The Sunshine State Young Reader's Award Program has several purposes:
- to encourage students to read for personal pleasure
- to help students to understand, relate to, and enjoy life's experiences through literature
- to help students become discriminating readers by directing them towards good literature
- to develop an awareness of current literature and authors
- to give recognition to authors who write good literature for young readers
I have been asked about the criteria that a book must meet for inclusion in this annual list. The selection criteria is as follows:
- Books may be nominated by teachers, students and Media Specialists.
- The FAME Sunshine State Young Reader's Award Committee and readers appointed by the School Library Media Services Office spend a year reading and reviewing the nominees.
- The book lists selected are released in the spring of the following year and must meet the following criteria:
- Fiction only will be considered.
- Books must be appropriate for grades 3-8.
- Books must have an original copyright within 4 years preceding the nomination.
- Books must still be in print when nominated.
- The winning author of the preceding year will be excluded from that year's competition.
- The author must be a US citizen or resident.
- Only one title per author per year will be included
- Titles from previous years may not be repeated.
- Books should be worthy of an award for their literary qualities.
The books may be found at the public library (Internet access at www.co.seminole.fl.us/library/ ) and at most book stores for sale. Multiple copies will be in our media center to facilitate this reading incentive program. A complete list of this year's nominees is available at the bottom of this page: I suggest that you copy and/or print it for your use when browsing book shelves and shopping.
In March, students throughout the state who have read at least 3 titles from the list will be eligible to vote for their favorite. The author who receives the most votes from all of the schools participating will receive the Sunshine State Award Young Reader's Award at the state conference for Media Specialists.
I encourage you to read a variety of materials, to make time for books and periodicals in your busy schedules, and to use the libraries that are available in our community: Seminole County Public Libraries, Seminole Community College Library, and the Media Centers in our public schools.
Sunshine Book List (Grade 6-8)
2011-2012
(Click on the book titles below to read reviews)
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