September 2022

By Pauline David-Sax, art by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers

First line: The bell rings and I push open the library door.

elements used: engages multiple senses and invokes the universal place of school

By Chris Van Dusen

Published by Candlewick Press

First line: Out on the ocean, one bright summer day, bound for an island, still five miles away, a tugboat was towing a truck on a barge—a truck that was hauling a load, extra large.

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

By Kara LaREau, art by Vincent X. Kirsch

Published by Harper

First line: Ezra always lets his light shine bright.

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

By Danielle Davis, art by Mags DeRoma

Published by Katherine Tegen Books

First line (over 4 spreads): To make a cake, gather, make, wait.

elements used: invokes the universal appeal of creating something

By Robin Heald, art by Peggy Collins

Published by pajama press

First line: “I’m going to learn to whistle for the new baby,” said Daniel.

elements used: invokes the universal theme of siblings and family and the universal appeal of learning something new

By Deborah Hopkinson, art by Chuck Groenink

Published by anne schwartz books

First line: One. Only one. The story starts with one.

elements used: makes the reader wonder something

By Kalle George, art by Jay Fleck

Published by Rodale Kids

First line: Our playground rules!

elements used: makes the reader wonder something and makes a play on words

By Nic Yulo

Published by Dial Books for Young Readers

First line: “Look up, Pia. That is the sky.”

elements used: makes the reader wonder something 

By Sue Fliess, art by Khoa Le

Published by Millbrook Press

First line: Sounds abound the world around.

elements used: establishes a rhythm that pulls the reader in

By Danica McKellar, art by Josee Masse

Published by Crown Books for Young Readers

First line: Hello there, my friend! Are you ready to meet someone spunky, ambitious, and playfully sweet?

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

By Matt Myers

Published by Neal Porter Books

First line: We are wild.

elements used: makes the reader wonder something

By Tony Johnston, art by Annabel Tempest

Published by Greenwillow Books

First line: Olivia loved ice cream.

elements used: references something with universal appeal

By Jessica McKay, art by Kelly Rowland

Published by Viking

First line: Monday: My darling child, there is a part of the day that your eyes never see.

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

By Jyoti Rajan Gopal, art by Supriya Kelkar

Published by Little, Brown and Company

First line: Festive henna, garnet red

Bindis, bangles, desi queen, 

Fantasy hair, seafoam green…which is the color of me?

elements used: engages multiple senses

By Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, and Joe Wilson; art by Daniel Sousa

Published by Kokila

First line: (first in Hawaiian) Long ago, before Kakuhihewa ruled Oahu, four Tahitians journeyed across the ocean from their home in Moaulanuiakea to Hawaii.

elements used: invokes the universal appeal of an epic adventure

By Huw Lewis Jones, art by Ben Sanders

Published by Thames & Hudson

First line: This is Apple.

elements used: introduces the main character

By Shinsuke Yoshitake

Published by Chronicle Books

First line: Oh. A rubber band.

elements used: invokes the universal theme of discovery

By Juliana Perdomo

Published by Candlewick

First line: I live in a cozy place with my mom and Rumba, our dog.

elements used: invokes the universal appeal of home and family

By Stephen Briseno, art by Magdalena Mora
Published by Random House Studio

First line: Mama tells me we have a long way to walk.

elements used: makes the reader wonder something

By Jane Park, art by Felicia Hoshino
Published by Lee & Low Books

First line: Juna’s favorite day of the week was Saturday.

elements used: makes the reader wonder something

By Kjartan Poskitt, art by Alex Willmore
Published by Aladdin

First line: The washing-up’s finished, so out comes the plug, and the water goes down with a SWISH and a GLUG!

elements used: establishes a rhythm that pulls the reader into the story

By Nancy Viau, art by Jorge Lacera
Published by two lions

First line: Planet Monochrome was a teeny tiny planet tucked between Saturn and Jupiter.

elements used: makes the reader wonder something and invokes the universal appeal of space

By Liz Garton Scanlon, art by Sean Qualls
Publisher: Neal Porter Books

First line: Frances is a city kid, but the city never seems quite right for Frances. 

elements used: introduces the main character and their problem and hints at the universal theme of not fitting in

By David Elliott, art by Evan Turk
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

First line: Red big.

elements used: makes the reader wonder something and introduces the concept

By Bob Shea

Published by Candlewick Press

First line: I am a baby and I am not sleepy.

elements used: introduces the main character and hints at a problem

By Hannah E. Harrison

Published by Dial Books for Young Readers

First line: Poopsie the cat sat on her cat bed.

elements used: introduces the main character and hints at the tone of the story

By Lisa Tolin, art by Daniel Duncan

Published by: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

First line: If you want to be a rock star… first you need a band.

elements used: references the universal appeal of being a rock star and hints at the tone of the story 

By Diane C. Ohanesian, art by Joey Chou

Published by Random House Studio

First line: Honk! Honk! Beep! Beep! Cars and trucks race down the street.

elements used: establishes a rhythm that pulls the reader into the story and engages multiple senses

By Michelle Kadarusman, art by Maggie Zeng

Published by pajama press

First line: Two wombats, Dig and Scratch, peered out from the tunnel of their burrow.

elements used: introduces unusual main characters and makes the reader wonder something

By Rilla Alexander

Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

First line: He’d come a long way.

elements used: makes the reader wonder something