By admin 
A children’s book by actress and author Julianne Moore, Freckleface Strawberry, is being reprinted after a surge in demand, following its removal from U.S. military schools under the Trump administration.
On February 16, Moore expressed her “great shock” on Instagram after learning that her book, which was published in 2007, was banned in schools overseen by the U.S. Department of Defense. The story revolves around a young girl who learns to embrace her freckles and red hair.
The controversy began when a Pentagon memo revealed that all books in around 160 U.S. military schools globally were temporarily pulled for a “compliance review” to identify materials related to “gender ideology or discriminatory equity ideology.” This action was part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to adjust educational content in public schools.
On February 20, Moore shared an update, announcing that the overwhelming support and “deluge of orders” led to a reprint of Freckleface Strawberry.
“Whenever I read my books to kids, I always ask them to guess who the real Freckleface Strawberry is, and then I roll up my sleeves and show them my freckles,” Moore wrote. “I want them to understand that even grown-ups remember feeling different as kids.” She also expressed gratitude to her supporters.
Trump’s Response to the Book Ban
The Trump administration has dismissed accusations of censorship, calling claims of book bans a “hoax.” Critics argue that the Pentagon’s actions are an attempt to eliminate discussions on race, gender, and diversity from educational environments.
Trump’s recent executive orders, such as Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling, represent an increase in restrictions on educational content. Supporters claim these policies protect children from “political indoctrination,” while critics see them as attacks on free expression.
The issue of book bans has been growing in recent years. Over 10,000 book bans were reported in U.S. public schools during the 2023-2024 academic year, with a significant number of books on topics like race, gender identity, and historical events being disproportionately affected, according to PEN America, a group that defends free expression in literature.
Figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have defended the book bans, arguing that removing books from schools does not constitute censorship, as the books are still available for purchase. Critics, however, believe that restricting access in public schools is a form of suppression.
Publishers Challenge Book Bans in Court
The “Big Five” publishers—Penguin Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster—have filed a lawsuit against book bans in U.S. schools and libraries. They are challenging Idaho’s House Bill 710, which, effective July 1, 2024, mandates that “harmful” books be relocated to adult-only sections and bans minors from accessing books with “sexual content.”
Books banned under this law include The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison.
Gill Bikram Singh