New Halloween Books for Kids in 2026
Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I look forward to the new Halloween books for kids every year. It brings me such joy to gather my favorites for each of you.
I’ve reviewed dozens and dozens of books and narrowed it down to the 4 best picks for each age group. Below you’ll see my most anticipated Halloween book releases. Let me know which ones you are most excited about!
The Best 2026 Halloween Books for Kids
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
For Babies & Toddlers
The Bats on the Bus by Alison Jackson – Jump to section
For Picture Book Lovers
The Haunted Playground by R.J. Palacio, Brett Helquist – Jump to section
For Beginning and Early Readers
Yarn Is Everything! by Aaron Reynolds – Jump to section
For Older Chapter Book Readers
Licorice by Kara LaReau – Jump to section
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
New Halloween Books for Babies and Toddlers (0-2)
Plot
This glow-in-the-dark flap book is the perfect interactive board book for Halloween! Your baby will love playing with this story and saying goodnight to all the cute monsters in this story.
Be Brave, My Baby Boo
Author: Nicola Edwards
Illustrator: Natalie Marshall
Year: 2026
Genre: Board Book
Age: 1 – 4
More info: Part of the You’re My Little series
Plot
It’s time for Halloween, but Baby Boo is frightened of the holiday. So his sweetly spooky family helps him face his fears.
Why Kirsten loves it
This board book is bright and cheerful and not at all scary. The perfect introduction to Halloween for a toddler, especially one that might be scared!
Find this book in: Baby and Toddler Halloween Books / New Halloween Books for Kids in 2026
Ghost Goes Boo
Author: Becky Davies
Illustrator: Mitch Miller
Release Date: July 7, 2026
Genre: Board Book
Age: 1 – 4
Plot
In this interactive board book, sweet illustrations bring five Halloween favorites to life with accompanying sounds! Your toddler can bring the friendly ghost, black cat, owl, witch, and bat to life by pushing the sound buttons on each page.
The Bats on the Bus
Author: Alison Jackson
Illustrator: Scott Magoon
Release Date: July 21, 2026
Genre: Board Book
Age: 2 – 6
Plot
It’s a new take on the classic Wheels on the Bus, with the words changed for Halloween! Sing this to your little ones on Halloween night and help them learn to love the holiday.
New Halloween Picture Books for Kids (3-5+)
Frankenkitty
Author: Maudie Powell-Tuck
Illustrator: Mini Grey
Release Date: July 7, 2026
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 3 – 7
Plot
Frankenkitty is a picture book retelling of Frankenstein featuring a stitched-together little kitty in a haunted castle. Everyone is scared of Frankenkitty except for Olive who loves the little charmer, but when spooky things start happening around the castle, Frankenkitty gets the blame. Can he and Olive prove he’s not at fault?
Monsters Are the Worst!
Author: Alex Willan
Illustrator: Alex Willan
Release Date: July 14, 2026
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 4 – 8
More info: Part of the Are the Worst series
Plot
Gilbert the Goblin is camping with his friend chicken, but they run into lots of scary critters but it’s monsters that are the worst! Until he finds a little monster in his backpack and can’t seem to resit the cute, cuddly creature.
Scritch! Scratch!
Author: Teri Sloat
Illustrator: Zuzana Čopová
Year: 2026
Genre: Halloween Books
Age: 4 – 8
More info: Rhyming Book
Plot
The kids in this story see a witch in the pumpkin patch. They can also hear her scritch and scratch. She will try anything to cast a spell on the kids, but they need to outsmart her to avoid being cast in her spell.
Why Jackie loves it
The illustrations really bring out the spook factor in this Halloween book. It is a palette of black, white, and orange. I love the rhyme in this book. It makes it a perfect read-aloud. The onomatopoeia also makes for a fun read.
Find this book in: Halloween Books for Kids / New Halloween Books for Kids in 2026
The Haunted Playground
Author: R. J. Palacio
Illustrator: Brett Helquist
Year: 2026
Genre: Picture Books
Age: 4 – 8
Plot
In this charming picture book by the author of Wonder, ghosts and children alike play on the local playground on Halloween night!
Why Kirsten loves it
The illustrations are gorgeous on this sweet, fun story. I love seeing ghosts and phantoms alongside kids in cute PJs. The audiobook version is narrated by Neil Patrick Harris, and he does a wonderful job. Gifted by PRH Audio.
Find this book in: Fun Playground Books / Halloween Books for Kids / New Halloween Books for Kids in 2026
New Halloween Early and Beginning Reader Books (6-9)
Pizza and Taco: Scariest Sleepover Ever!
Author: Stephen Shaskan
Illustrator: Stephen Shaskan
Release Date: July 21, 2026
Genre: Early Reader Graphic Novel
Age: 5 – 8
More info: Pizza and Taco #11
Plot
Pizza and Taco are back with a spooky story just in time for Halloween! They’ve planned the perfect sleepover, all their friends have come over, and now it’s time for ghost stories. No one will get scared, right?
Yarn Is Everything!
