"First lines are really important. 

First lines are essentially the opportunity any reader has of creating cerebral fusion. That’s when the reader’s brain and the storyteller’s brain essentially become one even though no one’s in the same space together.

 It feels like magic. It’s leveraging imagination. 

It’s really really important."

Cecilia Lyra
Literary Agent with PS Literary
During a Books with Hooks episode of The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast

December 2024

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.

Elements of a great first line

Little Dreidel Learns to Spin

Words by Rebecca Gardyn Levington, art by Taryn Johnson

Published by Scholastic/Cartwheel Books
First line: Little Dreidel, made of clay, at last is dry and ready!

She wants to whirl and swirly-spin, but she’s a bit…

unsteady!
Elements used: Introduces the main character and her problem, establishes a rhythm that pulls the reader in, makes the reader feel something, engages multiple senses


Read Rebecca's revision journey here. 

Hannukah Pajamakkahs

Words by Dara Henry, art by Olga& Aleksey Ivanov

Published by Sourcebooks

First line: It was the first night of Hannukah and Ruthie couldn’t wait to celebrate.

Elements used: references something with universal appeal and introduces the main character

The Gingerbread House Jack's Family Ate

Words by Kelly DiPucchio, art by Nate Wragg

Published by Orchard Books

First line: This is the house Jack’s family ate.

Elements used: establishes an unusual premise, makes the reader feel something, references a beloved classic

Elmore the Christmas Moose

Words by Dev Petty, art by Mike Boldt

Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers

First line: Let me tell you a story.

Elements used: references something with universal appeal and makes the reader wonder something

Just One Flake

By Travis Jonker

Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers

First line: I want to catch a snowflake.

Elements used: references something with universal appeal and introduces the character’s problem

The Christmassy Cactus

Words by Beth Ferry, art by A.N. Kang

Published by Harper

First line: Tiny Cactus lived on a big brown bookshelf in the heart of the house, and the hearts of her family.

Elements used: introduces the main character, establishes the setting of the story, and makes the reader feel something

Leena Mo, CEO

Words by Deena Shakir, art by Nex Riaz

Published by Salaam Reads

First line: This is the story of Leena Mo—a girl who dreamed and built and led—who sought to solve a problem and created something big.

Elements used: introduced the main character, makes the reader wonder something, and uses poetic devices

Eloisa's Musical Window

Words by Margarita Engle, art by John Parra

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

First line: Eloisa loved music…but her family was so poor that they could not buy a radio, so Eloisa sat by a window, listening to la musica that floated in from a neighbor’s house.

Elements used: introduces the main character and her problem, establishes the setting of the story, and engages multiple senses

SCORCH
Hedgehog of Doom

Words by Cate Berry, art by Margherita Grasso

Published by Page Street Kids

First line: High on a craggy cliff she looms, looking out at her glass castle.

Elements used: establishes the setting of the story, uses poetic devices, and makes the reader wonder something

A Terrible Place
for a Nest

Words by Sara Levine, art by Erika Meza

Published by Roaring Book Press

First line: When Juno and his mom lost heir home, they had to move to a new place.

Elements used: Introduces the main character, makes the reader feel something, and makes the reader wonder something

"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