Welcome Ms. Dalziel!

The library is open and things are almost back to normal.  Thank you to all the students who have returned their library books from last school year, however, there are still many missing.  If anyone finds books under the couch or under their bed, please return them ASAP, those books have been away for far too long!
We have a new face in the library, Ms. Dalziel who is teaching Library prep to some of the primary classes.  Welcome Ms. Dalziel and thank you for helping keep the library stay so clean and organized!
Ms. Dalziel, Mrs. Allchin and I cannot do it all! I do not mean run the world, I am talking about keeping the library organized and clean! If you have any spare time and love books, volunteering in the library is perfect for you! Come by and visit Ms. Borthwick or Ms. Dalziel in the library to ask any questions and/or to get training.
 
I have been busily trying to get some new books out on our shelves! Stay tuned for a variety of new books available in many different genres...
A new series to look for:

Also, there will be a Scholastic Book Fair coming soon:
November 17th-20th 8:30am, lunchtime and 2:45pm.  Any adult who would like to volunteer for the 830am shift or the 2:45pm shift can email me at kborthwick@sd38.bc.ca.
We will be selecting a group of students to volunteer during lunchtime sales.

I love Scholastic Bookfairs as much as any student, however, this year our focus will be on the books not the little gadgets or erasers.  We will also be offering a lot of prizes (books!) for all the students in the school to promote the love of reading.  Reading is the most important life skill and can open up many opportunities and experiences.  Without it, students are left frustrated, unmotivated and lacking confidence.  However, forcing kids to read books they do not like, is not the way to foster their love of reading, it has actually been proving to deter kids from reading altogether.  Many studies have shown that kids need to pick out their own reading materials in order for them to be engaged.  Any kind of reading counts, for example: hockey magazines, blogs about video games or graphic novels...we have to support their choices and encourage them to take risks once they are comfortable enough in their reading abilities.  If you have any questions or concerns about your child's reading or their library choices, please feel free to contact your child's teacher or come and see me (Ms. Borthwick) at any time.   

Welcome Back!!!

Wow, it has been far too long since I have written to the Dixon Community! The learning commons is ready and waiting for everyone to come and enjoy! What is a learning commons you ask? It is a space that is beyond the library...it is a place where people read, learn, inquire, ask questions, make connections, reflect, transform thinking, make inferences, talk about learning, problem solve, think critically, giggle, play, smile.... We have been using the library like this for awhile and now you know its official name of it!!!

I look forward to seeing everyone come through the door.  Just remember that any books from last school year still need to be brought back asap! If they are not back within the next two weeks, I will have to send home a notice and possibly a bill for the missing book(s).  I know that will not happen, because everyone at Dixon is committed to be socially responsible.

As always, we are looking for some more help in the library and in a few weeks I will be offering a training session for new volunteers, stay tuned for the finalized date and time.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to come by or contact me at the school by phone.

See you soon!
Ms. Borthwick
604-604-6608
kborthwick@sd38.bc.ca

I survived - The Japanese Tsunami 2011

This book is a very suspenseful page turner and at the end there are facts about the tsunami.
4.5/5
Bryan

Underworlds

This book is full of adventure and mystery, and mythology and a very good book. 4/5
Bryan

It is about three friends that travel to the Underworld to save their friend that has been swallowed by Hades. I liked the part with the Myrmidons fighting the three friends in the bronze tower. My favourite character is probably Jon.

I didn't like the part where Charon says they can't have a trip back across the Styx river even though he said it was fine to have a round trip

Filip 

The Secret Science Alliance

Good job Eleanor Davis must of took a long time! It's about 3 guys and a girl and they make science stuff. Cool! Love it!
Filip

3.1415926! This book is a great book for readers that like comics and makes you hungry for more! Pi anyone? A+
Bryan

The Unwanteds

A fantasy of art and magic outside the gray, gloomy walls of Quill.
Unwanteds is a fascinating and suspenseful book. Everybody has to escape death more than once. Death comes with the mutter of the mouth or flick of a wrist. "Quill prevails while the strong survive" until Artame and Quill find peace.
Chloe

This book is full of magic and fantasy! 6.5/10
Bryan

Llama Drama - In it to win it

Book read: Llama Drama

The book is about llamas competing  between themselves. It is OK but I would rate it a 6 out of 10 because I expected it to be funnier. Also there wasn't enough action for me.

I enjoyed the parts with the two bad guys named Bolt & Dolt.

Filip Grade 4  Div.3

http://www.amazon.ca/Llama-Drama-Win-Rose-Impey/dp/0007494815/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390968257&sr=1-4&keywords=Llama+drama+in+it

Dixon's Readers Choice!

We just started yesterday and already I have a review! Well done Filip in Div.3
For other students who want more chances to win some books and to have their voices heard, please send me your reviews at kborthwick@sd38.bc.ca

Happy reading!

The voting will begin at the end of April, so there is lots of time to read all the books....

Readers Choice

Readers Choice is a new club that we are going to try out this winter.  It is a way for the Dixon students to have their voice be heard about which book is their favourite.  There will be 4 French novel titles and 6 English novel titles and there will be 5 copies of each text.  The students can read as many as they can and vote the week before spring break.  To earn more votes and a chance to win some of the leftover books, students can hand in a short review of the book, that I will be posting on the bulletin board outside the library.  This is not a mandatory club, we will meet once and then it is the responsibility of the student to come and exchange for a different title.  I hope we have a good turnout and I look forward in seeing which book becomes Dixon's Choice 2014!

Happy Reading!