As children get ready for Halloween with fun costumes, festive decorations, and traditions like pumpkin carving, it’s the perfect time to add some extra magic to the season with Halloween books! Whether you’re looking for playful ghost stories or cheerful pumpkin tales, these books strike the ideal balance between spooky and sweet, sparking imaginations without being too scary for young readers. Get ready for a delightful mix of chills and giggles with..
Our top 10 favorite children’s books for Halloween!
Little Ghost Makes a Friend (NEW!)
Fresh off the press, this sweet story is all about having the courage to make a new friend. I love how it is told from the perspective of the ghost and really digs into some feelings all children experience when learning about themselves, others, and how to be a friend. This book is already a hit in its first Halloween season and will likely become a family favorite.
Griselda Snook’s Spectacular Books (NEW!)
There truly is a book for everyone to love and this book reassures the reader of that! Not only is the story all about the love of books, but your young reader will fall in love with this book too. The illustrations are engaging and bright and full of halloween frights and fun, but the story is imaginative and exciting. If you are picking a new book for your collection this year, add this one or the one above. You will love them both!
The Halloweiner by Dav Pilkey
There are just those authors that always bring on the belly laughs. Dav Pilkey knows how to get his readers, both young and old, giggling all the way through a story. The Halloweiner is about a dog who is always being teased as a weiner dog. His mother isn’t in on the jokes and she decides to get him a hot dog costume for Halloween. Wanting to please his mother, he wears the costume and endures the playful teasing. But the tables turn at the end of the story when he becomes the hero. Read to find out how he does it and enjoy the laughs along the way!
The Little Kitten by Nicola Killen
This book is part of a series that includes the sweetest, most endearing stories. Ollie is on her way through the woods when all of a sudden she realizes she has lost her kitten. Read to find out how she finds her beloved pet. Not only is the story so dear, the bronze painted accents throughout the illustrations add an extra flare. As long as this book has been around, it has been on repeat at our house. It is even requested when it isn’t even the Halloween season. A sure sign of a good book!
Construction Site Gets a Fright by Sherri Duskey Rinker
From the well-known and beloved series comes a Halloween take with our favorite construction characters. Whole doesn’t love a cement truck all dressed up? Be sure to check this one out if this is a favorite series of yours. You won’t be disappointed.
There’s a Ghost in This House by Oliver Jeffers
This fun book is quirky and playfully spooky. Join a curious little girl as she wanders around her haunted house searching for ghosts and questioning if they really exist. The use of real photographs of an old mansion combined with transparent pages creates a unique and interactive experience. Your little one will love spotting funny ghosts hiding on the bookshelves, under the stairs and in many unexpected places!
Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht
It’s hard to decide what is more charming about this book, the playful rhyming words or the vibrant and delightful illustrations. This cheerful story highlights all the happy and not-so-scary components of Halloween traditions. Join a family on their journey as they visit a pumpkin patch, choose the perfect pumpkin and bring them home to carve jack-o-lanterns with plenty of fun along the way! It’s a happy celebration of the holiday that children and adults will equally enjoy.
No Such Thing by Ella Bailey
Your little one will be sure to get a kick out of the mischievous ghosts in this story as they play naughty tricks on the main character. Follow a girl as she tries to prove there is no such thing as ghosts – even though the fun illustrations suggest otherwise. Another fun, light hearted read for children who prefer a gentler take on Halloween.
Ghost Afraid of the Dark by Sara Conway
This heartwarming story is about a ghost named Boo who is afraid of the dark and turns to his friends for courage. Join him as he visits his familiar halloween buddies who highlight the surprising advantages of darkness, making him feel brave. To show his gratitude, Boo throws a party for his friends only to discover that the dark brings something special out in him he didn’t know existed! This sweet story about friendship, bravery and self-discovery that readers both young and old will enjoy.
That Witch by Courtney Hanks
This story begins with a lonely witch who creates a magical potion that brings magical beings to her house. While this makes the witch feel less lonely, she soon becomes bothered by her new friends for various reasons and gives them the choice to change or to leave. Once her friends all leave she feels even lonelier than before and is filled with regret for being unkind. This Halloween story is filled with important lessons about friendship and acceptance and can be a great conversation starter!
No matter which one you decide to try, remember that seasonal books can become a tradition, can make a holiday more festive, and can add to the excitement surrounding the whole season. Happy reading!
