Getting the Reader’s

Attention!

ARE THESE BEGINNINGS GRABBERS?

Once upon a time there was a little girl.

The little brown dog limped through town, dragging one bloody paw behind him.

Bird Dog Dean hadn’t planned to set the woods on fire.

Jimmy wanted to be a fireman when he grew up.

Sasha scrounged through the trash because she hadn’t eaten in two days.

WHAT ABOUT THESE?

Once upon a time, there lived an old woman and an old man.

My best friend’s name is Lee Ann Turwilliger.

This is a story about a moose I saw once in Maine.

I’ve never told this story before, and I’m only telling you now because I think someone else should know the truth.

GRABBERS GO AFTER YOUR FEELINGS…MAKING YOU FEEL

C

URIOSITY

H

UMOR

W

ONDER

S

YMPATHY

ANGER

SORROW

FEAR

M Y S T E R Y

KINDS OF GRABBERS:H

umorous: I didn’t mean to drive my teacher crazy, it just happened that way.

Dialogue: “Why are you eating a tarantula?” my little sister asked.

Question: Don’t you think every boy deserves a dog of his own?

KINDS OF GRABBERS:

Mystery: I was eleven when I found the magic key that would change my life.

Shocking: I’ll never forget the day my tongue turned purple and green.

WHAT NOW?L

et’s look for examples of “grabbers”.

We’ll look through picture books and chapter books to find one or two samples.

A FEW OF MY FAVORITES

Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood. If you’re reading this because you think you might be one, my advice is: close this book right now. Believe whatever lie your mom or dad told you about your birth, and try to lead a normal life. Being a half-blood is dangerous. It’s scary. Most of the time, it gets you killed in painful, nasty ways.

A FEW OF MY FAVORITES

If your teacher has to die, August isn’t a bad time of year for it. You know August. The corn is earring. The tomatoes are ripening on the vine. The clover’s in full bloom. There’s a little less evening now, and that’s a warning. You want to live every day twice over because you’ll be back in the jailhouse of school before the end of the month.

A FEW OF MY FAVORITES

WARNING: Do not read beyond this page!Good. Now I know I can trust you. You’re curious. You’re brave. And you’re not afraid to lead a life of crime. But let’s get something straight; if, despite my warning, you insist on reading this book, you can’t hold me responsible for the consequences. And, make no bones about it, this is a very dangerous book.

LIBRARY ETIQUETTE

W

e will be visiting the library…

B

ut we wont’ all be in the same area.

E

ach of you will get a card, directing you a specific

section to look great beginnings.

A

nd we will be super quiet…invisible.