Give your grade school student an added reading boost this year – pick a list, such as the 2015 – 16 Sunshine State Young Readers Award Finalists, then read all the books from that list.
If you read them too, then you can discuss, compare, and rank them… helping kids to get excited about reading a variety of text and talking about books. {Affiliate Links}
Reading from the 2015 – 16 Sunshine State Young Readers Award Finalists and other Book Lists Encourages Children to:
READ a Variety of Text
Using a “checklist” encourages readers to read a variety of book, ones that they may not have selected on their own. Our public library has a pamphlet of recommended books for each grade level. Be library detectives to see if you can find the entire list.
Have a Heightened ANTICIPATION for READING
My daughter’s school challenged them to read the entire collection of Sunshine State Young Readers Award Finalists. They make these readers ONLY available to the 4th graders through the school library, creating an added anticipation for the collection. When my daughter was in 3rd grade I often heard, I can’t wait until I’m a 4rth grader so I can read the Sunshine State Readers. It is a positive “right of passage” and privilege to read.
Participate in SHARED Reading Experiences
As the entire grade level is challenged to read all 15 books, they are participating in a shared experience, allowing them opportunities to discuss their personal connections and reactions to the text. Similar to watching the same movie, reading the same book strengthens academic peer connections.
- Eight Keys
- A Snicker of Magic
- The Hypnotists
- Freaky Fast Frankie Joe
- Kizzy Ann Stamps
- Nerd Camp
- Three Times Lucky
- White Fur Flying
- Pie
- Athlete vs. Mathlete
- Fortunately, the Milk
- The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom
- Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen
- The Fourteenth Goldfish
Sunshine State Young Readers Activities and Books
1. I ordered the entire list of Sunshine State Young Reader Award Finalist books. This sends a message to my child that reading is worth investing in. Yes, it does cost money, but we spend money on toys, why not on books too? The entire collection was a little over $110 delivered to my door through Amazon. I’m including the affiliate links below in case you want to order one (or more) too.
I have read the books and included a brief thought about each Sunshine State Young Reader Book and a related activity that my child and I did together to extend our reading experience.
2. Read them too, so I can talk to my child about them. This also gives me an opportunity to see what kids are reading.
3. Write about them and share it with you! My daughter will be writing 2-3 sentences about each one as well. Read on for our opinions!
4. Donate the collection of books to our school library when we are finished so that other children can check the books out too. As they are in high demand and checked out regularly.
NOTE: Although these were selected for 3-5th graders, many of the books feature main characters that are 12 years old and address life issues such as drugs, jail, murder, single parenting, death of loved ones, and child abuse. As with all books, make sure to teach your child how to select books based on your family values and encourage them to stop a book anytime they don’t feel comfortable and talk with an adult. As a parent and teacher, I encourage you to read the same books as your child. They can be a great springboard to talk about these important issues. You know your child best.
Sunshine State Young Readers Award Finalists Grades 3-5
Eight Keys
– 12 year old Elise sadly lost her mom during childbirth and then dad to cancer at a young age. She now lives with her loving aunt and uncle, but is struggling with friendships and figuring out who she is at the beginning of middle school. The notes her dad wrote when he was sick are ending, but he left her another surprise… 8 keys that unlock the doors to finding out who you really are. Although nominated as a sunshine state reader award for grades 3-5, as a mom I felt this was more appropriate for grades 6-8. Read more here
Activity Written Response Suggestion:
Make a list of 8 things Elise’s dad felt was important in life. Make a list of at least 4 things you feel is important in your life. Choose one important topic from each list and either compare or contrast.
A Snicker of Magic – 12 year old Felicity longs for a place to call home. Her mom has moved them from one town to another and now that they are back home in Midnight Gulch, she has finally made a friend.
The city used to have magic. Does a little bit still remain? Will this word collector be able to break the spell and bring all the magic back? Read more about the book here.
Activity Suggestion: Felicity’s mom paints a mural of all the people in Mignight Gulch. Using a large butcher paper, have students all contribute to a large classroom mural by painting themselves onto the paper.
