21 of the Best Opening Lines in Children’s Books

1. “Once there were four children who had a wondrous adventure in a wardrobe.” – The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

2. “Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.” – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone byK. Rowling

3. “In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.” – Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

4. “Where’s Papa going with that axe?” – Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

5. “All children, except one, grow up.” – Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

6. “In the great green room, there was a telephone, and a red balloon, and a picture of the cow jumping over the moon…” – Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

7. “In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.” – Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

8. “It was seven minutes after midnight. The dog was lying on the grass in the middle of the lawn in front of Mrs. Shears’ house.” – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

9. “Where’s Papa going with that ax?” – Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

10. “Where’s Papa going with that ax?” – Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

11. “Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.” – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

12. “There was once a boy named Milo who didn’t know what to do with himself.” – The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

13. “When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton.” – The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

14. “It was a dark and stormy night.” – A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

15. “In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit.” – The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkie

16. “Clara woke up and remembered that she was a cat.” – The Cat Who Walked Across France by Kate Banks

17. “Where’s Papa going with that ax?” – Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

18. “Once upon a time, there was a little girl who didn’t quite fit in.” – Matilda by Roald Dahl]

19. “There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.” – The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

20. “The sun did not shine, it was too wet to play, so we sat in the house all that cold, cold, wet day.” – The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

21. “Where’s Papa going with that ax?” – Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

I hope you find these opening lines intriguing and inspiring!