Actor Julianne Moore says she is surprised that schools overseen by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) have apparently decided to pull her children’s book, “Freckleface Strawberry,” amid an ordered review of educational content.
“It is a great shock for me to learn that my first book, ‘Freckleface Strawberry,’ has been banned by the Trump Administration from schools run by the Department of Defense,” Moore wrote in a post on Instagram on Sunday.
Amid the review, the department has also reportedly also pulled at least two other children’s books: Kathleen Krull’s biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “No Truth Without Ruth,” and Ellis Nutt’s “Becoming Nicole.”
The DoDEA notified parents with children in these schools that these books were pulled due to a review focusing on materials related to gender and equity ideologies, according to The Guardian.
A spokesperson for DoDEA told The Hill the Department of Education is reviewing its current policies and instructional resources in light of recent executive orders from President Trump and Department of Defense guidance.
“At this time, we are conducting a review — no materials have been permanently removed from our school libraries pending completion of the review. During this period, materials under review will have access limited to professional staff,” a statement from the department said.
Moore wrote in her Instagram post that “Freckleface Strawberry” is a semi-autobiographical story about a 7-year-old girl who does not like her freckles but later accepts them when she realizes that she is different “just like everybody else.”
“It is a book I wrote for my children and for other kids to remind them that we all struggle, but are united by our humanity and our community,” the “May December” star added.
“I can’t help but wonder what is so controversial about this picture book that caused it to be banned by the US Government,” Moore said. “I am truly saddened and never thought I would see this in a country where freedom of speech and expression is a constitutional right.”
Last month, the Department of Education dismissed 11 complaints regarding book bans that it had received during the Biden administration.
The department announced at the time that it was ending former President Biden’s “book ban hoax,” saying the complaints about book removals were “meritless” and based “upon a dubious legal theory.”
