The Sunshine State Young Readers Award

The Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA) is a reading program sponsored by the Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME) and the Florida Department of Education. It is designed to encourage students in grades 3–5 (and also K–2 and 6–8, in separate categories) to read high-quality, engaging, and age-appropriate books for pleasure.

Each year, a committee of Florida educators carefully selects a list of 15 books that represent a variety of genres, themes, and diverse voices. These books are chosen for their strong storytelling, relatable characters, and ability to spark discussion and critical thinking.

Why is SSYRA important?

· It promotes a lifelong love of reading.

· It introduces students to new authors and different perspectives.

· It builds reading stamina and comprehension skills.

· It creates excitement around books through classroom discussions, activities, and optional schoolwide reading challenges.

How does it work in our class?

Students are encouraged to read as many books from the SSYRA list as they can during the school year. Fourth graders are encouraged to read at least 10 books from the list. Fifth graders are encouraged to read all 15 books from the list.

· Participants must take an AR quiz after finishing each book an earn a passing score of 80% or higher.

· Students that complete the challenge will win a prize from the media center, participate in an incentive party at the end of the school year.

You don’t need to buy the books — many are available in our school library, classroom library, or public library. You’re welcome to read them at home with your child, too!

See books on the 2026-2027 list below.