This was a very well illustrated children’s book that shows children not to be sad or upset they are different. All the kids are ready to go for picture day except Lola. She wears a huge hat to hide her freckles thinking everyone was going to make fun of her when in the end they created a new class photo and made sure they colored freckles on everyone’s face so no one was different. Great way to show children not to exclude others or make them feel excluded. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback!

THIS WAS SO SWEET! I loved this story about being okay with who you are and not only embracing it yourself, but everyone around you embracing it too. I loved how they all banded together once she took off her big, red hat and they put freckles all over their faces so she would feel less uncomfortable! It brought tears to my eyes. THAT is how it should be. THAT is the kind of thing we should be teaching our kids. Our differences make us who we are and we should be celebrating and embracing them and when we feel we can't, those around us should rally behind us and remind us that we can and we will someday.

I loved this.

The illustrations in this book were cute, but the flow of the book was a little stilted. I love that her classmates made her feel included, but it seemed a little over the top for freckles. I could understand if it was really bad shyness and the freckles, but I wished the wording/story had flowed a little better. Overall cute book though.

I liked the concept of this story a girl who hides something because she thinks she has something to hide.
But freckles, really I don't think I've ever heard a kid ask about freckles in a negative way.
I was thinking Vitiligo, or possibly some sort of scarring, like from a cleft palate, but freckles. This would have been a perfect opportunity to highlight insecurities faced by someone who doesn't understand about things like that. I guess it works for freckles but it could have done more.

Thank you to the author, Clavis Publishing and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great book for younger children about friendship, self-esteem and overcoming insecurities, and has a message that many grown-ups need to hear too. I loved the diversity and inclusivity in the illustrations, and the overall message was communicated in a wonderful loving way.

Lola does not like the attention she receives. She tries very hard not to be noticed. She is very self-coconscious of her looks because of her freckles. But on picture she hides behind her hat and tries to get out of taking her picture. With the help of her friends, her freckles become what unites them. A lovely story to read with your self-coconscious child.

A special thank you to Clavis Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest revie

Lola doesn't like to show her face, and so she hides behind a big, red hat. But, when picture day rolls around, she's exposed for all to see. Luckily a friend comes up with a great (and funny) solution to Lola's problem.

This is a sweet story for any child who feels as though something about their appearance sets them apart.

I liked the illustrations and that there was a range of skin colours. The text blocks were perhaps a bit too dense and I couldn’t help but think that perhaps the home teacher/adult could have talked to her directly if they noticed she had concerns and insecurities about her appearance and talked to the children about how it might feel like too much pressure for the young girl to be forced to take off her hat if she didn’t want to. That said, I did Elise the ending and how easily they made her feel comfortable about her freckles.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

This was a story about a girl who was very clearly bothered by her appearance, as she choose to hide it every single day with a giant red hat. She'd even gone so far as to skip school on picture days to avoid having to have her face memorialized. But then one picture day, she forgot what day it was and went to school anyway. At that point she had no choice but to ditch the hat, and let all her friends see her freckles.

Now I found the premise of this story a little unbelievable, because no school would let a kid wear a big f*ck off hat every day. I can get on board with unicorns and fairies being real, but this is just too far out there for me to suspend belief on. LOL.

The illustrations were very bright and colorful with that big red hat all over the place in them. They were definitely very attention grabbing. I'm not sure I'd want to read this book very many times, because although ultimately the girl's classmates accept her, freckles and all, it's such a shallow thing to be worried about without any prior events leading to it, and I just don't think that's a message I'd want to give my kids too often. Overall I give this book 3.2 out of 5 stars.

As someone who has always struggled with my insecurities, who still is struggling even now as an adult, this book hit so close to home. My heart broke for Lola because I totally could relate to how she felt, but I'm glad that she had such a great support system. Sometimes I hate how I look when walking past a reflection too.

This was an uplifting and heartwarming read with good representation and fun illustrations. However, the book also feels a tad unrealistic as sometimes kids are just mean and not so accepting as depicted here. I would have liked for it to address issues such as bullying and self-love in a more nuanced context, as well as see how Lola overcomes it all.

I received an electronic ARC from Clavis Publishing through NetGalley.
Lola always wears a giant red hat to school. No one is sure why but she never shows her face. Then she forgets it is picture day and has to remove the hat so she is seen. Readers and her classmates discover she has freckles all over her face and feels self-conscious about them. As she waits for everyone to laugh, a classmate offers a solution that creates a unique class photo and celebrates support for Lola. We then see Lola become braver about sharing who she is. The illustrations support the text and bring it to life.

I really wanted to like this book. This book is about a student who is not happy that it’s picture day. They wear their hat all the time. She uses this hat to because she has a face full of freckles. They feel different from their classmates and the last thing they want is to have their picture taken. Her classmates take her in hand, and they come up with a perfect idea to get the perfect picture day. The story is nice but it has been done better. First off it is way too long for a picture book. It also takes too long to set up that the big hat is because of freckles. I do love how the kids all get in on making our main character feel better about themselves, but overall, this book has been done better, and this one is not memorable.

Many thanks to Clavis for an advanced reader copy in exchange for this honest review.

In A Picture Day to Remember, Natalia Paruzel-Gibson captures young Lola's insecurity about her freckles as she is faced with taking off her hat to reveal them on picture day. With the help of a compassionate, empathetic friend, Lola is able to tackle her fears, which results in the most unique class photo. I read this to my daughter, who delighted in the illustrations and identified acts of compassion and friendship. 5/5 for young children.

Being insecure about your appearance can be challenging at any age, but especially as a child. In this story, our main character wears a large red hat to school everyday because she doesn't want anyone to see her face. Her teacher and classmates don't make her feel bad about it, but do encourage her to take it off. On picture day, the photographer needs her to take off the hat for the photo. Her classmates respond in a really kind and inclusive way, but I won't spoil how because you should read the book for yourself!

Many kids will identify with the girl in the red hat. When we have something we don't like about ourselves, it can seem like everyone else is focusing on it too. This book shows kids that they are free to be themselves and their unique traits are cool!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me access to this title ahead of publication.
I'm not really sure what to think of this book. Although the story seems sweet at first glance, and the message about self-esteem is nice, I really wasn't a fan of the the teasing and peer pressure that pushed Lola to take off her hat, or the resolution of giving everyone freckles at the end. Overall not sure about the message.

This is a cute, funny children’s story about the value of accepting yourself. A child wears a huge floppy hat to hide her face, which is a problem on the day when class pictures are to be taken. The problem and the solution are both humorous and heart-warming.

The book would be a good buy for either a school library or a children’s section in a public library. It celebrates individuality with humor and without being cloying or mawkish.

I wasn't a fan of picture day either so I could relate to Lola's dilemma. This an adorable picture book about friendship, self-esteem and confidence. The illustrations were on point and this would be a perfect read for any insecure young children.

Thank goodness that we don't hear what any bullies say to Lola but only know how she feels about the difference about her that makes her ashamed, and the wonder of a friend who knows just the right thing to make her feel better about herself. And, yes, kids DO still try to make those with freckles, scars, or whatever feel ashamed. Shame on them and hooray for friends who love you no matter what!
The illustrations by Nynke Boelens are fun, simply beautiful, colorful, and delightfully imaginative.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Clavis Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!

A story about a girl having to deal with her insecurities on picture day. I personally don’t have freckles and haven’t heard of it as a insecurity. My only concern is rather than praising her difference the book just gave everyone else freckles.

This was a cute book about self confidence and friendship. The pictures were really cute and the ending was very sweet. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.