National Year of Reading

Fabulous First Line Friday (6 July)

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, we are sharing some fabulous first lines from the books on our bookshelves. (Every Friday you’ll find another fabulous first line here on Soup Blog. Try to guess the book it’s from. Would you read on? Perhaps you can use it as a writing prompt … imagine it’s your first line, where would your story go from here?)

Now for today’s Fabulous First Line*:

Young Josh is very brave.

Do you want to find out what happens next? The title of the book is at the end of this post …

*For the purposes of Fabulous First Line Friday, we’re counting the first line as the first line of chapter 1 in any book. So if there is an introduction or an author’s note or something before chapter 1, we don’t count that bit …
The book is The Last Viking by Norman Jorgensen, ill. James Foley
National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (29 June)

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, we are sharing some fabulous first lines from the books on our bookshelves. (Every Friday you’ll find another fabulous first line here on Soup Blog. Try to guess the book it’s from. Would you read on? Perhaps you can use it as a writing prompt … if it were your own first line, where would your story go from here?)

Now for today’s Fabulous First Line*:

“Who cares about Australia?” Henri muttered.

Do you want to read on? The title of the book is at the end of this post …

*For the purposes of Fabulous First Line Friday, we’re counting the first line as the first line of chapter 1 in any book. So if there is an introduction or an author’s note or something before chapter 1, we don’t count that bit …
The book is Do Not Forget Australia by Sally Murphy, ill. Sonia Kretschmar.
National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (22 June)

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, we are sharing some fabulous first lines from the books on our bookshelves. (Every Friday you’ll find another fabulous first line here on Soup Blog. Try to guess the book it’s from. Would you read on? Perhaps you can use it as a writing prompt … if it were your own first line, where would your story go from here?)

Now for today’s Fabulous First Line*:

 

On the outskirts of a tiny little town was a neglected garden.

 

Do you want to read on? The title of the book is at the end of this post …

 

*For the purposes of Fabulous First Line Friday, we’re counting the first line as the first line of chapter 1 in any book. So if there is an introduction or an author’s note or something before chapter 1, we don’t count that bit …
The book is Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (our version is illustrated by Lauren Child)
National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (15 June)

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, we are sharing some fabulous first lines from the books on our bookshelves. (Every Friday you’ll find another fabulous first line here on Soup Blog. Try to guess the book it’s from. Would you read on? Perhaps you can use it as a writing prompt … if it were your own first line, where would your story go from here?)

Now for today’s Fabulous First Line*:

 

Until he was four years old, James Henry Trotter had a happy life.

 

 

*For the purposes of Fabulous First Line Friday, we’re counting the first line as the first line of chapter 1 in any book. So if there is an introduction or an author’s note or something before chapter 1, we don’t count that bit …

 

The book is James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl..
National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (8 June)

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, we are sharing some fabulous first lines from the books on our bookshelves. (Every Friday you’ll find another fabulous first line here on Soup Blog. Try to guess the book it’s from. Would you read on? Perhaps you can use it as a writing prompt … if it were your own first line, where would your story go from here?)

Now for today’s Fabulous First Line*:

 

The first thing Shy remembered was living in a round, dark, leafy nest with her mother and brother, Spur.

 

 

*For the purposes of Fabulous First Line Friday, we’re counting the first line as the first line of chapter 1 in any book. So if there is an introduction or an author’s note or something before chapter 1, we don’t count that bit …

 

The book is Shy the Platypus by Leslie Rees.
National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (1 June)

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, we are sharing some first lines from books on our bookshelves. So, every Friday for the rest of the year we’re posting a fabulous first line here on Soup Blog.

Here’s today’s Fabulous First Line*:

 

The day that Leo Zifkak became the owner of the music box, his life changed forever.

 

Do you want to read on? What do you think comes next?

The title of the book is right at the end of this post so you can try to guess it first.

*For the purposes of Fabulous First Line Friday, we’re counting the first line as the first line of chapter 1 in any book. So if there is an introduction or an author’s note or something before chapter 1, we don’t count that bit …

 

The book is They Key to Rondo by Emily Rodda.
National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (25 May)

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, we are sharing some first lines from books on our bookshelves. So, every Friday for the rest of the year we’re posting a fabulous first line here on Soup Blog.

Here’s today’s Fabulous First Line*:

When I was a kid I HATED gardening.

Do you want to read on? What do you think comes next?

(We’ll put the title of the book right at the end of this post so you can try to guess it first.)

*For the purposes of Fabulous First Line Friday, we’re counting the first line as the first line of chapter 1 in any book. So if there is an introduction or an author’s note or something before chapter 1, we don’t count that bit …
The book is How to Guzzle Your Garden by Jackie French.
National Year of Reading

Fabulous First Line Friday (18 May)

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, we are sharing some first lines from books on our bookshelves. So, every Friday for the rest of the year we’re posting a fabulous first line here on Soup Blog.

Here’s today’s Fabulous First Line*:

Abby leaned forward and stared.

Do you want to read on? Try using this as a writing prompt for a story or poem. What happens?

Do you know the name of the book? (We’ll put it right at the end of this post so you can try to guess first.)

*For the purposes of Fabulous First Line Friday, we’re counting the first line as the first line of chapter 1 in any book. So if there is an introduction or an author’s note or something before chapter 1, we don’t count that bit …
The book is Duck for a Day by Meg McKinlay, ill. Leila Rudge
National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (11 May)

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, we are sharing some first lines from books on our bookshelves. So, every Friday for the rest of the year we’re posting a fabulous first line here on Soup Blog.

Here’s today’s Fabulous First Line*:

Marley was dead: to begin with.

Do you want to read on? What do you think comes next?

Do you know the name of the book? (We’ll put it right at the end of this post so you can try to guess first.)

*For the purposes of Fabulous First Line Friday, we’re counting the first line as the first line of chapter 1 in any book. So if there is an introduction or an author’s note or something before chapter 1, we don’t count that bit …
The book is A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (4 May)

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, we are sharing some first lines from books on our bookshelves. So, every Friday for the rest of the year we’re posting a fabulous first line here on Soup Blog.

Here’s today’s Fabulous First Line*:

Imagine yourself back when you were learning the alphabet for the very first time.

What do you think—if you opened a book and read that first line, would you want to read on?

Do you know the name of the book? (We’ll put it right at the end of this post so you can try to guess first.)

*For the purposes of Fabulous First Line Friday, we’re counting the first line as the first line of chapter 1 in any book. So if there is an introduction or an author’s note or something before chapter 1, we don’t count that bit …
The book is The Word Spy by Ursula Dubosarsky, illustrated by Tohby Riddle