The Hypnotists: Book 1
– Life for Jackson isn’t always easy. It wasn’t until a new school recruited him for hypnosis and mind bending training. They school has something fishy about it and Jackson must use his powers for good to save his family and friends.
Read more about the book here
Note: My 9 year old daughter wasn’t a big fan of this Sunshine State Young Readers. Activity Suggestion: Write about what superhuman power you wish to have and how you would use that power to help others. The ability to travel at the speed of light. Being able to hear the beat of a butterflies wings. Stretchable arms that can reach for 10 mines. Rocket booster feet. The possibilities are endless.
Freaky Fast Frankie Joe
– Frankie Joe leaves life with his mom to live with a dad he has never met. Adjusting to life with a step mom and 4 siblings leads Frankie Joe to start his own business in order to get money for his ultimate escape. One amazon reader writes, this book teaches, “responsibility, home, honesty, faith in family, adapting to a new home and siblings.”
Read more about the book here
*Note – Frankie’s mom is in jail for drug possession.
Activity Suggestion: In this realistic fiction story, Frankie starts his own delivery business. Work with a partner to create a business that you could start to help earn extra money. Babysitting, yard raking, driveway shoveling, dog walking, cookie baking? Write out a business plan. What supplies would you need to buy? How much would they cost? How would you advertise?
Kizzy Ann Stamps
– It’s 1963 and civil rights laws call for integration of schools. Young Kizzy Ann enters an all white school worrying about her facial scar, friends, and the color of her skin. She finds an unlikely friend in the dog trainer next door and teachers her faithful border collie how to run sheep. Although not open to dog trials, she enters anyways. Read more about the book here
Favorite quote from the book: “The world can’t change unless we start making it change.”
Activity Suggestion: Research the civil rights laws. Make a timeline of important events. Discuss how these laws impacted people.
Nerd Camp
– In this book, the main character Gabe is a 10 year old boy who lives half the time with dad and half the time with mom. His dad is getting re-married and he is very eager to meet his new brother Zack (who is also 10 years old). We find out immediately that they have very different interests and Gabe feels like he cannot be himself because he likes things like math and science, which his new brother may think is “nerdy.” Gabe pretends to be someone else to try and make Zack like him.
Read more here
Activity Suggestion: Positive Self Attributes Poster
Have children create a mini poster listing their self attributes in a positive way. If possible, let them create this activity in a word document. Use different colors and fonts for each description. Print and hang up.
Mom’s take: I really don’t like the word nerd and had very low expectations for entire book titled that. I was, however, pleasantly surprised with Weissman’s witty take on how to find and have self confidence in all that you do. Don’t look at it as being a nerd who only has nerdy adventures, rather a kid that has adventures and also likes things like math and science. I really saw many kids in Gabe and how he struggled to fit in. The charts at the end of each chapter was SOOO Gabe. I got the chuckles every time I read them. In the end, Gabe realizes that he is happy being who he is and is able to share his whole self with his new brother.
Three Times Lucky – Orphan Mo washed up along the shore of this Southern town when she was just a baby. The Colonel and Ms. Lana take her in. A murder takes place and she works together with her best friend Dale to solve the mystery.
Read more about the book here
Note: Although both my 9 year old daughter and I read it, we both agree this book is in the wrong age category and should not have been in the Sunshine State Young Readers Award Finalists Grade 3-5, rather for the 6th-8th grade list. Even Amazon recommends it for children ages 10 and up. Topics of murder and drunken Dad beating up his wife are not really appropriate for 8 and 9 year olds – in my humble opinion. Therefor, no activity suggestions will be given for this book. If you select to read it – discuss it with your child.
White Fur Flying – Zoe and Alice’s family have warm hearts. They cannot resist helping dogs in need and take in Great Pyrenees dogs until they have found their forever homes. Although they are in the dog rescuing business, they can’t help but capture the heart of the family next door and help bring words back to their speechless neighbor and newfound friend. Read more about the book here.
