Goal: Ensure Page 1 presents what the hero will do (goal/task) or what hits them (conflict/obstacle), to grab kids’ and parents’ attention fast.
1) Why the opening must jump straight into goal/conflict
- Kids’ attention windows are short: if P1–2 are only scenery/background, they’ll drift immediately.
- Meaning beats > scenic setup: readers first need to know what happens, not where or what the weather is.
- It powers the story “engine”: P1 sets goal/conflict; P2–4 can naturally follow with “attempt → escalation → turn.”
Memory hook: P1 = What, P2 = Do, P3 = But.
2) Common missteps (contrast examples)
| Misstep | ❌ Weak opening | ✅ Strong opening (with goal/conflict) |
|---|---|---|
| Pure scenery setup | “In a lovely valley, birds sing…” | “‘I’m the fastest!’ Hare shouts. ‘Race me!’ Tortoise looks up.” |
| Lyrical philosophizing | “Since the beginning of time, courage matters…” | “‘I won’t quit,’ Tortoise whispers. ‘Let’s race.’ The forest holds its breath.” |
3) Three-step quick fix (turn P1 into a “grab” page)
- Throw the goal/conflict (≤12 words)
“Let’s race!” / “Egg in the wrong nest!”
- Show an action or cost (1 sentence)
“Tortoise steps to the line.” / “Raptors hiss and circle close.”
- Plant an escalation beat (can land on P2)
“Wind drops.” / “Footsteps from the fern-eater herd…”
Structure template (P1 in 2–3 short lines):
Line 1: Goal/Conflict → Line 2: Immediate action/plan → Line 3: Implied risk or urgency
One-line takeaway
Page 1 = the What page: give kids an immediately graspable “what to do / what just happened” so the story actually starts.
Next up: A02 | No Engine: Build “want + obstacle + causal chain” within 4 pages