36 Halloween Books for Kids: Thrilling Picture and Chapter Books

The Good, The Bad, and The Spooky by Jory Jon

Bad Seed LOVES Halloween but this year is different and he doesn’t have a costume. He is afraid that he will be out-costumed this year.

He decides to trick everyone into thinking Halloween is a different night. Can Pumpkin Seed help him embrace the Halloween spirit? This Halloween picture book is part of the Bad Seed series.

Trick or Treat Crankenstein by Samantha Berger

Crankenstein is back with a Halloween adventure. Crankenstein’s favorite holiday is ruined because of all kinds of pumpkin, costume, and candy-induced problems.

Can Crankenstein get over his bad mood and turn this holiday around? Without a doubt, this is one of my favorite children’s books about Halloween.

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

A friendly witch takes to the night on her broomstick, but as the wind blows away her hat, her bow, and her wand, she finds some cute friends to join her on her ride.

Will her friends be able to save her from a hungry dragon? This classic halloween book for kids is now a cartoon movie!

Vlad the Fabulous Vampire by Flavia Z Drago

Flavia Z Drago makes some of the best Children’s Halloween books! Her signature style makes this not-so-spooky story come to life.

Vlad is a vampire with rosy cheeks. While Vlad tries to his rosy cheeks at first by wearing the traditional black garb of vampires, eventually he learns to embrace his signature style.

Bruce and the Legend of Soggy Hollow by Ryan T. Higgins 

Mother Bruce is back in a brand new Halloween picture book! In an effort to get bruce into the Halloween spirit, the animals try to get him to act out the legend of Soggy Hollow.

As they act it out, they just might find out it’s not really a legend after all!

Witch & Wombat by Ashley Becote

In this new Halloween picture book for 2023, Wilma the witch has been so excited to get her pet cat! She’s planned all their future adventures until she goes to the pet store and is sold a wombat instead!

Now Wilma needs to keep an open mind and find a way to appreciate and love her new wombat.

The Skull by Jon Klassen

In this story, Otilla is a brave young girl who stumbles upon an empty house while escaping danger. Inside she meets the lone inhabitant, a skull.

In this Halloween picture book by famed author Jon Klassen, a classic Tyrolean Folktale is explored.

Vampenguin by Lucy Ruth Cummins

The Dracula family goes on a visit to the zoo in this charming tale. When baby vampire decides to hang out with the penguins and put a penguin in his stroller instead.

As the rest of the family explores the zoo, he experiences life as a penguin!

Why We Love This Book: This book is perfect for Halloween but can be kept out all year.
Appropriate for ages 4-8
Find this book in Halloween Picture Books, Zoo books

Hardly Haunted by Jessie Sima

The haunted house on the top of the hill is lonely. Can she find a family that will accept her that way she is to make her a happy haunted house?

The ghost family at the end of the book sure seems to love her!

Poultrygeist by Eric Geron

A chicken dies after crossing the road and he becomes a ghoul. His new friends are trying to convince him to scare the readers of the book, but he just wants to be a friendly ghoul.

He finally ends up scaring the old ghosts to get them to go away. This is one of the funniest children’s books for Halloween.

Sir Simon: Super Scarer by Cale Atkinson

Sir Simon is finally getting transferred to a home. He’s getting ready to do his ghost chores – slamming doors, flickering lights, and more.

But after his chores are done, he wants to slack off, so he’s hoping he doesn’t have any kids in the house!

Gustavo the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago

This is Drago’s second appearance on our list of children’s books for Halloween – and for good reason. The bright colors and unique storytelling make Flavia’s books stand out from the crowd.

In this story, Gustavo is trying to overcome his shyness so he can intereact with the world. If you are looking for a Halloween story that evokes Mexican art, this is perfect for you!

The Ghosts Went Floating by Kim Norman

Set to the song “The Ants go Marching”, your whole family will love singing about the scary creatures marching down the street on their way to trick-or-treat.

It’s a non-spooky, adorable Halloween picture book.

The Scariest Book Ever by Bob Shea

The ghost narrating this book is trying to point out all kinds of scary things…except they aren’t scary at all!

From a dark hole with a bunny in it, so a dark black cat that just wants a little milk, this is a good Halloween picture book for more timid kids.

There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Bat by Lucile Colandro

A fun Halloween twist on the classic tale involves a little old lady swallowing all kids of Halloween creatures from a bat and a black cat to a wizard and a ghost.

If you love the original, this children’s Halloween book is a must!

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynold

Both Creepy Carrots and it’s sibling book, Creepy Pair of Underwear, are favorites in my household. Jasper Rabbit loves carrots, but he soon thinks his favorite carrots are out to get him!

This funny Halloween picture book is very Twilight Zone inspired and it’s awesome. The underwear version is funny too and it glows in the dark!

Vampirina Ballerina by Anne Marie Pace

Vampirina wants to be a ballerina, but learning to do ballet is hard for every little girl. It’s even harder for a little vampire girl trying to learn with humans!

Will Vampirina be able to make her dream come true? This is one of the Halloween books that’s been turned into a movie! Find all 16 family-friendly movies based on books here.

Bonaparte Falls Apart by Margery Cuyler

Bonaparte, a skeleton, is falling apart and he needs all his monster friends to help him get put back together.

Franky Stein tries to screw him together, Blacky Widow tries to spin a web around him, and Mummicula tries to mummify him. Will they ever be able to help their friend?

Snowmen at Halloween by Caralyn Buehner

On a cold Halloween day, it snows. A pair of sisters make some snowmen and decorate them for Halloween. Then they make up all the adventures their snowmen will go on for Halloween.

From face painting to trick-or-treating and everything in between. I love this charming tale.

