Spot the Empire Librarian's blog

Welcome to a librarian's online musings on libraries, literature and information media.

The 2012-2013 Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award list is here!

15 Comments

Looking for the 2013-2014 Sunshine State list? Click here.

It’s here! The new 2012-2013 Florida Sunshine State Young Reader’s list was announced this morning. To all Saint Stephen’s children entering grade 4-5-6, you will be eligible to participate in our reading program. I would encourage you to be reading these books over the summer months, making notes at the end of each chapter. You may read from either the grade 3-5 list, or the grade 6-8 list. Please make sure that your parent is aware of what you are reading.

During the school year, Intermediate School children are invited to read at least 5 books from the recommended list, then take and pass the accompanying Accelerated Reader test. Children who read at least 5 books are then invited to our voting party on Wednesday April 10th, 2013. Last year, April 2012, 53 IS students attended our afternoon voting party off campus.

Accelerated Reader testing can begin on Monday August 20th, 2012, Open House Day.

Why not join us in April 2013? Why not read some of these books over the summer months? Enjoy!

Grade 3-5

Amato, Mary Edgar Allan’s Official Crime Investigation Notebook( AR 4.7)

First Slurpy is fishnapped, then other things from Mrs. Blackwell’s room start to disappear. Odder still, whoever is committing these crimes leaves a note written in poetry. Edgar has it all covered in his “crime investigation notebook”–but so does Patrick Chen, who has copied Edgar and is trying to solve the case first. Yet as Edgar keenly observes his surroundings, he notices many interesting things about his classmates. The more closely he watches two “suspects,” the more he begins to think they might make pretty good friends. This warm and humorous story puts writing, friendship, and mystery into a short, accessible chapter book.

Beaty, Andrea Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies(AR 5.7)

When Joules and Kevin Rockman’s parents drop them off at Camp Whatsitooya on their way to an International Spamathon, the twins expect a summer of marshmallows, campfires, and canoe trips. What they do not expect is to defend the earth from an invasion of sugar-addicted, murderous, seven-foot-tall rabbits from another galaxy. Happily, the Rockman twins, veteran watchers of the Late, Late, Late Creepy Show for Insomniacs, are unusually well-prepared for dealing with monstrous beings from outer space. If only their fellow campers were so lucky. Andrea Beaty, author of several very funny picture books and a mysterious novel, here reaches new heights of hilarity and verbal dexterity in a novel sure to become a camp– ba-dum-dum–classic.

Behrens, Andy The Fast and the Furriest (AR 4.6 )

The overweight and unathletic son of a famous former football star discovers that his equally fat and lazy dog is unexpectedly–and obsessively–interested in competing in dog agility contests.

Cronin, Doreen The Trouble with Chickens(AR 3.8)

A hard-bitten former search-and-rescue dog helps solve a complicated missing chicken case.

Epstein, Adam & Jacobson, Andrew The Familiars( AR 5.0 )

When Aldwyn, a young alley cat on the run, ducks into a mysterious pet shop, he doesn’t expect his life to change. But that’s exactly what happens when Jack, a young wizard, picks Aldwyn to be his magical familiar. Finally off the tough streets, Aldwyn thinks he’s got it made. He just has to convince the other familiars-the know-it-all blue jay Skylar and the friendly tree frog Gilbert-that he’s the telekinetic cat he claims to be. But when Jack and two other wizards in training are captured by a terrible evil, it will take all of Aldwyn’s street smarts, a few good friends, and a nose for adventure to save the day!

George, Jessica Day Tuesdays at the Castle(AR 6.4 )

Tuesdays at Castle Glower are Princess Celie’s favorite days. That’s because on Tuesdays the castle adds a new room, a turret, or sometimes even an entire wing. No one ever knows what the castle will do next, and no one-other than Celie, that is-takes the time to map out the new additions. But when King and Queen Glower are ambushed and their fate is unknown, it’s up to Celie, with her secret knowledge of the castle’s never-ending twists and turns, to protect their home and save their kingdom. This delightful book from a fan- and bookseller-favorite kicks off a brand-new series sure to become a modern classic.

Graff, Lisa Sophie Simon Solves Them All (AR 3.4 )

For a third-grader, Sophie Simon is one smart cookie. She enjoys teaching herself–advanced calculus and has performed successful heart surgery on an earthworm. She’s also very clever when it comes to dealing with her clueless parents. But Sophie is no genius when it comes to calculating the high value of friendship–until, that is, she has to use her incredible IQ to help out some classmates with their own parental troubles.

