Top 20 Read-a-Loud Countdown: #13 and #14

13.  Demolition, written by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Brian Lovelock.  This companion to this team's great Roadwork makes for one rowdy read.  Thwack!  Whop!  Bam!  Big machines knock a building down, and kids love emulating the sounds of these resourceful construction vehicles.  Sutton's thrilling staccato prose captures the demolition process in a bouncy manner, and Lovelock's illustrations jump off the page.  It's fun to ask kids "why is the building being knocked down?" and "what are they going to build next?"  Young listeners/readers feel happy with the book's ending, which offers a most pleasant surprise.

14.  The Mightiest, written and illustrated by Keiko Kasza.  A while back when I first started this blog, I dedicated a whole entry to the comical genius of Keiko Kasza.  She has truly mastered the art of the plot twist, and The Mightiest offers at least three great plot twists.  A lion, an elephant, and bear discover a crown in the woods on a rock that says "For the Mightiest."  Of course the trio argues about who the mightiest truly is, leading them to a contest that has them each trying to see who can scare an approaching elderly woman the most.  Kids love making the animal sounds, and those reading the story will savor the opportunity of taking on different character voices.  Twist after twist after goofy twist keep young listeners/readers guessing what is going to happen next.