Book Talks with a Twist

In this latest round of book talks, our titles reflect a popular expression as we move into springtime and summer: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.



"Something old" refers to titles we've had in the collection for a bit--like Sanderson's The Rithmatist and Brow's The Wild Robot.

Some of our new spring book fair purchases are included in the "something new" category--books like Ghost by Jason Reynolds and Boy X by Dan Smith.

With classic retellings like Heartless popular now, our book talks also include "something borrowed" with Redwine's The Shadow Queen.

And our "something blue?" Cheating just a little, Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth--its beautiful dark blue cover meeting the need. 

Take a look at the Slides presentation--maybe you'll find something to interest you in this last quarter!

State Award Winning Books Announced

Earlier in March, Middle School students used Google Classroom to vote for both the Iowa Children's Choice Award book and the Iowa Teen Award book. More than 130 students were eligible to vote, having read at least two books from the nominations. Winning the Iowa Children's Choice Award was Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt; the Iowa Teen Award winner was Backlash by Sarah Darer Littman.

Iowa teacher librarians met today for their annual conference and state-wide winners were announced. A drum roll please. . . the Iowa Teen Award winner was also Backlash! And the Iowa Children's Choice winner was I Survived: The Great Chicago Fire by Lauren Tarshis. Statewide, 218 schools participated in the Iowa Children's Choice Award voting, with more than 17,100 votes submitted!

Stay tuned for the 2017 - 2018 Iowa Children's Choice and Iowa Teen Award nominees--and remember, if you read two or more of them, you'll be eligible to vote next spring. These great books make for some good summer reading!

Happy School Library Month!

April is here, and that means we're officially celebrating School Library Month, the American Association of School Librarians' celebration of school libraries, their programs, and all they do. Check out the poster promoting this year's theme "Because School Libraries Empower Students."

Just how are we in the library empowering students at DCG Middle School? With a lot of choice and voice and work and building. We're talking about & recommending books to each other; using technology to lean, explore, and create; make connections personally and digitally; and, strengthening our relationships. Visit soon--we'd love to talk with you!