Holm, Jennifer Turtle in Paradise(AR 4.1 )

Life isn’t like the movies and 11-year-old Turtle is no Shirley Temple. She’s smart and tough and has seen enough of the world not to expect a Hollywood ending. After all, it’s 1935 and money and sometimes even dreams are scarce. So when Turtle’s mother gets a job housekeeping for a lady who doesn’t like kids, Turtle says goodbye and heads off to Florida to live with relatives. Florida’s like nothing Turtle’s ever seen before though. It’s full of rag tag boy cousins, family secrets to unravel . . . and even a little bit of fun. Before she knows what’s happened, Turtle finds herself coming out of her shell and as she does, her world opens up in the most unexpected ways. Inspired by family stories, three-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer L. Holm blends family lore with America’s past, in this charming, gem of a novel rich in history, humor, and the unique flavors of Key West.

Jennings, Patrick Guinea Dog( AR 3.7 )

Rufus has been dreaming of getting a dog. His best friend has one. His worst friend has one. But his dad has a few objections: They whine. They gnaw. They bark. They scratch. They beg. They drool. Rufus pays no attention when his mom offers her think-outside-the-box suggestion, because she can’t be serious. She can’t be. She can be. And she actually comes home with a guinea pig. And if Rufus’s dad thinks dogs are a problem, he won’t know what hit him when he meets the Guinea Pig that Thinks She’s a Dog. She barks. She bites. She’ll eat your homework.

Marino, Nan Neil Armstrong is my Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me(AR 4.3)

Ten-year-old Tamara Ann Simpson thinks she has finally found a chance to prove Muscle Man McGinty is a liar when he brags he can beat anyone in the neighborhood at kickball, but as she awaits McGinty’s downfall, she begins to understand his motives for lying.

O’Connor, Barbara The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester( AR 4.7 )

An amazing secret has tumbled off a freight train into Carter, Georgia, and Owen Jester is the only person who knows about it. If he can simply manage to evade his grandfather’s snappish housekeeper, organize his two best friends, and keep his nosy neighbor, Viola, at bay, he just might be in for the summer of a lifetime. With her trademark wit and easy charm, Barbara O’Connor spins a fantastic fable of friends, enemies, and superbly slimy bullfrogs.

Selfors, Suzanne Fortune’s Magic Farm( AR 6.2 )

Everything changes when Isabelle discovers that she is the heir to Fortune’s Farm, a wondrous place where the final remnants of magic grow. For as long as she can remember, ten-year-old Isabelle has dreamed of escaping her home in Runny Cove, a gray village where it never stops raining, and where she is forced to work at Mr. Supreme’s Umbrella Factory. Journeying across the ocean, Isabelle finds a sunny new home filled with magical delights, including Curative Cherry trees that can heal all kinds of sickness, and Floating Fronds that make her fly. But Isabelle still feels the call to return to Runny Cove and use the secrets of the farm to stop the rain. With the magic of Fortune’s Farm behind her, will Isabell be strong enough to bring back the sun and stop the despicable Mr. Supreme? From the author ofSmells Like Dogcomes a magical journey about loyalty, family, and the magic within.

Smith, Clete Barrett Aliens on Vacation(AR 5.5 )

Scrub arrives at his grandmother’s Washington bed-and-breakfast only to discover she has opened the doors to aliens that arrive through off-Earth portals, and he must decide what to do when the local sheriff, already suspicious of Granny, notices some of the kids Scrub is chaperoning at a campout glow in the dark.

West, Jacqueline The Books of Elsewhere: The Shadows( AR 5.1 )

When eleven-year-old Olive and her distracted parents move into an old Victorian mansion, Olive finds herself ensnared in a dark plan involving some mysterious paintings, a trapped and angry nine-year-old boy, and three talking cats.

Winston, Sherri President of the Whole Fifth Grade (AR 5.8)

When Brianna’s hero, the famous celebrity chef Miss Delicious, speaks at her school and credits her success to being president of her own 5thgrade class, Brianna is determined to follow in her footsteps. She just knows that becoming president of her class is the first step towards having her own cupcake-baking empire! But when new student Jasmine Moon announces she is also running for president, Brianna learns that she may have more competition than she expected. Will Brianna be able to stick to her plan of working with her friends to win the election fairly? Or will she jump at the opportunity to steal votes from Jasmine by revealing an embarrassing secret? This hilarious, heartfelt novel will appeal to any reader with big dreams, and the determination to achieve them.

