Freckleface Strawberry: Lunch, or What's That?

Freckleface Strawberry #5

by Julianne Moore, LeUyen Pham (Illustrations)

Academy-Award winning actress and New York Times bestselling author Julianne Moore brings us more adventures from Freckleface Strawberry! Picky eaters everywhere will laugh along as Freckleface Strawberry gets her lunch from the cafeteria and asks the terrifying “What’s that?!”   With predictable sentence patterns, simple words, frequent repetition, and bright, colorful illustrations, this is a new Freckleface Strawberry book that young readers can read all by themselves!"Moore offers another delightful tale of her red-headed heroine, Freckleface Strawberry."—School Library Journal

Genres: Childrens, School

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2015

About the author

Julianne Moore is an American actress.

In October 2007, Moore made her literary debut with the publication of Freckleface Strawberry, a children's book based on her experiences as a child. In April 2009, Moore followed up with a second children's book titled Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau]

This took me back to lunch in grade school - great story about trying new food (that you might even like).

[Kate McGinty aka Caryn Caldwell]

Freckleface Strawberry usually loves lunchtime, but when she gets a bowl of unidentifiable green much in the cafeteria one day, she's apprehensive. What is this stuff? Does she dare eat it? Kids who've ever had a less-than-pleasant cafeteria meal are likely to find Freckleface Strawberry's dilemma both hilarious and easy to identify with. The way she handles the situation is admirable as well. This would make a good read-aloud or addition to a leveled reader library.

[J. Jefferson]

Reminded me of Green Eggs and Ham a little bit..
This is obviously a low-level phonics reader, but the pictures are cute, and students will probably enjoy reading it.

[Michele Knott]

We've all had that moment, where we walk into a school cafeteria, looked at the meat, and wondered what's that? I've heard some innocent questions from even the younger students, wondering what was being served that day. Students will relate to Freckleface Strawberry in this book, wondering what the mystery food is.

[Kari]

I love that the book addresses picky eaters and my little one loves the character because she has red hair like her. It is nice to see a book about picky eaters take the side of being okay with not knowing what it is.

[Sue Mosher]

Kind of a boring story, but a good learn-to-read book.

[Rebecca]

In this easy reader, Freckleface Strawberry and Windy Pants Patrick try to avoid eating the unidentifiable food served in their school’s cafeteria. When Freckleface Strawberry finds herself faced with a mysterious lunch, she and her friends wonder what it could be—and what does it taste like? The characters and illustrations are fun and colorful, but like many easy readers, this book takes four chapters (32 pages) to tell one page of story.

[Barbara]

In this series for very young readers, Freckleface Strawberry is dismayed at the odd-looking food she is served during lunch. But as it turns out, once she screws up her courage and tries the stuff, it turns out to be yummy. With its lively illustrations and humor, the book serves up a gentle reminder to try new things.

[Ashley]

Picky eaters rejoice! You are not alone. Freckleface Strawberry is faced with an unidentifiable lunch but bravely tries it anyway, with surprising results. An accessible and humorous read about friends and trying new things.

[Kimberly]

Granted, I missed the first book in the series, but why are Freckleface Strawberry and Windy Pants Patrick the only kids in their group of friends that have teasing nicknames?

[Olivier Damien Escotíez]

Ah, what a delightful, innocent little tale, perfect for the tiny, uncorrupted minds of small children. A book so charming, so utterly inoffensive, that it could only be described as a warm hug in literary form. You know, the kind of story that teaches basic human decency, kindness, and possibly the alphabet—real subversive stuff. And yet, somehow, against all logic, reason, or even the vaguest understanding of reality, this book and others like it were banned by Trump’s Department of Defense.

Why, you ask? Oh, that’s the real mystery, is it not? Was it the presence of multisyllabic words? A potential threat to the delicate, ever-fragile minds of those who fear literacy as a gateway drug to independent thought? Perhaps a bear or bunny in the story dared to display an unacceptable level of emotional intelligence, thereby undermining the very fabric of whatever it is that keeps these people awake at night.

One can only assume the book contained ideas so dangerously radical—like sharing, inclusion, or (gasp!) critical thinking—that it sent shivers down the spines of those who prefer their populations docile, obedient, and blissfully uninformed. Whatever the reason, I am sure it was a deeply well-researched and completely rational decision, much like injecting bleach or staring at the sun.

But do not worry! We are all much safer now that this menacing children’s book has been removed from military bases, ensuring that our brave troops will never fall victim to the corrosive effects of kindness and comprehension. Bravo, America. Another crisis averted.

[Rose Rosetree]

If you love picky eaters, you'll adore this story about a girl named after a fruit. A fruit to which many people are allergic: Freckleface Strawberry.

Some readers may find this book hilarious. I find it mildly annoying. Many elementary school children in America live in food deserts.

As many as 13 million children in the United States live in "food insecure" homes.

ON THE OTHER HAND, PICKY EATERS CAN HAVE REAL PROBLEMS

But no "Step into reading" book is going to solve those problems. That's for families. Maybe with help from the school guidance counselor. Or a nutritionist.

Alternatively, of course, we can just giggle at hilarious lines like the one on Page 25. Freckleface Strawberry says:

It is MY lunch.
I GUESS I will eat it.

Although there's a happy ending, imo... Chances are that these kids will remain as spoiled as ever.

RATING THIS BOOK

My policy is to rate books according to what the intended readers would like. Plenty of people would gobble up this story and consider it cute. So, FIVE STARS.

It takes all kinds to make a world of Goodreaders.

[Angie]

My Review: This is a fun book for all those young kids eating school lunches for the first time. Or even trying anything new at home too. Sometimes food doesn't look that appetizing but turns out to be really tasty. We really liked this book, even though it is a little simple for Munchkin, he still enjoyed it and made several observations throughout the story. It is a great level 2 book with lots of repetition and easy sentences and words.

[Renee Taylor]

Read this to my grandson. Teaches the lesson not to say you don't like something before you try it. Freckleface Strawberry is a unique little girl with a style all her own. Many of the kids make fun of her uniqueness and don't want to be around her. But one of the kids finds himself in a situation in which he learns you don't say you don't like something until you try it.

[Kelly]

Of course I set out to try to read Julianne's books since learning they were... banned by the orange cheeto?? But I hadn't known she'd written any, anyway. They're from, like, 2015?

I don't have kids, but I think this book suits beginning reading needs perfectly. So cute!!! I love it.

[Oana-Maria Uliu]

2.5
Useful for making children be less fussy about food.