"Give me a really good first line,
something I can sink my teeth into, that just pulls me in and makes me want to read more. For me, a really great first line raises a question in my mind, or, better yet, two or three, where I just have to read the book to find out.
A good first line gives me context about the story and lays a roadmap for where we're going."
Jennifer March Soloway
Senior Agent at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency
During an interview on the Writers with Wrinkles podcast
Welcome! I'm so glad you stopped by.
I hope you find this collection of picture book first lines inspiring and motivational.
If you'd like your book included in a future collection, click here.
introduces the main character and their problem (bonus points if the character is particularly unusual)
makes the reader wonder something
sets the tone for the story
starts in the middle of the action
hints at a universal theme
uses unique formatting
sets the scene of the story
hints at how the story will end
engages the reader
engages multiple senses
surprises the reader
makes the reader laugh
establishes a rhythm that pulls the reader into the story
employs poetic devices
references a beloved classic
hints at an unusual premise
introduces the concept
references something with universal appeal
uses a play on words
makes the reader feel something
hints at the main character's goal
Words by Laura Gehl, art by Udayana Lugo
Published by flyaway books
First line: Daria’s grandpa had a window that looked out at the ocean.
Elements used: sets the scene of the story
Comp tags: imagination, grief, loss, intergenerational relationships
The first line actually changed very little. The original version was
Daria’s grandma had a window that looked out at the ocean.
The final version was
Daria’s grandpa had a window that looked out at the ocean.
The reason the line changed was that we (my editor and I) decided to make the grandparent in the book a grandfather instead of a grandmother. At the time we made the change, my kids were grieving the recent loss of their grandfather (my dad).
The idea for this book began with the window. There’s a story by O. Henry called “The Last Leaf,” where a character is convinced she will die when the last leaf falls off the vine on the wall outside her window. Yet somehow the leaf stubbornly clings to the vine much longer than expected, and the character gets better. At the end of the story, we learn that the last leaf had been painted on the building by an artist friend. Inspired in part by that story, I had this vision of a window that mirrors a child’s emotions during her grandfather’s
illness, showing happy scenes of them playing on the beach together when she is hopeful, and then stormy scenes when the grandfather gets worse instead of better. From the beginning, my vision was that the end of the book would reveal that the “window” had actually been the child’s drawings all along. So there was never any question in my mind that the first line needed to introduce the window, showing a happy scene.
Do you have any advice for figuring out where to start a story?
Just like every writer, I sometimes struggle with where to start a story. There are times when I have the perfect first line in my head before I even begin to write. And there are other times when I bounce all over the place, trying lots of different first lines, and starting the story lots of different ways. I guess my best advice would be that you don’t need to start at the beginning when you are writing a story. Trying to come up with the perfect first line, or perfect first few lines, can be overwhelming and can paralyze you with writer’s block. So if you have a fabulous first line in your
head before you start writing, great. But if not, it can be easier to start in the middle of a story. There’s less pressure to dive into the middle than to come up with a brilliant introduction, and you can go back to the beginning later. (I just gave this advice to my son who is currently writing his college essays too!) I also think it can work really well when you have a first line and a last line that mirror each other. For example, in my book Saving Delicia, illustrated by Patricia Metola, which comes out next year, the first line is: “Every summer afternoon, Kari and Cookie sat in the shade of the beautiful delicia tree listening to Old Otis tell tales from way back when.” And then at the end of the book, that first line is echoed with “Every summer afternoon, Kari sits in the shade of the beautiful delicia orchard, telling tales of way back when.” So if you find writing endings easier than beginnings, a great last line can inspire a great first line!
By Marie-Louise Gay
Published by Groundwood Books House of Anansi Press
First line: From my bedroom window I see into the neighbor’s garden where a small white dog is tied to the clothesline.
Elements used: sets the scene of the story
Comp tags: imagination, creativity, resilience, change, moving, new school
Words by Augusten Burroughs, art by Bonnie Lui
Published by Christy Ottaviano Books
First line: Chloe didn’t like certain things, such as lightning storms, splinters, or bacon in cookies.
Elements used: introduces the main characters and makes the reader feel something
Comp tags: unlikely friendship, misunderstanding
By Melinda Szymanik & Vasanti Unka
Published by flyaway books
First line: One morning I woke to find an elephant sitting on my chest.
Elements used: surprises the reader
Comp tags: emotions, sadness, coping, family, siblings
Words by Linda Bailey, art by Freya Hartas
Published by Nancy Paulsen Books
First line: Poor Cinderella, lonely and sad, was sweeping the ashes from the fireplace.
Elements used: references a beloved classic
Comp tags: fractured fairy tales, dogs, female empowerment
Words by Charlotte Cheng, art by Amber Ren
Published by Rocky Pond Books
First line: When it’s summer in the city every day is hot and sticky.
Elements used: establishes the setting of the story and a rhythm that pulls the reader in, engages multiple senses, and makes the reader feel something
Comp tags: found family, adventure
Words by Nathaniel Jenks, art by Rebecca Evans
Published by Tilbury House Publishers
First line: William lived in a gray world.