Grade 6- 8

Allen, Crystal How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-sized Trophy( AR 3.5)

When thirteen-year-old, bowling-obsessed Lamar Washington finds out that his idol is coming to town, he finds himself involved in some unsavory activities as he tries to change his image to impress people.

Carmichael, Clay Wild Things( AR 5.7 )

Stubborn, self-reliant, eleven-year-old Zoe, recently orphaned, moves to the country to live with her prickly half-uncle, a famous doctor and sculptor, and together they learn about trust and the strength of family.

Catanese, P.W. Happenstance Found( AR 5.4 )

Twelve-year-old Happenstance wakes up in a cave with no idea how he got there, or who he is, but merchant and royal advisor Lord Umber helps Hap and his two friends escape from the caverns.

Flores-Galbis, Enrique 90 Miles to Havana ( AR 4.8 )

Julian’s parents, hoping to protect him from the dangers of the turmoil in Cuba, send him to the United States in 1961 as part of Operation Pedro Pan, not realizing that life in a Miami refugee camp holds its own perils.

Gaiman, Neil The Graveyard Book(AR 5.3 )

The orphan Bod, short for Nobody, is taken in by the inhabitants of a graveyard as a child of eighteen months and raised lovingly and carefully to the age of eighteen years by the community of ghosts and otherworldly creatures.

Grant, Katy Hide and Seek( AR 4.6 )

In the remote mountains of Arizona where he lives with his mother, stepfather, and two sisters, fourteen-year-old Chase discovers two kidnapped boys and gets caught up in a dangerous adventure when he comes up with a plan to get them to safety.

Greenwald, Tommy Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading(AR 5.8 )

Charlie Joe Jackson may be the most reluctant reader ever born. And so far, he’s managed to get through life without ever reading an entire book from cover to cover. But now that he’s in middle school, avoiding reading isn’t as easy as it used to be. And when his friend Timmy McGibney decides that he’s tired of covering for him, Charlie Joe finds himself resorting to desperate measures to keep his perfect record intact.This is the hilarious story of an avid non-reader and the extreme lengths to which he’ll go to get out of reading a book.

Korman, Gordon The Juvie Three (AR 4.9)

Gecko, Arjay, and Terence, all in trouble with the law, must find a way to keep their halfway house open in order to stay out of juvenile detention.

Park, Linda Sue A Long Walk to Water : Based on a True Story(AR 5.0 )

When the Sudanese civil war reaches his village in 1985, eleven-year-old Salva becomes separated from his family and must walk with other Dinka tribe members through southern Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya in search of safe haven. Based on the life of Salva Dut, who, after emigrating to America in 1996, began a project to dig water wells in Sudan.

Patterson, James The Dangerous Days of Daniel X(AR 6.3 )

Fifteen-year-old Daniel has followed in his parents’ footsteps as the Alien Hunter, exterminating beings on The List of Alien Outlaws on Terra Firma, but when he faces his first of the top ten outlaws, the very existence of Earth and another planet are at stake.

Philbrick, Rodman The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg( AR 5.6 )

Homer P. Figg escapes from his wretched foster home in Pine Swamp, Maine, and sets out to find his beloved older brother, Harold, who has been illegally sold into the Union Army.

Rallison, Janette My Fair Godmother(AR 5.2 )

On cover the word fairy is crossed out and replaced with fair. High school sophomore Savannah wants to find the perfect prom date after her boyfriend breaks up with her to date her older sister, but when a godmother who is only fair becomes involved, Savannah finds herself in trouble in the Middle Ages, along with a boy who would like to be her charming prince.

Rorby, Ginny Lost in the River of Grass( AR 4.2 )

When two Florida teenagers become stranded on a tiny island in the Everglades, they attempt to walk ten miles through swampland to reach civilization.

Vigilante, Danette The Trouble with Half a Moon( AR 4.4)

Thirteen-year-old Dellie is overcome with guilt and grief when her brother dies, but when she finds herself at odds with her best friend, Dellie reaches out to a neglected boy who lives in her building in the projects and learns how to have faith in herself from a new neighbor.

