Ghoulishly good Halloween books for kids
Giant bags of bite-sized candy and marshmallow Peeps in a shade of toxic waste orange have been filling store shelves since the Fourth of July this year, but now the leaves are turning, fall weather is here, and it’s time for fun Halloween books to get into the trick-or-treat spirit! Here’s a selection of my favorite picture books and chapter books to celebrate the season of the spooktacular.
I love Ryan T. Higgins’ Mother Bruce books with the somewhat cantankerous blue bear and his overly exuberant sidekicks of geese and mice. The humor is spot-on and so are the accompanying illustrations, particularly the characters’ facial expressions that you can’t help but smile at. Bruce and the Legend of Soggy Hollow is perfect for Halloween with its play on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (without the dark and spooky stuff), but is also a fun read any time of year. —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor
Ages 3 to 5
Ages 3 to 5
Creepy Carrots! still cracks me up even though I’ve read it multiple since it came out in 2012. While not Halloween themed, this is always a great time for me to once again sing its praises. Peter Brown won a Caldecott Honor for his fantastic illustrations combining an old-cinema feel with cartoon-style characters that are hugely appealing—and funny! The long and short of the story is Jasper the rabbit is just free-ranging it in the carrot patch, chowing them down day after day without a thought. Until the carrots come a-calling… Adults will probably hear the echo of a horror movie score behind the story but it never gets scary, only suspenseful and funny, teaching a valuable lesson about greed to boot. —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor
Ages 3 to 6
Ages 3 to 6
A vampire with a flair for fashion, Vladislav Varnaby Roland Dragul has a secret. In most ways he’s the same as the other vampires dressed in black, only instead of the usual waxy complexion of the undead, Vlad has cheeks the color of ripe strawberries. As you may have guessed, Vlad tries to hide his differences (using his flair for fashion, of course), only to discover he’s not the only one pretty in pink… Drago’s illustrations are full of fun details and muted shades with touches of color (pinks, of course), making this picture book a fabulous new addition to bookshelves this Halloween and beyond. You also don’t want to miss Drago’s Gustavo, the Shy Ghost and Leila, the Perfect Witch. —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor
Ages 3 to 7
Ages 3 to 7
Perfect for the building excitement in the days leading up to Halloween, Everett’s picture book is filled with clever rhyming text and eye-catching illustrations. The story celebrates some of the simple and wonderful joys of Halloween: costumes made at home and the school Halloween parade that is a highlight of the season. Little ones are likely to request this story many times before October 31st, and I don’t think adult readers will mind one bit. —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor
Ages 4-8
Ages 4-8
Jon Klassen is best known for his wonderfully quirky picture books, including the award-winner I Want My Hat Back and its successors. His latest is what Halloween dreams are made of—a chapter book that isn’t holiday specific but totally on theme, with one of the primary characters being a talking skull with no body, and a dark house in the dark forest setting. The Skull is a re-telling of a folktale about a brave little girl named Otilla who runs away to the woods, meets a bodiless skull, and the two form a fierce bond of friendship and mutual kindness over the pages. Klassen’s signature wit, charm, and illustrative style made this an Editors’ Pick for the best children’s books of the month when it released earlier this year. —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor
Ages 6 to 9
Ages 6 to 9
Narwhal and Jelly are back for a new holiday adventure with Halloween as the star of this bright, fun graphic novel chapter book. Narwhal is super excited about dressing up for Halloween, but Jelly, not so much. Jelly doesn’t like anything spooky or scary and would prefer to avoid the whole thing altogether. But bravery comes in many forms and when a (sea) monster gets a hold of his BFF Narwhal, it’s time for Jelly to spring into action. Bonus fun is the special glow-in-the-dark cover and, as always, Ben Clanton delivers another story that will capture the hearts of even the most reticent early reader. —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor
Ages 6 to 9
Ages 6 to 9
To see more children’s book recommendations, check out our Editors’ Picks for the best children’s books of the month for all ages.
