Censorship

Julianne Moore's Children's Book Removed From DoD Schools

Published FEB 19 2025

Story

Above: Actress Julianne Moore attends the 2024 ELLE Women In Hollywood Celebration on Nov.19, 2024. Image credit: Maya Dehlin Spach/Staff/FilmMagic via Getty Images

The Facts

Actress Julianne Moore's 2007 children's book "Freckleface Strawberry" has been temporarily removed from Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools for compliance review, as part of a broader evaluation of materials following US Pres. Donald Trump's executive orders on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.
New York Post
The book, which tells the story of a 7-year-old girl learning to accept her freckles, is among several materials being evaluated alongside other titles, including "No Truth Without Ruth" about late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and "Becoming Nicole" about a transgender actress.
guardian
People
The DoDEA, which oversees 161 schools serving nearly 70K children from military and civilian defense families, states that no materials have been permanently banned, but rather they've been relocated to professional collections for evaluation.
CNN
This review follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Jan. 26, 2025 announcement ending all DEI programming to comply with Trump's executive order closing DEI offices in the federal government.
New York Post
Moore, who graduated from a DoD school in Frankfurt, Germany, and whose father was a Vietnam veteran, expressed shock at the review, questioning what could be controversial about her picture book.
guardian
PEN America reported 10,046 documented instances of book bans across US public schools during the 2023-2024 school year, a 200% increase from the previous year.
People

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Anti-Trump narrative

The removal of books from school libraries, even temporarily, represents a concerning erosion of First Amendment rights and academic freedom. This limits students' access to diverse perspectives and stories that reflect their own experiences.

The Conversation

Pro-Trump narrative

This review process ensures educational materials align with executive orders and department guidance, maintaining appropriate content standards for military families. Materials are undergoing proper evaluation by professional staff.

FOX News