PECOSITA'S FRECKLY FRECKLE FACE

A brown-skinned child delights in her freckles.

Abuela calls the young narrator Pecosita (“after the word ‘pecas,’ which means freckles in Spanish”); she compares her freckles to stars scattered across the night sky. “Some people have just a few freckles. Some people have lots of freckles,” observes the protagonist. She explains that melanin causes freckles and that spending time in the sun brings out even more of them. The child even has a favorite freckle—“right here, on the tip of my nose.” Although she is the only person in her family with freckles, she sees them as something that makes her special—so special that her older sister even tries adding her own freckles with makeup. Not everyone is kind. When other children tease the protagonist, calling her freckles “spots,” the girl confidently points out that many of her favorite things have spots, too, including her stuffed owl, her umbrella, and chocolate chip cookies. The story ends on a bright note as she declares, “No matter where I go, my freckles are my favorite part of me.” Paired with Velasquez’s rich oil paintings highlighting freckles across a range of brown skin tones, the story offers a meaningful contribution to conversations about representation and body positivity. Its simple message will resonate with anyone who needs a reminder to embrace what makes them unique.

A joyful celebration of freckles and family love.