Hooked...

Hooked on books?

Isn't funny how we get hooked on books, and how we get hooked because of exactly that…the hook!

Have you written your story to hook your reader? Have you made your reader curious early on (the hook) and made him/her wonder what’s going to happen and how in the world things will end? 

Of course, you’ll still need to reel that reader in. A solid story and a fabulous ending will do that. So, put some bait on your line, create an interesting story and go “catch” yourself a reader!

Some good hooks in picture books:

The hook:
It was almost Christmas , and the forest was a flurry of activity. The animals were bustling here and there – putting up the Christmas tree, wrapping presents, making tasty cakes and cookies – while the young ones scampered about, squeaking with excitement.

Everybody was looking forward to Christmas.

Well, almost everybody.

The book: GRUMPY BADGER’S CHRISTMAS by Paul Bright


Why is this an effective hook? Because it makes the reader wonder… 
with all the hustle and bustle going on around him, who would not be looking forward to Christmas?

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The hook:
One Monday morning in September, Mrs. Barrington rolled out a big poster with all of the presidents’ pictures on it. Grace Campbell could not believe her eyes.

“Where are all the girls?”

The book: GRACE FOR PRESIDENT  by Kelly DiPucchio


Why is this an effective hook? Because Grace’s question is a good one and it makes the reader wonder…
what will Grace do about it?

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The hook:
To any outsider, Gilbert had everything a goldfish could ever want.

A magnificent stone castle.

A treasure chest full of gold.

And a feast of tasty flakes that fell from the sky just in time for breakfast each day.

But one thing Gilbert did not have was the very thing that he most desperately wanted:

A pet.

The book: GILBERT GOLDFISH WANTS A PET  by Kelly DiPucchio


Why is this an effective hook? Because it makes the reader wonder…
what could possibly be a good pet for a goldfish?

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The hook:
Things were quiet on the Tuckers’ farm.

The cows chewed their cud.

The hens clucked and pecked and laid their eggs.

The old hound stretched out on the porch, watching and listening.

Once in a while someone would stop to buy tomatoes or corn, perhaps a quart of milk.

Nothing unusual happened there.

Until…

The book: THREE HENS AND A PEACOCK  by Lester L. Laminack


Why is this an effective hook? Because it makes the reader wonder…
until? Until what???

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The hook:
Ozzie was a very lazy owl.

“It’s time you learned how to fly,” said Mother Owl one day.

But Ozzie said, “Oh, do I have to?”

He didn’t want to learn how to fly. All that wing-flapping looked like too much hard work. Ozzie’s favorite thing to do was to sit around.

“I’m practicing being wise,“ he said.

“Well, I want you to fly,” said his mother sternly.

“Now, I’m going out to look for some food. And if you are wise, you will be on the ground by the time I come back!”

The book: LAZY OZZIE by Michael Coleman



Why is this an effective hook? Because it makes the reader wonder…
will Ozzie learn to fly? And if he doesn't what will his mama do?

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So, next time you read a picture book, study the opening. What hooked you? Think about your story and your opening and how you can hook a reader and then reel him in and keep him hooked until the end!

Guest posted for Mandy by Dawn Young, Children’s Book Academy graduate (PB course) and participant in the From Storyteller to Exquisite Writer: The Pleasures and Craft of Poetic Techniques course.

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