Lily and the Mixed-Up Letters - Hardcover

Deborah Hodge is an award-winning author of many books for children. Emma’s Story, published in 2003, was her first work of fiction. She is a former elementary school teacher and curriculum writer, editor, and an instructional designer for the British Columbia Ministry of Education. Deborah Hodge lives in Burnaby, British Columbia.

France Brassard has been enchanted with children’s book illustration ever since, as a young child, she received a tiny picture book in her Christmas stocking. After studying Interior and Graphic Design, she returned to her first passion and became a book illustrator. Fifteen years later she has numerous books to her credit. France lives in the province of Quebec with her young son, Luke.

Grade 1-3-Lily loved kindergarten, especially painting, but by the time she reaches second grade, "school isn't fun anymore," because she has trouble reading. "The letters dance and blur in front of her eyes." To her dismay, the teacher announces that the students will each read a page aloud on Parent Day. Lily talks over her worries with her mother and is surprised to learn that she also had trouble reading when she was a little girl. Lily practices all week, and her friend Grace helps out by becoming Lily's reading buddy. On the big day, the parents admire Lily's artwork, but when it is her turn to read, she freezes. She stumbles over some words in the first sentence, but slowly gains confidence, and manages to read the entire page. Everyone applauds and her mom gives her a proud hug. On the way home, Lily is happy because she realizes "she can do it again." The detailed watercolors infuse the story with genuine emotion that is somewhat lacking in the narrative. Although a bit lengthy, the text is composed in the present tense, using uncomplicated sentence structures. Children who struggle with their letters may identify with Lily and want to practice their own reading skills with this sweet picture book. However, Diane Burton Robb's The Alphabet War: A Story about Dyslexia (Albert Whitman, 2004) may be a better choice.—Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA
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