Children's Book Review: Freckleface Strawberry and the Really Big Voice by Julieanne Moore, Illus by LeUyen Pham

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge,from Doubleday Publishing, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it

Since we were talking about Irish earlier, it only makes sense to mention this book today!

If you have freckles, you can try these things:

1) Make them go away. Unless scrubbing doesn't work.

2) Cover them up. Unless your mom yells at you for using a marker.

3) Disappear.

Um, where'd you go?

Oh, there you are.

There's one other thing you can do:

4) LIVE WITH THEM!

Because after all, the things that make you different also make you YOU.

Once upon a time there was a little girl who was just like everybody else. She was seven. She was short. She could ride a bike. She was just like everybody else, except for one thing. She had red hair. And something worse...FRECKLES!

Meet Freckleface Strawberry: a red- haired and frecklefaced 7-year-old girl who's learning to love the skin she's in. Because after all, the things that make you different also make you YOU.

Synopsis:

Freckleface Strawberry’s very best friend, Windy Pants Patrick, has a BIG problem. His outside voice doesn't seem to fit inside of school. From the lunchroom to the classroom, he's just TOO LOUD! Is there anyplace in school where his big voice can fit? Parents, teachers, and librarians alike will love this light-hearted way to talk to children about when to your their INSIDE voices and when to use their OUTSIDE voices. And young readers will take comfort in knowing that what makes each kid different is also what makes them shine. 

Review:

This book series is aimed at ages 3-7, and it is perfect for reading out loud, or for early readers to learn from. This would be a perfect book for reading with your preschooler, about to go into Kindergarten, and having to learn new rules of voice control and talking, or for younger kids going into preschool itself. Kids will love the bright illustrations and seeing kids who act like they do, freckles and all! It is a fun book, and it would be great as a Back to School gift for a youngster who might be just a bit too enthusiastic and needs to learn what inside voice is, after a fun Summer spend outdoors!

Extras:

Be sure to check out the Strawberry Freckleface website, for fun activities (perfect for Summer boredom!) and even a home party kit! There are also not 1, but TWO Strawberry Freckleface game apps in the iTunes store (sorry, no android yet)

About the Author:

JULIANNE MOORE is the author of five books for children, four of them about a girl named Freckleface Strawberry. Freckleface Strawberry is based on Julianne herself as a child. “I was tiny, too,” she says, “and where I got my freckles from was a mystery.”  As well as appearing in a series of bestselling books, Freckleface Strawberry now stars in two interactive apps and a musical play. 

She is also the author of My Mom Is a Foreigner, but Not to Me. In a glowing review, the New York Times wrote of the book: “Moore captures the children’s complicated mix of feelings: embarrassment, defiance, pride, appreciation and, most palpably, love.”

Her love of reading started early; books were Julianne's constant companions as her military family moved from place to place. “I am a huge lover of literature and books have always played a central role in my life.” she says. “So the opportunity to participate in a world that holds so much meaning for me has just been tremendous.”

About the Illustrator:

LeUyen (pronounced Le Win) Pham grew up with no freckles. But she always loved them on other people. She started to draw as soon as she could walk, and hasn't stopped since.

She has illustrated over 50 books for children, as well as writing a few of her own. Her books include the New York Times bestselling GRACE FOR PRESIDENT by Kelly DiPucchio, GOD'S DREAM by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Alvin Ho series by Lenore Look, as well as her own BIG SISTER, LITTLE SISTER and ALL THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT YOU.

She lives in San Francisco with her husband (who is also an artist) and her two ridiculously adorable little boys (no freckles on any of them!). Visit LeUyen's Site