Top 20 Read-a-Loud Countdown: #9 and #10

9.  Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, written and illustrated by Mo Willems.  And this is where the Mo Mania began.  It seems so simple and yet it's so brilliantly funny:  a bus driver trusting that readers will honor his request that we won't let the pigeon make off with his cherished vehicle.  Soon we find ourselves bombarded with requests, promises, deals, and pleas from the feathered creature.  Willems leaves out the word "NO!" and yet we gladly shout this word at the bird again and again, causing it to finally lose control and scream "LET ME DRIVE THE BUS!!!", feathers flying.  (I ask that the children join in on this thunderous outburst, which they gladly do.)  After the bus driver reappears, and we applaud ourselves on a job well done, and the poor pigeon looks utterly dejected, a surprise comes bursting onto the next page.  What's funny is when I ask children "are you going to let the pigeon drive the humongous truck" that appears, many of them shout "YES!".

10.  Froggy Gets Dressed, written by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz.  Full disclosure:  this was the very first book I read for my very first storytime as a professional librarian.  So it really does have sentimental value for me.  Many Froggy books have followed but this one will always be the best (although Froggy Goes to Bed is a close second).  I usually like to give kids "jobs" to do during storytime, words to shout out, sound effects to make, and actions to follow.  And this charming story in which Froggy, who sees snow and becomes too excited to hibernate, offers many interactive opportunities.  Kids love shouting "FROGGY" just like his mom, imitating the sounds of the various clothes Froggy puts on ("zwit" for his scarf, "zut zut zut" for his shirt buttons), and flopping back and forth as Froggy walks in the snow.  They love to giggle when Froggy keeps forgetting to put on clothes (his pants!  his coat!), and end up in comedy heaven when we learn that he has forgotten the most important article of clothing at all.  If I need a surefire winner, this one still delivers the goods.