Open-ended story starters make writing stories seem like irresistible fun. "Look at the picture and write a short story with three or more sentences. Write a title for your story. Do not forget to color the picture!" Actual directions are a bit more specific - some add word banks, some require using commas or an exclamation point, some supply a first or last sentence, some suggest writing the story as a postcard to a friend - to challenge young writers in engaging ways. Each book offers more than 80 story starters. Grades 1-6. Good Year Books. 96 pages each.