Deborah Hodge’s Lily and the Mixed-Up Letters (Tundra Books) is about a second grader whose reading difficulties cause her to stop enjoying school. Her insecurity increases when she learns that each student must read aloud on Parent Day. With help from her mother and her friend Grace, and plenty of extra practice, Lily grows confident enough to take on the challenge. One of the story’s strengths is that the main character excels in one area (art) even though she struggles in another. Although some children with reading difficulties require more help than the extra practice Lily needed, the author’s gentle and encouraging treatment of dyslexia is commendable. mRb