Mr. Pumpkin’s Tea Party by Erin Barker

Mr. Pumpkin is having a tea party and all his spooky friends are coming with items to feed each other and decorate the table.

This Halloween picture book is a counting book too as it counts up from 1 to 20.

The Halloween Tree by Susan Montanari

All the trees in the Christmas tree lot are excited to be decorated except for one little grumpy tree. When the tree lot goes away, the grumpy tree continues to grow and twist into a gnarly old tree.

The kids in the neighborhood love the tree and want to save it from being cut down and then the Halloween Tree is born! This is one of my favorite Halloween books for kids.

Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht

This charming rhyming book is all about a visit to the pumpkin patch to pick the perfect pumpkin, then take it home to carve it and get it ready for Halloween.

The illustrations in this Hallowen picture book really bring it to life.

At the Old Haunted House by Helen Ketteman

At the old haunted house, there are lots of monsters, witches, and other Halloween creatures. When children come and trick-or-treat, they find out the creatures are friendly and welcoming. This counting book is fun for everyone.

A Super Scary Narwhalloween (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #8) by Ben Clanton

Looking for one of the best Halloween chapter books for young readers? Look no further than the lastes installment of the Narwhal and Jelly series.

Join the best friends as they celebrate the spookiest time of the year! Jelly doesn’t love the holiday but has to come to Narwhal’s rescue when he’s been swallowed by a sea monster!

Nate the Great and the Halloween Hunt by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat 

It’s Halloween night, but Nate’s friend’s cat is missing. Is he lost or hiding? Nate and his dog, Sludge, are on the case!

This is a wonderful early reader halloween chapter book for the kiddos in your life.

Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise by Kate DiCamillo

Everyone’s favorite pig is back for some Halloween antics in this continuation of the Mercy Watson series. Mercy is ready for the treating part of the night with visions of her beloved buttered toast.

But the Eugenie Lincoln, next door, isn’t quite in the Halloween spirit…. especially when she see’s Mercy show up in a princess costume!

Dragon’s Halloween by Day Pikey

Dragon loves Halloween in this spooky Halloween early reader book. Your younger reader will laugh outlaid as dragon tries to figure out how to be scary.

This is a great one for even the most reluctant early reader.

A to Z Mysteries: Haunted Hotel by Ron Roy

There are tons of strange things happening at the Shangri-la Hotel as Halloween draws near. The guests are all leaving because they are too scared.

Ruth, Dink, and Josh are on the case as they try to figure out what’s behind the spooking. This is a great Halloween chapter book for young readers.

Howliday Inn by James Howe

Technically the sequel to Bunnicula, this read-aloud book can really be read as a stand-alone. Chester and Harold are being boarded while their family is on vacation, but they are convinced they are staying in a haunted hotel!

I remember laughing out loud as I read this middle grade mystery book as a child. This Halloween chapter book stands the test of time.

The Witches by Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl’s children book often skew towards the creepy side, but this one in particular is perfect for Halloween. A little boy and his grandmother come face-to-face with the Grand High Witch and all her evil minions.

When the boy is turned into a mouse, he needs to figure out how he can defeat them and turn back into human form.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman’s imagination never ceases to amaze me. In this book, Coraline steps through a door and finds a house just like hers, maybe even better!

She meets another set of parents who want her to be their little girl. Can Coraline escape these parents and get back to her ordinary life? I am so glad we were able to include Neil Gaiman on this list of best graphic novels of all time. It’s one of our favorite Halloween movies based on books too!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K Rowling

I was in university when this book was published and the first four were sitting on my younger brother’s bookshelf before I picked it up to see what the fuss was about. I read all four books in as many days and was married with a child before the final book was published. 

This story introduces us to Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger; our fearless trio.  We also meet the other favorite beloved and detested characters that make the Harry Potter book series so special. After all, what would Hogwarts be without Hagrid, Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, and Draco Malfoy?

Why We Love This Book: In our opinion, this is the best children’s fantasy series ever written. It features strong lessons on morality, inventive plotlines, and hidden threads woven throughout the entire series. Jim Dale’s audiobook narration of this book is award-winning. He voices over 200 characters, each with distinct accents.
Appropriate for ages 9-13
Find this book in Books like Harry Potter / Books Like Percy Jackson / 21 Adult Books Similar to Harry Potter / Harry Potter Books in Order / Best Audiobooks for Kids

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children By Ransom Riggs

This series is full of magic and mystery.  The amazing combination of fiction with antique photographs leads to a truly unique story.

In this story, Jacob travels to a remote island off the coast of Wales and stumbles across the ruins of an orphanage.  But when he steps inside, he finds a thriving community frozen in time.

Winterhouse by Ben Guterson

We like to listen to books as a family when we are in the car together or doing a puzzle. The standout book for me this month was Winterhouse. While this book takes place at Christmas time, it’s spooky vibes make it the perfect Halloween chapter book.

This middle grade mystery was as enthralling to me as it was to my boys. I loved the slight bits of magic in the story and the captivating setting of an expansive ski hotel on a snowy mountain at Christmas time. If you love a cozy mystery book for a 10 year old, pick this one up! We also included this in our list of paranormal books and it is one of the best.

Magyk by Angie Sage

Septimus Heap is the seventh son of a seventh son.  He disappears the night that he is born and his parents are told he is dead.  

That night, his father finds a baby girl in the snow.  This story sets up the adventures for the rest of the series with magic, adventure, and bravery.  It’s one of our favorite books similar to Percy Jackson.

The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson

Does your kid love the Hogwarts Express? Because this book features another magical world where the gateway is in an railroad station.

It features a wizard, an ogre, a hag, and a fey all sneaking around trying to save a prince who’s been kidnapped. It’s a stand-alone book, not part of a series, and my son gobbled it up in two days.