February 2022

Every month, I check out 30 recently published picture books and share their first lines (or hooks, for NF).

Elements of a great first line

*makes the reader wonder something                     

*sets the tone for the story                                             

*starts in the middle of the action                               

*hints at a universal theme                                             

*establishes a rhythm that pulls the reader into the story

*introduces the main character and their problem
(bonus points if the character is particularly unusual)

*sets the scene of the story

*hints at the how the story will end

*engages the reader

*engages multiple senses

*references a beloved classic

*hints at an unusual premise

Let Liberty Rise

by Chana Stiefel, art by Chuck Groenink

2021

Hook: the story of young and old Americans financing the completion of Lady Liberty's platform with their pocket money.

!VAMOS! Let's Cross the Bridge

by Raul the Third, art by Elaine Bay

2021

First line: Little Lobo has a brand-new truck!

elements used: makes the reader wonder something (what will the MC do with his truck?)

Just Be Jelly

by maddie frost

2021

First line: We have 19,000 rules in the sardine safety handbook.

elements used: makes the reader wonder something and sets the tone for the story. What are the rules and why do they have so many?

Do You Speak Fish?

by DJ Corchin, art by Dan Dougherty

2021

First line: A boy ran into a fish.

elements used: makes the reader wonder something, starts in the middle of the action, and hints at an unusual premise. Why was this boy engaging this fish?

There's a Unicorn
IN YOUR BOOK

by Tom Fletcher, art by Greg Abbott

2021

First two lines: GALLOPING GLITTER! There's a UNICORN in your book!

elements used: engages the reader, makes the reader wonder something, and hints at an unusual premise (this won't be your usual unicorn story)

Wutaryoo

by Nilah Magruder

2022

First line: She was called Wutaryoo, and she lived there, in that shallow hole in the earth.

elements used: introduces an unusual character and makes the reader wonder something (why was she called that?)

Baby, Sleepy Baby

by Atinuke, art by Angela Brooksbank

2021

First line: Baby, sweet baby, I'll call on the winds, and you'll sail like a ship through the sky.

elements used: engages the reader, sets the tone for the story (poetic), hints at a universal theme (parental love), establishes a rhythm that pulls the reader into the story, and hints at a beloved classic (Winken, Blinken, and Nod)

Little Bee's Flower

by Jacob Souva

2021

First line: On the first day of Spring, Queen Bee declared that it was time to find flowers for the great nectar and pollen harvest.

elements used: sets the scene of the story

Thank you, Neighbor!

by Ruth Can

2021

First line: Every day, we go for a walk.

elements used: hints at a universal theme

The Children's Moon

by Carmen Agra Deedy, art by Jim La Marche

2021

First line: There once was a time when the sun alone ruled the day, the moon graced the night, and little children were put firmly to bed before sunset. 

elements used: makes the reader wonder something (what happened to change that) and sets the tone of the story (has a folktale quality)

Bubbie's Magical Hair

by Abbe Rolnick, art by Lynda Porter

2021

First line: When the warm wind rustles with a hint of laughter Bubbie glides in with her magical hair.

elements used: introduces an unusual character, sets the tone of the story (magical realism), establishes a rhythm that pulls the reader in, engages multiple senses (touch, sound, sight)

My Two Border Towns

by David Bowles, art by Erika Meza

2021

First line: Every other Saturday, my dad wakes me up early. 

elements used: makes the reader wonder something (why are they getting up early?)

A House

by Kevin Henkes

2021

First line: A house.

elements used:  engages the reader (through stating the obvious) and hints at a universal theme

THAO

by Thao Lam

2021

First line: It's not easy being Thao.

elements used: makes the reader wonder something, establishes the main character, and hints at their problem 

Jazz for Lunch!

by Jarrett Dapier, art by Eugenia Mello

2021

First line: Struttin' with my Auntie Nina down to a CLUB.

elements used: makes the reader wonder something, establishes the main character, and establishes a rhythm that pulls the reader into the story

What Do You Know?

by Aracelis Girmay, art by Ariana Fields

2021

First line: When loves comes to the well and asks, what do you know, it says, I know thirst, I know abundance.

elements used: establishes a rhythm that pulls the reader in and establishes an unusual premise (the abstract "love" asking questions)

Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates

by Cheryl B. Klein, art by Abhi Alwar

2022

First line: I'm Henry. 

elements used: establishes the main character

The McClure Twins Make It Fashion

by Ava and Alexis McClure, art by Courtney Dawson

2021

First line: Ava and Alexis are sisters.

elements used: establishes the main characters and hints at the universal theme of family  

CHAMELEON
CAN BE

by Carolina Farias

2021

First line: In a forest filled with trees, nestled between twigs and leaves, a beautiful flower grew in a  bright yellow hue! 

elements used: sets the scene of the story and establishes a rhythm that pulls the reader in

Hugo Sprouts and the Strange Case of the Beans

by John Loren

2021

First line: I bet you've heard stories, or read the adventures of wily young whiz kids, or expert inventors....

elements used: engages the reader and establishes a rhythm that pulls the reader in

AWAKE

by Mags DeRoma

2021

First line: In a big, big city, on a busy city street, there is a pretty tall building.

elements used: sets the scene of the story

Friends are Friends,
FOREVER

by Dane Liu, art by Lynn Scurfield

2021

First line: In our town, the winter howls.

elements used: sets the scene of the story and engages multiple senses

Our Table

by Peter H. Reynolds

2021

First line: Violet fondly remembered the table.

elements used: introduces the main character and makes the reader wonder something (what happened to the table?)

I want to...

by Hongbo Gao, art by Sixin Cheng

2021

First line: I want to s t r e t c h my hand to the tip of the tree branch. 

elements used: establishes the main character and sets the tone for the story (poetic and magical)

Milk and Juice
a Recycling Romance

by Meredith Crandall Brown

2021

First line: Once upon a time, in a refrigerator not too far away, a jug of milk and a bottle of juice fell in love.

elements used: establishes unusual main characters, hints at the universal theme of love, and hints at a beloved classic

Hair Story

by NoNieqa Ramos, art by Keisha Morris

2021

First line: Baby's crown, lush, wild, beautiful brown: Puerto Rican Princesa perfect lips, belleza.

elements used: sets the tone of story (poetic) and establishes a rhythm that pulls the reader in

WHEN I WAKE UP

by Seth Fishman, art by Jessixa Bagley

2021

First line: The sky is dark when I wake.

elements used: makes the reader wonder something (why is the sky dark? Is it still night?)

Pig the Monster

by Aaron Blabey

2021

First line: Pig was a pug, and I'm sorry to say on Halloween night he'd get carried away...

elements used: introduces the main character, makes the reader wonder something (how did Pig get carried away?), and establishes a rhythm that pulls the reader in

Off-LIMITS

by Heen Yoon

2021

First line: Hello! I'm just looking.

elements used: introduces the main character and hints at the universal theme of curiosity.

SHEEPISH
(wolf under cover)

by Helen Yoon

2021

First line: Success! I'm in!

elements used: introduces the main character (a wolf dressed as a sheep), engages the reader (invites the reader to find the wolf in disguise on the page), and makes the reader wonder something (what is the wolf planning to do?)