April 2022 

by Lisa Thiesing
2022

First line: A family is…for having breakfast and for getting dressed.

elements used: hints at the universal themes of family and routines 

by Lisa Frenkel Riddiough, art by Asa Gilland

2022

Hook: An ABC book—each letter suggests an action to make the most of every day

First line: Appreciate Art

elements used: engages the reader and establishes a poetic tone 

by Robin Currie, art by Alycia Pace

2022

First line: ROAR! Oh, No, you turned into a dinosaur!

elements used: engages the reader and makes the reader wonder something

by Cynthia Argentine

2021

Hook: the transitions of natures using opposites and cycles

First line: Night becomes day.

elements used: hints at the universal theme of nature and a poetic tone

by Shaunda Wenger, art by JoJo Ensslin

2021

First line: Addie the hen: “What’s that?”

elements used: makes the reader wonder something

by Kirsten W Larson, art by Katy Wu

2021

Hook: the chronological story of how Wonder Woman was created and how current events shaped her various iterations.

First line: “As lovely as Aphrodite—as wise as Athena—with the speed of Mercury and the strength of Hercules—she is known only as Wonder Woman, but who she is, or whence she came, nobody knows!”

elements used: references a beloved classic

by Nadia Salomon, art by Poonam Mistry

2021

First line: There, by the window, beams warmth in a frame.

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

by Elisa Boxer, art by Laura Freeman

2021

Hook: the chronological life story of Nancy Pelosi, showing how she followed in both her mother’s footsteps through behind-the-scenes work and her mayor father’s footsteps when she finally ran for Congress. 

First line: The mayor’s daughter watched out the window as families lined up at the door, looking for help.

elements used: makes the reader wonder something

by Carter Higgins

2021

First line: circle under berry

elements used: engages the reader and introduces the concept

by Rajani LaRocca, art by Steven Salerno

2021

Hook: rhyming exploration of what DNA is—and where it stops in defining you

First line: Why aren’t you fuzzy like a dog, or buzzy like a bee?

elements used: engages the reader, makes the reader wonder something, engages multiple senses, and establishes a rhythm that pulls the reader in

by Christy Mihaly, art by Mariona Cabassa

2021

Hook: a chapter picture book covering ways water brings life to our planet and including stories about water from cultures around the world.

First lines: Plip! Plop! Plitter! Plosh! Raindrops fall from the clouds onto rooftops and umbrellas, cars and gardens. What happens to the rain? Where does the water go?

elements used: engages multiple senses, engages the reader, and establishes the theme and the tone of the story

by Derick wilder, art by Catia Chien

2021

First line: Mewmew wakes me, rumbledrumming my tummy.

elements used: introduces a unique main character and engages multiple senses

by Nancy Churnin, art by Bethany Stancliffe

2021

Hook: slice-of-life story about a Jewish woman who wrote to Charles Dickens to complain about his portrayal of Jews in Oliver Twist—and his response.

First line: Think of someone famous you admire.

elements used: engages the reader 

by Nancy Churnin, art by Yevgenia Nayberg

2021

Hook: spotlights the moments in Henrietta’s life when she helped others, leading up to when she founded Hadassah, a charity to help feed hungry and sick people in Palestine, and the work she did through her charity to help children during WWII.

First line: From the time Henrietta was little, she loved hearing about the woman who risked her life to save others.

elements used: introduces the main character and makes the reader wonder something

by Julia Lyon, art by Alexandra Bye

2021

Hook: chronological story of Ruth Mason’s lifelong struggle to share with the world the dinosaur fossils she found in her own backyard, beginning with her childhood discovery of the first one 

First line: Ruth Mason was forever curious about her own backyard.

elements used:  introduces the main character and makes the reader wonder something

by Shoshana Stopek, art by Gal Weizman

2022

First line: Sid was looking forward to a nice long nap in his new hammock.

elements used: introduces the main character and hints at the universal themes of rest and wanting to use something newly acquired

by Shoshana Stopek, art by Gal Weizman

2022

First line: Peanut was a little guy with BIG ideas and an even BIGGER imagination.

elements used: introduces the main character, makes the reader wonder something, and juxtaposes contrasting ideas

by Shoshana Stopek, art by Roman Diaz

2022

First line: Summer vacation was in full swing, and Roxy was excited to show off her new bathing suit.

elements used: introduces the main character, makes the reader wonder something, and establishes the setting of the story

by Shoshana Stopek, art by Roman Diaz

2022

First line: Millie was a very unique cow. 

elements used: introduces the main character, hints at her problem, and makes the reader wonder something.

by Anitra Rowe Shulte, art by Ziyue Chen

2021

First line: Elsie looked back and forth between two beautiful dresses.

elements used: introduces the main character and makes the reader wonder something

by Karen M. Greenwald, art by Sian James

2021

Hook: A grandmother enlists her grandson’s help in baking her special birthday cake, and when the boy expresses worry that baking is a girl’s job, she is inspired to tell him the story of the first woman mayor 

First line: Dora made her grandson an extraordinary promise.

Elements used: introduces the main character and makes the reader wonder something 

by Chrstina Dendy, art by Katie Rewse

2021

First line: At the end of Ironbark Way, the town of Stone Hollow edges against the WILD.

elements used: establishes the setting and makes the reader wonder something

by Anne Appert

2021

First lines: This is B(l)ob. 

Blob: Hi! Actually, it’s Blob. With an “L”.

elements used: introduces an unusual character and hints at that character’s problem

by Laurie Smollett Kutscera

2021

First line: Maya and Alita lived by the sea,

where the tide rippled silver,

and the ocean floor offered its treasures

by the light of the waning moon.

elements used: introduces the main character, establishes the setting of the story, and establishes a rhythm that pulls the reader into the story

by Naomi Danis, art by Daniel Rieley

2021

First line: Bye, car.

elements used: makes the reader wonder something and hints at a universal interest

by Songju Ma Daemicke, art by Lin

2021

Hook: sharesTu YouYou’s role in finding a cure for Malaria, beginning with her own illness as a child that jumpstarted her interest in the science of cures.

First line: In 1969, people all across the world were sick.

elements used: makes the reader wonder something and establishes the time period of the story 

by Laura Gehl

2021

Hook: a series of mini profiles highlighting areas of expertise within science 

First line: Who is a scientist?

elements used: engages the reader and makes the reader wonder something 

by Stacy McAnulty, art by Matthew Rivera

2021

First lines: Don’t worry. I’m not going to eat your brain. 

elements used: engages the reader and makes the reader wonder something 

by Maureen Gaspari, art by Siski Kalla

2021

First line: Lucas was a boy who did not like birthday parties.

elements used: introduces the main character, establishes an unusual problem, and makes the reader wonder something

by Alexandra Katona, art by Claudia Navarro

2021

First line: Every Sunday, I head to abuelita’s casa for dinner with mi familia.

elements used: hints at the universal theme of tradition and family