The Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA) is a statewide reading motivational program. 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. Here at Bexley Elementary we have one program for our students in Kindergarten-2nd grade called SSYRA JR and one for our 3rd-5th grade students. Friday April 10th, 2026 is the last day to finish all 15 books to be able to join the SSYRA party in May.
REWARDS:
- As students complete 1 book and 1 project or quiz, they will receive a “brag tag”
- 5 Books = 1 Principal Buck (a free dollar for a snack at the cafeteria!)
- 10 books = a goodie bag + Principal Buck
- 15 books = SSYRA party, certificate, t-shirt, photo published in the REC center and on Facebook, and more!
Bexley Elementary SSYRA grade 3-5 program
Read a SSYRA book and go to the SSYRA 2025-2026 course in MyLearning (MyPascoConnect). For every book there is a quiz. Pass the quiz with 70% or more correct answers to earn incentives. You have 3 tries to pass the quiz.
Grade 3-5: 2025/2026 Book Titles:
The Adventure of Invisible Boy, by Doogie Horner
Always, Clementine, by Carlie Sorosiak
The Amazon, by Roland Smith
Battle for the Park, by H.D. Hunter
Benny Ramirez and the Nearly Departed, by Jose Pablo Iriarte
The Callers, by Kiah Thomas
Clementine Fox and the Great Island Adventure, by Leigh Luna
Dogtown, by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko
The Guardian Test, by Christina Soontornvat
Lightningborn, by Julie Kagawa
The Lost Library, by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass
The Mystery of Locked Rooms, by Lindsay Currie
Peril at Price Manor, by Laura Parnum
Trex, by Christyne Morrell
The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry, by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown
Click here to access the SSYRA grade 3-5 book list for printing.
Bexley Elementary SSYRA JR (K-2) program
After reading a SSYRA JR book the student will choose an activity from the choice board below to show their understanding of the text. Show the project to your teacher to earn the brag tags and rewards.
Reading Activity Choice Board
Draw to show understanding:
– Create a bookmark to show the story’s setting. Include important details about the setting. Does the setting change? Use the back of the bookmark to show how it changed
– Create a bookmark about the main character of the story. Include the character’s name and words that describe them. Can’t pick just one character? use the back!
– Create a newspaper article about the most exciting part of the book. Draw a picture about the most exciting part or your favorite part. Include a sentence, or short caption to match your picture.
– Create a comic strip to show the most important parts of the story. In 3 or more boxes, draw to retell the most important parts of the story.
Write to show understanding:
– Write about the beginning, middle, and end of the story. Retell the story in your own words. Don’t forget to use time order words (first, next, then, last…)
– Write about your favorite part of the book. Tell all about this part with important details. Why was this your favorite part?
– Write a letter to a character. Ask the character about a specific part of the book, ask about their feelings, or why they did something. Tell the character your thoughts about the book!
– Write a letter to your friend or your teacher persuading them to read this book. Why do you think they should read this book? Don’t forget to include specific details about why this book is perfect for
Click here to access the SSYRA JR Reading Activity Choice Board for printing
Grade Kindergarten-2nd (SSYRA JR): 2025/2026 Book Titles:
The Fastest Tortoise in Town, by Howard Calvert
The Quacken, by Justin Colon
Squirrel-ish, by Bambi Edlund
We are Definitely Human, by X Fang
Mavis the Bravest, by Lu Fraser
Penny Lu Porcupine, by Katie Gilstrap
How This Book Got Read, by Margaret Chiu Greanias
Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to be a Kitten, by Michelle Knudsen
The Spotless Giraffe, by Peter Millett
The Man Who Didn’t Like Animals, by Deborah Underwood
Orris and Timble: The Beginning, by Kate DiCamillo
Scare School Diaries: Welcome to Scare School, by Jarrett Lerner
Kwame’s Magic Quest: Rise of the Green Flame, by Bernard Mensah
Disaster Squad: Wildfire Rescue, by Rekha Rajan
George the Flybot and the Lost Camera on Mount Everest, by Nessa Bellido Schwarz
Click here to access the SSYRA JR book list for printing
Please reach out to Jennifer Cooley, RMA/Librarian if you have any questions about the SSYRA program: jcooley@pasco.k12.fl.us
