What is SSYRA? The Sunshine State Young Readers Award, Explained
The Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA) is Florida’s statewide reading program for grades K–8 — lots of families and teachers just call it the Sunshine State Readers or Sunshine State Books. Here’s how SSYRA works for 2026-2027 (the SSYRA 2026 cycle, sometimes written 26–27): who runs it, the grade divisions, how many books you read to earn a vote, and where to find the current SSYRA book list.
What is the Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA)?
SSYRA is Florida’s statewide reading-motivation program, run by the Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME). Each year a committee selects a list of nominated books for students to read; students who read enough of them get to vote for their favorite. The goal is simple: encourage kids to read for fun.
Is SSYRA the same as the “Sunshine State Readers” or “Sunshine State Books”?
Yes — those are all everyday nicknames for the same program. The official name is the Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA), but you’ll hear people say “Florida Sunshine State Readers,” “Sunshine State Books,” or just “the Sunshine State list.” They all point to the same yearly SSYRA nominees.
Who runs SSYRA?
SSYRA is organized by FAME — the Florida Association for Media in Education — the professional group for Florida school librarians and media specialists. A statewide committee reads and selects the nominees each year; the current list is the 2026-2027 SSYRA cycle.
What grade levels does SSYRA cover?
There are three divisions for 2026-2027: SSYRA Jr. (K–2): 15 books, SSYRA (3–5): 15 books, SSYRA 6–8 (6–8): 15 books. SSYRA Jr. is for the youngest readers (often read aloud), while the 3–5 and 6–8 lists are for independent readers.
How many books are on the SSYRA 2026 list?
The 2026-2027 SSYRA book list has 45 nominated titles in all — SSYRA Jr. (K–2): 15 books, SSYRA (3–5): 15 books, SSYRA 6–8 (6–8): 15 books. You only need to read 3 from your own division to earn your vote.
How many books do I need to read to vote?
Most schools require students to read at least 3 books from their division’s list to earn a vote. Your school or media specialist sets the exact rules, but 3 is the common statewide minimum.
When is SSYRA voting?
Reading happens through the school year and voting is typically held in the spring. Check with your school’s media specialist for your exact vote date — the Sunshine State Reader app includes a countdown so you don’t miss it.
Where can I find the current SSYRA book list?
Right here: see the 2026-2027 SSYRA book list (the SSYRA 2026 nominees, 26–27) for every title across all three divisions, with summaries and where to find each book.
Is Sunshine State Reader the official SSYRA app?
No. Sunshine State Reader is an independent, free app that helps students track their SSYRA reading progress. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by FAME or the official SSYRA program.