Summer Reads for Kids

Sunshine State Jr. Books for Grades K-2

The mission of the SSYRA Jr. program is to develop student interest in reading for pleasure by exposing them to a wide range of appropriate literature. Sunshine State Jr. books are selected for their wide appeal, literary value, varied genres, curriculum connections, and/or multicultural representation. Students are encouraged to listen to these books read to them, read them in a small group setting, or read independently to develop skills in fluency and comprehension.

Sunshine State Books for Grades 3-5

The Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA) Program is a statewide reading motivational program for students in grades 3 through 8. The purpose of the SSYRA Program is to encourage students to read independently for pleasure and to read books that are on, above, and below their reading level in order to improve their reading fluency. Sunshine State books are selected for their wide appeal, literary value, varied genres, curriculum connections, and/or multicultural representation. The SSYRA committee is comprised of 20 qualified school librarians located throughout the state of Florida, subdivided into two committees- grades 3-5 and grades 6-8.

Updated June 13, 2025
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St. Lucie County Library System St. Lucie County Library System
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Summer Reads for Kids

Sunshine State Jr. Books for Grades K-2

The mission of the SSYRA Jr. program is to develop student interest in reading for pleasure by exposing them to a wide range of appropriate literature. Sunshine State Jr. books are selected for their wide appeal, literary value, varied genres, curriculum connections, and/or multicultural representation. Students are encouraged to listen to these books read to them, read them in a small group setting, or read independently to develop skills in fluency and comprehension.

Sunshine State Books for Grades 3-5

The Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA) Program is a statewide reading motivational program for students in grades 3 through 8. The purpose of the SSYRA Program is to encourage students to read independently for pleasure and to read books that are on, above, and below their reading level in order to improve their reading fluency. Sunshine State books are selected for their wide appeal, literary value, varied genres, curriculum connections, and/or multicultural representation. The SSYRA committee is comprised of 20 qualified school librarians located throughout the state of Florida, subdivided into two committees- grades 3-5 and grades 6-8.

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The fastest tortoise in town
Calvert, Howard
Paper Book

Sunshine State Jr. Books for Grades K-2

The quacken
Colón, Justin
Paper Book
Surrey Schools' Picture Book of the Year 2025-2026 Nominee Fans of The Bad Seed and Creepy Carrots will flock to this hilarious, lightly spooky picture book about a boy who unwittingly unleashes a ferociously fuzzy beast on his campground! ...

Sunshine State Jr. Books for Grades K-2

We are definitely human
Fang, X.
Paper Book
A riotously funny new picture book from the author of Dim Sum Palace 'An author-illustrator with a singular and witty vision' New York Times 'Quite beautiful... Laugh-out-loud lovely' Booklist, starred review <...

Sunshine State Jr. Books for Grades K-2

How this book got red
Greanias, Margaret Chiu
Paper Book
None of the panda books are ever about red pandas! Red wants to change that. When Red discovers a new book about pandas, she can't wait to read it! Except it's about only one kind of panda, and red pandas are completely left out. Red never gets to read stories about pandas like...

Sunshine State Jr. Books for Grades K-2

Luigi, the spider who wanted to be a kitten
Knudsen, Michelle
Paper Book

Sunshine State Jr. Books for Grades K-2

The spotless giraffe
Millett, Peter
Paper Book
The Spotless Giraffe is a heart-warming picture book about a baby giraffe born without spots, inspired by the 2023 global news story.

Sunshine State Jr. Books for Grades K-2

Mavis the bravest
Fraser, Lu
Paper Book
An irresistible story about finding the bright spark of braveness inside from the creators of One Camel Called Doug, and the author of award-winning The Littlest Yak. Mavis is not like her adventurous friend Marge. Mavis is a chicken who finds...

Sunshine State Jr. Books for Grades K-2

The man who didn't like animals
Underwood, Deborah
Paper Book
Who was Old MacDonald before he had a farm A New York Times bestselling duo brings us this freshly imagined origin story about the storied farmer and his animal friends. Brilliantly illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist LeUyen Pham.  There once was a man who loved his...

Sunshine State Jr. Books for Grades K-2

Orris and Timble: The beginning
DiCamillo, Kate
Paper Book
From beloved storyteller Kate DiCamillo comes the first book in a warm and funny early-reader trilogy about a misanthropic rat and a naive owl--and the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Orris the rat lives alone in an old barn surrounded by his treasures, until the day his...

Sunshine State Jr. Books for Grades K-2

The adventures of invisible boy. [1]
Horner, Doogie
Paper Book

Sunshine State Books for Grades 3-5

Always, Clementine
Sorosiak, Carlie
Paper Book
A funny, wise and heartwarming story, with a truly one-of-a-kind hero, from the author of the highly-acclaimed I, Cosmo and My Life as a Cat.

Sunshine State Books for Grades 3-5

Dogtown
Applegate, Katherine
Paper Book
The New York Times bestseller, Indie bestseller, and Amazon Best Children's Book from beloved authors Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko and with illustrations by Wallace West, Dogtown is at once an uplifting story and a page-turning adventure, sure to find a forever home...

Sunshine State Books for Grades 3-5

The Guardian test
Soontornvat, Christina
Paper Book

Sunshine State Books for Grades 3-5

Lightningborn
Kagawa, Julie
Paper Book
In a world in the clouds where only the rich own dragons, a poor boy named Remy finds a wild baby dragon--believed to be extinct--and becomes the focus of an evil pirate's vengeance. REMY spends his days trying to survive the mean streets of Cutthroat Wedge--one of the many...

Sunshine State Books for Grades 3-5

The lost library
Stead, Rebecca
Paper Book
Now a New York Times bestseller and a #1 Indie Bestseller, readers won't want to miss this story of a little free library guarded by a cat, and a boy who takes on the mystery it keeps. A TODAY SHOW Kids' Read Pick! * The Amazon #1 Best Book for Kids * "A...

Sunshine State Books for Grades 3-5

The mystery of locked rooms
Currie, Lindsay
Paper Book
*Instant New York Times and USA Today bestseller!* Crack the codes. Find the treasure. Escape the house. From the acclaimed author of Scritch Scratch and What Lives in the Woods comes an action-packed adventure...

Sunshine State Books for Grades 3-5

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