Part of our work at Bringing Books to Life! is evaluating the library's available picture books for use in the early childhood classroom. Does a book have the right themes, for example, and is it an engaging read-aloud? If one of us really likes a book, we will make sure to pass it between us so that we can all read it. 

But one book we recently read took all of us by surprise because of its twist ending. Not one of us saw what was coming! I'm not going to spoil it for you, but trust me: a simple story about a star crossed (and very chaste) romance between a caterpillar and a young tadpole upended our entire workday. 

The twist ending of Tadpole's Promise did inspire us, however, to seek out more picture books with twist endings. Why read picture books with surprise endings? Well, they're fun and surprising, often providing opportunities for humor. They're great for making predictions, which help deepen our comprehension of what we are reading. Finally, they can inspire discussion about what we read, leading to rereading for missed details and spirited debate. 

We've gathered up a few titles with worthy twist endings to read at home or in the classroom. Check out our spoiler-free list below! 

A giant squid boasts that he's the biggest thing in the ocean—or is he? And does this apply at all times while in the ocean? 

In Snack Attack!, some after-school snacks get out of their packages and encounter a little more than they expected. Are they done for?  

Just released this month, this boldly illustrated tale of a cow determined to stay up at night may just make you laugh out loud at the end! 

Created by the same author as The Cow in the Dark at Night, this delightful picture book with just the right amount of suspense may make you look at a classic fairy tale a little differently. 

An astronaut travels to Mars looking for life on the red planet. Will he find what he is looking for? Or will he miss what the reader sees? 

Remember...

You can always ask a librarian, use our Library Concierge service, or read more of NPL's Children's Blog for more book recommendations!