Monster Books for Kids: Not Scary Year-Round and Halloween Reads

Birthday Monsters by Sandra Boyton

Sandra Boyton’s delightful illustrations and silly prose tell the story of these party-crashing monsters.

The perfect book to laugh about birthdays all year long!

I Love You, Stink Face by Lisa McCord

This grossly-cute board book is a lovely bedtime story for the little monster in your life. This story is all about a mother’s love.

Whether the baby is an alligator, a swamp creature, a one-eyed monster, or an alien, the mother in this tale shows a way to love her child!

Tickle Monster by Josie Bissett

This baby monster book is a wonderfully interactive picture book for kids. As you read it, it instructs you where to tickle your child!

When you read this book to your little one, you get to tickle and they get to laugh.  After all, laughter and books should go together.

Sold individually or as a kit, we recommend the kit for the fun tickle monster gloves. Put on the gloves and tickle along with the tickle monsters. Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers alike love this one. Be warned – it’s not great for bedtime because it can get kids in quite a goofy mood.

Appropriate for Ages 2-5
Important note: Some children love being tickled while others do not. Take cues from your child.

The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone

Is there a monster that is sweeter than Grover? Probably not.  This book is a favorite with toddlers for years because the scary monster at the end of the book is none other than Grover himself.

The Monster Who Lost His Mean by Tiffany Strelitz Haber 

What happens when a monster loses his mean? He may find out who his real friends are!

This monster picture books has adorable illustrations and funny rhymes that will keep even the pickiest toddlers entertained.

Love Monster by Rachel Bright

Everyone needs love and everyone should be loved for exactly who they are.  Monster goes out on a mission to find just that in this book.

Love Monster is a great book for a 3-year-old monster fan, particularly around Valentine’s Day!

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendek

Maurice Sendek explores the amazing power of imagination in this classic kids’ book about monsters.  When Max gets upset with his parents, he imagines traveling to a world to be the kids of the monsters.

I love this book, the illustrations, and the message within the pages. When Max finally decides to come home, his dinner is waiting for him and it’s still hot.  This act of love always touched me. Really this is a book for 2-year-olds that shows a parent’s unconditional love for their child.

Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberly

What a wonderful way to explore fears.  As children turn the pages of this book, they are in charge.  They can build the big green monster and tell him to go away. 

Why We Love This Book: This book is so helpful for kids who may not be able to express their fears but, it can help them conquer them just the same.
Appropriate for ages 1-4
Find this book in: Monster Books / Books for a 2-year-old / Books about Feelings

There’s a Nightmare in my Closet by Mercer Meyer

I love this classic that also looks at childhood fears.  The illustrations are adorable and the book is so sweet.

It’s all about a little boy who faces down the monster in his closet and makes friends with it.

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

The mouse in this story uses brains, not brawn, to get himself out of a number of very sticky situations. 

What a great lesson to learn especially when it is told with rhymes that will make you laugh out loud.

Hattie and Hudson by Chris Van Dusen

Although this is the first book by Mr. Van Dusen that does not rhyme (and also features a female main character), the story is enhanced by the wonderful friendship that develops between Hattie and Hudson.

Hudson is a lake monster and Hattie is his first human friend. Hattie works to show all the townspeople not to be scared of her new friend.

Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems

Leonardo faces a choice that we all face at some point (metaphorically speaking)- be a great monster or be a great friend?  I adore Mo Willems and this book is no exception.  It cracks me up every time.

How to Catch a Monster by Adam Wallace

A child dressed as a ninja decides to catch the monster in his room once and for all, but it turns out the monster wants nothing more than to be friends!

My Teacher is a Monster by Peter Brown

A funny picture book by Peter Brown all about a boy who thinks his teacher is a monster, until he meets her at a park on fateful day.

Is Ms. Kirby a monster after all?

Monster Party! by Annie Bach

It’s a monster bash filled with tons of monsters! Celebrate Halloween with fun band of monsters at this monster party.

This is particularly good for kids who struggle to leave parties, they might find a monster friend in this book who shares their disappointment.