Elements used: introduces the main character and makes the reader wonder something
Comp tags: a new perspective
Words by Olivia Hope, art by Daniel Egneus
Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
First line: Wake up early.
Elements used: engages the reader and makes the reader wonder something
Comp tags: rhyming, adventure, magic of nature, lyrical
Words by Alison James, art by Jennifer K. Mann
Published by Neal Porter Books
First line: Once there was a tree who was very lonely.
Elements used: introduces an unusual main character and their problem
Comp tags: unlikely friendship, deciduous trees, nature, seasons
By Barney Saltzberg
Published by Hippo Park
First line: Hello!
Elements used: makes the reader wonder something
Comp tags: dialogue only; spare text, Elephant & Piggie style
Words by Lana Button, art by Peggy Collins
Published by pajama press
First line: Percy was new.
Elements used: introduces the main character and makes the reader feel something
Comp tags: imagination, making friends, being new
Words by Kate Messner and Margaret E. Powell, art by Erin K. Robinson
Published by chronicle books
First line: In a stately Alabama mansion, women in bright dresses twirl before a mirror.
Elements used: starts in the middle of the action, engages multiple senses, and sets the scene of the story
Comp tags: NF, sewing, Black history
Words by Amy Dyckman, art by Ashley Spires
Published by Harper
First line: This is Tiny Barbarian.
Elements used: introduces the main character and surprises the reader
Comp tags: humor, swim lessons, conquering challenges
Words by Jens Mattsson, art by Jenny Lucander
Published by Groundwood Books
First line: I am a lion.
Elements used: makes the reader wonder something
Comp tags: pretend, childhood illness
Words by Linda Ashman, art by Karen Obuhanych
Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
First line: Between the poles, into the chutes, across teh bridges, through the hoops.
Elements used: starts in the middle of the action and makes the reader wonder something
Comp tags: rhyming, dog jobs, the wonder of a pet
By Vern Kousky
Published by Roaring Brook Press
First line: Sad Bear, why are you so sad?
Elements used: introduces the main character and their problem and makes the reader wonder something
Comp tags: reasons for sadness, empathy, dealing with sadness
Published by Holiday House
First line: Violet was in the art supply aisle when she first spotted them.
Elements used: introduces the main character and makes the reader wonder something
Comp tags: crayons, sisters, perfection, imagination
Words by Anna Wilson, art by Sarah Massini
Published by nosy crow
First line: “Look!” siad Grandpa
Elements used: Makes the reader wonder something
Comp tags: lyrical, nature, circle of life
Words by Cara Devins, art by K-Fai Steele
Published by Feiwel and Friends
First line: It was the very first day of school at Belford Elementary, and the students were SO excited to be back.
Elements used: references something with universal appeal and establishes the setting of the story
Comp tags: reading, change, new teacher
Words by Karl Newson, art by Alex Willmore
Published by happy yak
First line: I’m as snug as a bug in a rug, I am.
Elements used: references a beloved classic
Comp tags: fractured nursery rhymes, escaping danger, adventure
Words by Joanna Que & Charine Marquez, art by Fran Alvarez
Published by chronicle books
First line: Our new neighbor’s hands are dancing.
Elements used: Introduces an unusual premise and makes the reader wonder something
Comp tags: sign language, friendship
By Jen Corace
Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers
First line: Gladys, I’m starving.
Elements used: introduces the problem
Comp tags: generosity, new friends, midnight snacks
Words by Kate Messner, art by Mackenzie Haley
Published by Farrar Straus Giroux
First line: WARNING This is a VERY scary story.
Elements used: makes the reader wonder something
Comp tags: humor, not-scary
By Bambi Edlund
Published by Owlkids Books
First line: YOU WILL NEED: [list of 17 absurd items]
Elements used: surprises the reader makes the reader laugh
Comp tags: humor, how-to
Words by Katrina Germein, art by Tom Jellett
Published by Candlewick Press
First line: My dad thinks he’s funny.
Elements used: makes the reader wonder something and feel something
Comp tags: humor, parents, dads, word play, homonyms, puns
Words by Rennie Dyball, art by Mia Saine
Published by Clarion Books
First line: A is for all the bodies you see.
Elements used: engages the reader
Comp tags: ABC book, parts of the body, body-positive
By Philip Bunting
Published by Charlesbridge
First line: Wombat.
Elements used: makes the reader wonder something
Comp tags: wombats, humor, spare text
By S.D. Nelson
Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers
First line: “Oh, Clara, it’s so good to see you.”
Elements used: introduces the main character and makes the reader wonder something
Comp tags: indigenous culture, visiting family alone, extended family, tipis, cultural traditions
By Renee Kurilla
Published by Appleseed Books
First line: Sluggish weepy eyes still looking sleepy.
Elements used: employs poetic devises, engages multiple senses and makes the reader feel something
Comp tags: bad day, rhyme
Words by DK Dyson, art by RUdy Gutierrez
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
First line: The artist Rudeday sat at his drawing table and sighed.
Elements used: makes the reader wonder something
Comp tags: art, friendship, community
By Breanna Carzoo
Published by Harper
First line: Hi there!
Elements used: engages the reader
Comp tags: being yourself, spare text, humor
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