kids from military families, who might have gone through similar things in life, have access to books that could provide them with amusement and relatable life lessons. Moore was perplexed and irritated by the decision to bar Freckleface Strawberry from DoD schools.
Moore’s Instagram post was primarily about her confusion over what part of the book might have caused it to be banned. “I am really proud of him and what he has done for our nation,” she stated in her post. It irritates me that kids like me who go to @dodea_edu schools and have a military father won’t be able to read a book written by someone whose experiences are so close to their own.” In addition to being a personal loss, Moore saw this as an equity issue for kids who could gain from the inclusion and empathy that were central to her work.
Moore also expressed worries about the wider ramifications of such a prohibition, particularly in light of a country that takes great pride in its freedom of speech and expression. “I am deeply grieved and never imagined that I would witness this in a country where the right of free speech and expression is guaranteed by the constitution,” she said.
PEN America, a group devoted to protecting free speech and assisting authors, informed Moore about the prohibition. She has expressed her sadness that Freckleface Strawberry, a book promoting community and self-acceptance, has become embroiled in political controversy and has continued to use her position to support the right to read books. In closing, she expressed her sincere gratitude to PEN America for raising awareness of this problem.
To continue the discussion and spread awareness of the issue, Moore also tagged the official Instagram accounts of her illustrator, Uyen Lo, and the book’s publisher, The Book Group.
Freckleface Strawberry’s ban is a component of a wider and expanding trend of censorship in educational institutions. Moore and other proponents of intellectual freedom contend that children must be exposed to a diverse range of concepts and narratives in order to develop empathy, tolerance, and understanding, despite the claims of some that some books and other materials are unsuitable for young readers. Everyone deserves to feel recognized and appreciated, regardless of their appearance or background, as Freckleface Strawberry reminds us.
The response to Moore’s book being banned highlights the intensely painful and intimate nature of censorship, particularly when it pertains to one’s own work. According to Moore, this problem goes beyond the book itself to include the wider ramifications for coming generations. The prohibition brings up important issues regarding the function of the state, education, and the morals we try to teach our kids.
Julianne Moore and many of her followers are shocked and disappointed by the Trump Administration’s decision to ban Freckleface Strawberry. Many people have found inspiration in the book’s message of embracing individuality and learning to appreciate oneself, so its removal from schools that serve military families raises questions about access to inclusive, diverse literature. Important discussions about the value of free speech, the potency of narrative, and the need to defend one’s rights against censorship have been spurred by Moore’s moving Instagram post. One thing is certain as the discussion goes on: Moore’s commitment to telling tales that encourage compassion, tolerance, and solidarity never wavers.