2. Author’s LeadWhat has the author done? Our lead with the same technique!!! Wednesday Surprise by Eve Bunting I like surprises. But the one Grandma and I are planning for Dad’s birthday is the best surprise of all. She put a short and snappy sentence first. Then she started a sentence with “But” to give us a little hint. I like the outdoors. But the day at Fallen Timbers was the best day in the outdoors ever!

3. Author’s LeadWhat has the author done? Our lead with the same technique!!! The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant It was in the summer of the year when the relatives came. They came from Virginia. They left when their grapes were nearly purple enough to pick, but not quite. She started with when in the first sentence. The second sentence said where. The last sentence showed what, but not quite. It was the winter of the year when the fourth graders came. They came from Westside Elementary School. They left when their minds were almost filled to the brim with the history of the Wisconsin lumberjacks, but not quite.

4. Author’s LeadWhat has the author done? Our lead with the same technique!!! Our Tree Named Steve by Alan Zweibel Dear Kids, A long time ago, when you were little, Mom and I took you to where we wanted to build a house for us to live. But in order to build there, men had to come and clear the land He uses a letter format. First he tells when followed by a comma. Next he tells an event. Followed by a thought. Dear Dad, During the year I turned ten, Mrs. Jakel and crew took us to a place where she wanted to teach me how to snow shoe. But in order to snowshoe there, I needed to keep vertical and couldn’t lie down on the job.

5. Author’s LeadWhat has the author done? Our lead with the same technique!!! Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud All day long, everyone in the whole wide world walks around carrying an invisible bucket. She started with when, where, and last what! All day at school, most fourth grader at Westside Elementary School walked around wearing plaid, facial hair, and jeans.

6. Author’s LeadWhat has the author done? Our lead with the same technique!!! Owl Moon by Janet Yolen It was late one winter morning long past my bedtime, when Pa and I went owling. She put when and where first then adds a comma, and tells what happened. It was early one bright February morning, when my class and I turned into lumberjacks.

7. Author’s LeadWhat has the author done? Our lead with the same technique!!! Encounter by Janet Yolen The moon was well overhead, and our great fire had burned low: A loud clap of thunder woke me up from my dream. She used descriptive language to describe when and the setting first. Next she adds a colon, and tells what happened. The sun was creeping up over the horizon and the smell of flapjacks wafted in the air: A loud blow of the gaberal woke be from my bunk.

8. Author’s LeadWhat has the author done? Our lead with the same technique!!! The Lorax by Dr. Seuss At the far end of town where the Grickle-grass grows And the wind smells slow- and-sour when it blows And no birds ever sing excepting old crows… Is the Street of the Lifted Lorax. He first gives us the setting. Next he has us use one of our five senses to smell the setting. Next we use our sense of sight to see the setting. Finally he gives us the name of the setting. At the south end of town where the snow is deep And the wintery winds bites at your cheeks And mounted animals stare down at the guests Is the environmental center called Fallen Timbers.

9. Author’s LeadWhat has the author done? Our lead with the same technique!!! The Great Fuzz Frenzy by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel Down it went. BOINK “Watch out below!” RUMBLE! “HELP! HELP” “HEEEELLLP” They first give a direction, then a sound effect, next a warning, another sound effect, finally an exclamation! Down I went SLIPPING SLIPPLNG “Watch out I’m going down!” CRASH “HELP! HELP” “HEEELLLP”

10. Author’s LeadWhat has the author done? Our lead with the same technique!!! Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell Molly Lou Melon stood just taller than her dog and was the shortest girl in the first grade. She didn’t mind. Her grandma had told her, “Walk as proudly as you can and the world will look up to you.” She told the character’s name and used descriptive language to describe her in the first sentence. Next is a short and snappy sentence. Next sentence she used a quote that contained advice. Jodi Lou Lumberjack stood taller than any other lumberjack at Fallen Timbers. She was loud., but she didn’t care. Her Papa Paul had told her “Keep telling your stories and the camp will laugh with you!”

11. Author’s LeadWhat has the author done? Our lead with the same technique!!! Crickwing by Janell Cannon Far below the great forest canopy lies a shadowy world that many insects call home. Among the damp clutter of fallen leaves and branches, leaf- cutting ants toil all day while large cockroaches await their evening search for food.

12. Author’s LeadWhat has the author done? Our lead with the same technique!!! Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen Ever since I was born and could see, Everywhere I looked, I saw dance. In the clouds as the wind blew them across the sky, In the ripples on a pond Even in the sea of ants marching up and down their hills. Dance was all around me. Dance was me.

13. Author’s LeadWhat has the author done? Our lead with the same technique!!! Sister Anne’s Hands By MaryBeth Lorbiecki The summer I turned seven, flower had power, peace signs were in, and we watched The Ed Sullivan Show every Sunday night. That’s the summer word went around that a new teacher had come to town.