Spooktastic Halloween Books for Every Age
Halloween is all about pumpkins, costumes, trick or treating, spooky characters and kids don’t even have to leave the house to find them. These spooktastic Halloween books are full of the fun characters and scary stories that kids crave around Halloween. There’s something for all ages, so little kids and those who prefer a more lighthearted Halloween will find something they can enjoy too.
Preschool
For preschoolers, Halloween is all about dressing up and going trick or treating. These stories put aside the spookiness and just focus on the fun that comes with being in a disguise.
Peek-a-Who?
Something is peeking through the window, what could it be? Maybe it’s a green ghost or a silly cow? Kids will love trying to guess what it is in this cute Halloween story.
Click, Clack, Boo!: A Tricky Treat
Sandra Boynton’s favorite cows and other farm animals are back in this Halloween-themed story. Farmer Brown isn’t a fan of Halloween, but his animals are, and they’re ready to play some tricks.
Spot and his friends love dressing up for Halloween. What will they be this year? Kids will love flipping through the pages to find out.
Kindergarten-1st Grade
At this age, kids still aren’t quite ready for scary stories, but they do love the witches, skeletons, and other symbols of Halloween when they’re presented in a fun and playful way. These books are sure to be a hit.
Shake Dem Halloween Bones
Kids’ favorite fairy tale characters are headed to the Halloween romp in this fun story that is told with a hip-hop vibe.
Room on the Broom
Iggity, Ziggity, Zaggity, Zoom! Is there room on the witch’s broom? This cute story tells the tale about a witch and her cat who have to make room for some friends on their broom.
Bone Soup
The well-known story “Stone Soup” is re-imagined in this picture book about, Finnigin, a skeleton with a ravenous appetite. He fills his soup with spider eggs, toenail clippings, and all sorts of disgusting items that will cause kids to cringe with delight.
2nd – 3rd Grade
Go beyond the standard picture books and give kids a chance to learn how authors can bring the spookiness of Halloween to a story using their words.
A boy and his grandmother must battle a group of witches who hate children. Like many of Roald Dahl’s works, it’s a bit creepy, a bit funny, and a bit weird – a combination that children at this age love.
Coraline
This classic story from Neil Gaiman tells the tale of a little girl who discovers the door to a mysterious world. The world is eerily similar to her own, yet better.
Tell Me a Scary Story… But Not Too Scary
Kids who are anxious to hear a scary story, but not sure how scary of a story they can handle will appreciate this book. As kids listen to the scary story, they’re asked to decide whether they want to stop where they’re at or continue on as the story becomes scarier and scarier.
4th – 5th Grade
At this age, many kids can handle a bit of creepiness on their own, but don’t be surprised if they ask you to turn on a nightlight after reading some of these spooky tales.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Every child should be introduced to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. This classic story has become a Halloween legend. Is the headless horseman really a headless man or just a guy with a pumpkin on his head? Let your kids figure it out as they read this spooky tale.
Bunnicula
Dracula meets bunnies in this hilarious, yet creepy mystery. As kids read they’ll have to decide whether Bunnicula is really a vampire bunny or if something else is going on.
Goosebumps
No list of Halloween books would be complete without the Goosebumps series. R.L. Stine finds a way to make even the most common, everyday scenarios frightening for kids. These were the books you had nightmares about when you were a kid and Halloween is the perfect time to introduce your kids to them too.
6th – 8th Grade
Paranormal fiction has overtaken the young adult literature market, giving middle schoolers plenty of Halloween-worthy options. Instead of having them pick up one of their favorite paranormal books this Halloween, introduce them to some spooky classics.
Edgar Allen Poe is a master of spooky writing. Middle school is a great time to introduce kids to some of his classics, such as “The Raven” and “The Tell-Tale Heart.” These stories will show how scary words can really be.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
All it takes is a potion to change Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde in this classic story of alter egos and its exploration of the concept of evil.
Frankenstein
Many kids have heard of Frankenstein, but have they ever read the story that inspired one of Halloween’s favorite monsters. The actual story is spooky and a great read for Halloween.
This Halloween, take a break from carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating, and get your spookiness fix in another way – through one of these spooktastic Halloween books. Your kids (and YOU!) are bound to have a wonderful time.