*** White Fur Flying was my favorite read from this list! ***
Activity Suggestion: Organize and host a benefit or donation drive to support your local rescue organizations. Call ahead to find out what your local group may need. Often times, dog rescue groups will need unopened bags of food, leashes, gift cards and even old towels.
Pie – Will Alice’s Aunt Polly, the Pie Queen of Ipswitch’s famous pie recipe be forever gone? She couldn’t really leave her recipe to the cat Lardo in her will and it’s not tattooed on his tummy! With no Aunt Polly and no recipe, the whole town is in bakeoff as the quest for pie crust blue ribbon begins. Alice and her best friend Charlie set out to solve this mystery. Read more about the book here.
Activity Suggestion: What better way to celebrate finding the famous pie crust recipe than baking one yourself? For classrooms with limited time, try a no-bake pudding pie in a store bought pie crust. I’m sure the students wouldn’t mind! Write about your pie baking in a reading journal.
Athlete vs. Mathlete
– These two twins seem SO different. One is on the math team and the other is on the basketball team. But when the new basketball coach encourages Russell, the mathlete, to tryout for the team, everything begins to change.
Read more here
Note: Great for discussing points of view as each chapter alternates being told by the brothers.
Activity: Write a text to self connection in your reading journal. Choose a scene or feeling from the book and how it relates to your life.
Alien in My Pocket #1: Blast Off!
– Amp is not your typical alien – he is blue and tiny too. He arrived as a scout with hopes of taking over Earth, but soon realized the impassibility of the task and wants to return to outer space and call off the invasion. BUT, his spaceship is broken and he needs the help of Zack McGee to find replacement supplies and launch all by 4:30. Read more here
Activity Suggestion: Design and build a Stomp Rocket
using foam tubes, Styrofoam sheets from vegetable trays, and masking tape. Launch with the classic Stomp Rocket and test to see how high or far your rockets can fly.
Fortunately, the Milk – is a short little tale about one dad’s trip to go get milk, or rather a very elaborate excuse why he is running late. Mom’s out of town and the kids have no milk for their cereal. Dad leaves to pick some up at the store but runs into a stegosaurus, a queen of pirates and even some ponies – because every story needs ponies. This story will have you shaking your head in disbelief and chucking at this dad’s imagination. Fortunately, the milk. Read more here
Activity Suggestion: Writing and storytelling focus.
Have children create story about why they were late for something in real life such as turning in homework late. Make sure to use at least 3 different fictitious characters and include one porthole or door that changes from one work or time period to another. Fortunately, the homework.
Activity Suggestion: Make a Game Board
In this activity, students create a game board that included events from the story. Since Fortunately, the Milk has a lot of little up and down adventures, my daughter decided to make her’s into a version of chutes and ladders.
The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom
– A clever re-write of the classic tales. This is the “guys” take on what really happens in the classic princess stories. The prince charmings adventure to save the kingdom, with the help of their strong and fearless princess companions. Read more about the book here
My daughter and I both agreed it was a little silly and far fetched, but ok for princess loving readers.
Activity Suggestion: Make a T chart to compare what happens in the classic princess tales to what the The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom claims to have happened. How are they similar and different?
Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen
– is about the biggest Jeopardy fan you will ever meet. She used to watch it every night with her dad before the divorce. It’s not the same now that he’s in California and her stepdad, Neil moved in, but she is determined to win a slot in the kids Jeopardy week and hopefully take home the gold. Neil and her neighbor turn into surprising ally’s and supporters in this quest. Read more about the book here
Activity: Host your own trivia night with Trivial Pursuit Family Edition Game
or Trivia Game – American Trivia Family Edition Board Game (Ages 9+)
Have a paper medal or award paper for the winner.
The Fourteenth Goldfish
– Science or science fiction? Time travel brings Ellies Grandfather to their home as a teenager. I like to see a strong female character excited about science. A little silly at times. Geared for an older reader (in my opintion) Read more about the book here
Activity: Select a relative from your past and learn about him or her. Write a short story of an adventure you might have if they were able to travel in time and spend the day with you.