Woods, Brenda Saint Louis Armstrong Beach(AR 4.1)

The gripping story of a boy, a dog and a hurricane Saint is a boy with confidence as big as his name is long. A budding musician, he earns money playing clarinet for the New Orleans tourists. His best friend is a stray dog named Shadow, and it’s because of Shadow that Saint’s still in town when Hurricane Katrina hits. Saint’s not worried about the hurricane at first–he plans to live to be a hundred just to defy his palm-reader friend Jupi, who told him he had a short life line. But now the city has been ordered to evacuate and Saint won’t leave without Shadow. His search brings him to his elderly neighbor’s home and the three of them flee to her attic when the waters rise. But when Miz Moran’s medication runs out, it’s up to Saint to save her life–and his beloved Shadow’s.

About these ads

Author: spotwin

While I am a librarian , I am a reading cheerleader. The purpose of this library blog is to better promote reading and information literacy to community. I love books, reading to my son,properly placed apostrophes,canoeing, locating the nearest Starbucks, cheering the Montreal Canadians, and Cherry Garcia ice cream.

15 thoughts on “The 2012-2013 Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award list is here!

  1. Thank You so much for this :)

  2. Pingback: The 2011-2012 Sunshine State Reading list is here! « Falcon Library blog

  3. Pingback: 2012-2013 Sunshine books ready to go! « Falcon Library blog

  4. this really helps out

  5. I would like to get a poster of all the books for the 2012-2013 school year. Where can I find one of these posters?

    • I might direct you to the FLA Dept of Education. They might be able to help you. I have not seen actual posters in the past, perhaps there are copyright issues….. Katrina.Figgett@fldoe.org. Katrina might be able to better answer your questions. Thanks for stopping by the Falcon Library page.

  6. this is a joke in st johns county you can not even check out these books the waiting lists are out of control what do they expect these kids to do if you cant get the books. i feel if the school wants the children to read these books the school should provide them to each student i cant believe they would list 10 books and expect thousands of kids to read them when each library only provides 2 copies at each library??????????????????????????/

    • This is unfortunate to hear….while I understand that budgets must prevail, perhaps the Friends of the Library group could step in to purchase additional paperback (cheaper copies)? Or ILL additional copies from out of state libraries…..I will confess, here at SSES, we have at least 4 copies of each tittle, sometimes more. Of ourse, we are dealing with a school wide population of 652, and 180 students are involved in this reading program. Always one hardcover, the rest papaerback, as that I discard them when the popularity wears off…these copies often end up in the classroom collections. Might you suggest your county look into ebook copies? Those tend to circulate more quickly, serving more children in a timely manner. Above all else…keep reading!

  7. My teacher I forcing my class to reaD 3 of these books…
    Every quarter!

    • My suggestion is to pace yourself….the reading does not have to be done all in one night, does it? Find titles which interest you, mark off so many pages with baby stickie notes to help you read so many chapters per night and by the end of the month you will have read your quota. Which books interest you? I loved Ricer of Grass as that I like adventure /survivalist type novels, Aliens on Vacation was kind of silly ( a little girl’s Granny runs a hotel for vacationing aliens? Really? ) . I also loved Hide and Seek…it was all about geo caching…do you know what that is? Using technology to play hide and seek, essentially.
      Find something fun…discuss your concerns with your teacher. You can do it!

  8. Im in 5th grade and so far ive ready 11 sunshine state books and im currently reading aliens on vacation :)

    • Good work! Keep reading! 11 books from this year’s sunshine list is quite an accomplishment! How many do you think you will read over the course of this school year? Bravo!

  9. The Books of Elsewhere is the twelve book I am reading.

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out / Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out / Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out / Change )

Google+ photo

You are commenting using your Google+ account. Log Out / Change )

Connecting to %s

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 249 other followers
https://spotwin.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/the-2012-2013-sunshine-state-young-readers-award-list-is-here/
spotwin.wordpress.com
crawl=CC-MAIN-2015-14
106476
application/http; msgtype=response
sha1:XXQ4663DMMBHSGIHUZNJPNJP5TTRJDFY
<urn:uuid:d5ee19d1-4e9c-472a-9e02-e8004f0b878f>
2015-04-01T09:20:04Z
192.0.78.12
sha1:4X7SSJDMCQTGOT75AMKCOZZNCZLCEGAY
<urn:uuid:4be686bc-9807-4979-857e-58bba3189197>
https://spotwin.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/the-2012-2013-sunshine-state-young-readers-award-list-is-here/
length
response
<urn:uuid:1be51f8a-891e-4835-8937-8b62ff01a6e1>
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-168-14-71.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2015-14
operator: CommonCrawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web with URLs provided by Blekko for March 2015
publisher: CommonCrawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf