Once the dream book is finally contracted, the most important writing starts. Essentially what we write in preparation for the book to sell many, many copies. The HOOK!
Bob Hostetler in his article Hooks and Gimmicks quotes Tamela Hancock Murray:
“A hook is a line that makes the reader say, ‘I’ve GOT to read this NOW!’ A gimmick is when the reader says, ‘Not ANOTHER one of these! I’m soooo tired of this same old same old.’
“Amazon completely dominates the bookselling landscape, controlling over 80% of ebook sales, 65% of online print book sales, and 83% of the U.S. e-reader market.”
The hook is the first sentence of the write up, often in bold face type. Your book’s hook should say: “I’ve GOT to read this NOW!”
I have a picture book coming in 2026 about trees. Every four months or so I check Amazon to see how tree books are being described.
Hook 1: drop a famous name or familiar title
Listening to Trees: George Nakashima, Woodworker by Holly Thompson. Neal Porter/Holiday House
A poetic and moving picture book biography celebrating the life and work of the visionary Japanese American woodworker George Nakashima.
Mother Aspen: A Story of How Forests Cooperate and Communicate by Annette LeBox. Groundwood Books
A lyrical story of an aspen grove through the seasons, inspired by the ground-breaking work of Dr. Suzanne Simard on how trees and fungi talk to each other.
Hook 2: mention a familiar theme
My Olive Tree by Hazar Elbayya. Anne Schwartz Books/Random House
In this simple, touching picture book about the healing power of a loving community, a girl’s grandpa and her neighbors help her grow an olive tree in a war-torn land.
I am Tree Rex! by Mo Davey. Berbay (Australia)
A character-driven dinosaur story about protecting the environment, one tree at a time.
Hook 3: tell us about the characters
Wonder of the Woods by Bonnie Kelso. Little Press
A young girl explores the wooded area near her home and encounters a variety of animals that are curious about their new visitor.
Together, a Forest: Drawing Connections Between Nature’s Diversity and Our Own by Roz MacLean. Henry Holt
Explore a forest with a curious classroom in this breathtaking new picture book by the author of the beloved More Than Words and experience the essential beauty of diversity in humanity and nature.
Hook 4: Crack out the buzz words
Our Tree by Jessica Meserve. Tiger tales
For readers ages 3-7, this is a stunningly illustrated celebration of tolerance, togetherness, and the power of community.
A Forest Song by Kirsten Hall. Random house
Beautifully illustrated by an award-winning artist, this cento poem about experiencing a forest with all of your senses will make the perfect read-aloud for nature lovers and curious explorers of all ages.
Manuscript sold and contract signed. Begin now to write the Most Important Sentence: the HOOK!
Multi award winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing sitting on the floor during more than 1000 story times. She sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again. Watch for her tree book HOOK in 2026!
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