We recently found a book that I used to read to our older kids when they were younger and the kids and I have been reading it almost every day since then. What makes the book so much fun is the surprise ending!
The book is called Under the Bed and when you’re first reading it, it seems like a regular read-aloud book about a young bear who comes in and wakes up his dad to tell him that there’s a monster under the bed. As a parent, it’s easy to relate to the exasperation the daddy bear feels as he tries to talk his son into going back to bed. He tries to convince him of course that there is no monster under his bed. I don’t want to give away the surprise ending, but it’s one that makes my kids giggle!
I remember the first time I read it to my older kids when they were little and now it’s fun to read to my younger ones.
Here are some other books that we enjoy that have surprise endings (though maybe none as surprising as Under the Bed!):
The Monster at the End of This BookThe True Story of the Three Little Pigs
Extra Yarn
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type (A Click, Clack Book)
Under the Bed
The Dot
I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean!
The Paper Bag Princess (Munsch for Kids)
The Children Who Loved Books
Leah’s Pony
What are your favourite children’s books with unexpected endings?
I absolutely LOVE “The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear”! Older kids will get the funny ending, but most younger children don’t quite understand yet.
I’ve never heard of that one. I’ll have to look it up!
“Emma Kate” by Patricia Polacco
I love Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll.