Help!

Hey everyone!

I finally got a job teaching fourth grade this upcoming school year. Since this will be my first year teaching I need to build a classroom library pronto! I'm going to go through this whole blog and write down what's already been suggested, but does anyone have suggestions for books that are good for the fourth grade level that they haven't already posted about? What books did you/your children like to read in fourth grade? I'd love to hear your ideas! Thanks!

Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang

Ages 12-adult

When Ji-Li was a small girl in Shanghai, China, she believed that Chairman Mao and the Communist Party had saved China and that she was very lucky to live there. She was happy, smart, a star pupil admired by her teachers and fellow students. Her family was financially secure and had good standing. Then in 1966, when Ji-Li was 12 years old the Cultural Revolution began and her world began to crumble. It was interesting to read how the government began systematically restricting more and more freedoms and the devastating effect it had on the people. This book is written from the perspective of a child who grew up very quickly as she had to become the care taker of her family. Despite all that the author has been through, she still considers herself quite blessed. She says, "After surviving the Cultural Revolution, I find myself more sensitive to the beauty of the human spirit". Ji-Li faced her trials with courage. This book is a quick and interesting read.

Jungle Doctor (Series) by Paul White

Ages 9-12 years

Paul White is an Australian doctor who went to Africa in 1938 to work as a doctor and serve as a missionary to the people of Tanzania. This series of books is based on his experiences in Africa and began as a radio show in the 1940's and was later compiled into these 20 books. The book I read is called Jungle Doctor's Enemies and was about a little blind boy Mubofu who secretly brought children from a hostile village to the hospital for treatment during a measles outbreak. He selflessly helped save many lives, but then mysteriously disappeared. What a touching story to read about the compassion that this little blind orphan had for the suffering of others. I don't want to spoil the story, but this is a good book to read with a tissue in hand.