Common Sense Media Review
By Patricia Tauzer
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teased girl learns self-acceptance in fun friendship tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
FRECKLEFACE STRAWBERRY is the story of a feisty young girl who feels different from everyone else because of her red hair and freckles. Kids tease her, ask her embarrassing questions, and give her a nickname she hates. She goes to great extremes trying to make her freckles disappear, even going so far as to wear a ski mask to school. Though she never completely accepts her freckles, she does accept herself for who she is and learns that she has some very good friends.
Is It Any Good?
With a Japanese brush pen and digital coloring, LeUyen Pham has brought a playful, energetic exuberance to Julianne Moore's funny dialogue and sweet story of Freckleface Strawberry. This is a picture book that comes alive when read aloud and will tickle readers of all ages. It offers a valuable lesson about self-acceptance and will give families of school-aged kids plenty to discuss. The somewhat negative treatment of freckles may be the only drawback, especially for freckle-faced kids who've never before thought of them in a negative light.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about teasing. When's hurtful? When's it fun? Do you think her friends thought her freckles were bad, or just unusual? What other books have you read about kids who feel bad about being different?
Freckleface Strawberry felt she was just the same as her friends, except for her freckles. Do you think she was right? What can you tell about her friends when you look at the illustrations? Are they all the same? What differences do you see?
How do you feel about freckles? Do you have any? How do the illustrations show us how Freckleface Strawberry feels about hers? How about the illustrations at the end of the book?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : LeUyen Pham
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Bloomsbury USA
- Publication date : October 16, 2007
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 3 - 8
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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