Author: Aaron Reynolds
Illustrator: Peter Brown
Year: 2026
Genre: Early Reader
Age: 6 – 9
More info: Part of Jasper’s Creepy Tales
Plot
Winona is a 9-year-old mole obsessed with crocheting. Her dream? To be on Ultimate Yarn Master by making crochet objects so intricate that they look real. When she goes to the Museum of Woolen Arts and Yarn Stitchery, she comes home with an ancient crochet hook that makes her crafting extraordinary…but might be taking over her soul.
Why Kirsten loves it
As a crafter myself, this book was SCARY!! Like the twist at the end had me gasping out loud. But don’t worry, it’s a fun kind of scare, a thrill if you will, and it’s the perfect chapter book for kids who love Aaron Reynolds’ Creepy Carrots series but are ready to take the next step on their reading journey. Gifted by Simon & Schuster Kids.
Find this book in: Halloween Chapter Books / New Halloween Books for Kids in 2026
Jazzy the Witch in Friend Fiasco
Author: Jessixa Bagley
Illustrator: Jessixa Bagley
Year: 2026
Genre: Beginning Reader Chapter Book
Age: 7 – 9
More info: Jazzy the Witch #2
Plot
Jazzy is a bicycle-obsessed child witch with a caring family and sweet friends. She loves to be known as the best cyclist in town, but then a new girl arrives, and she might just be better than Jazzy. A rivalry begins, but what is the real root of the girls’ animosity?
Why Kirsten loves it
I love when authors take seasonal books and infuse them with plots that teach universal lessons! The illustrations on this one are great, and I loved seeing the girls discover that sometimes showing off comes from a play of wanting to be liked, not necessarily wanting others to feel bad about themselves. Gifted by Simon & Schuster Kids.
Find this book in: Halloween Chapter Books / New Halloween Books for Kids in 2026
Howliday Inn the Graphic Novel
Author: James Howe and Andrew Donkin
Illustrator: Stephen Gilpin
Release Date: July 14, 2026
Genre: Graphic Novel
Age: 7 – 12
More info: Bunnicula #2
Plot
Technically the sequel to Bunnicula, this read-aloud book can 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!
Why Kirsten loves it
I remember laughing out loud as I read this middle-grade mystery book as a child, and I love that it’s now in graphic novel format too! You will be busting at the seams with laughter. I highly recommend this one as a bedtime read-aloud during Halloween.
New Halloween Middle Grade Books (10-13+)
Licorice
Author: Kara LaReau
Illustrator: Kelly Murphy
Year: 2026
Genre: Gothic Middle Grade
Age: 8-12
More info: Retelling of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Plot
This illustrated, middle-school book is a retelling of Du Maurier’s Rebecca. Kitty is more comfortable in the cage at the shelter than she was outside when her family was all washed away by the rain. Her next-door neighbor, Bunny Van Hopper, tries to teach her everything she needs to know about being a good pet.
When she is adopted by a boy named Max, she longs for his love and affection. Max is still saddened by the loss of his first cat, Licorice. When Kitty arrives at the house on Manderley Lane, everything smells like Licorice even though she had been gone for 6 months. The family parrot, Duchess, makes sure Kitty knows she is a poor replacement for Licorice. As time goes by, the shadow of Licorice looms over the house, and Kitty wonders if Licorice is haunting her.
Why Jackie loves it
This is such a smart retelling of Rebecca with fantastic illustrations. But more than that, it is the perfect gothic story for 8-12-year-olds. It is filled with suspense! Kids will not guess the ending- they will be shocked.
Find this book in: New Halloween Books for Kids in 2026 / Best Animal Books for Kids
Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2
Author: Rowley Jefferson
Release Date: August 11, 2026
Genre: Middle Grade Short Stories
Age: 8 – 13
More info: Part of the Awesome Friendly Kids series
Plot
Jeff Kinney is back with another collection of funny, scary stories just in time for Halloween! This time the stories revolve around a young Grim Reaper, scary bugs, and more delightfully frightful tales.
Pumpkin Apocalypse
Author: M. D. Payne
Release Date: July 28, 2026
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 8 – 12
Plot
Adam is new to town, but he thinks something is strange about Little Pine and it’s Halloween obsessed inhabitants. He’s anti-Halloween himself and terrified of Jack-o-lanterns, which is going to make it difficult when he’s assigned to plan Friday Night Fright Night with pumpkin-obsessed Molly. But soon he starts to think there is something supernatural going on in the town. Will he survive Little Pine?
The Grimlore Game
Author: Kalyn Josephson
Release Date: September 22, 2026
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 8 – 12
More info: The Grimlore Game #1
Plot
Being billed as Mr. Lemoncello meets The Addams Family, this fantasy puzzle book for middle graders looks perfect for mystery and fantasy lovers. Kit Devlin is an orphan from a cursed family whose wealthy grandpa just died. All her relatives have turned up to get their share of the inheritance, only to find a magical game instead. Kit needs to solve the mystery of the family curse AND win the game to get all the answers to change her life and win the inheritance.
Remember Me, Daphne
Author: Celia Krampien
Illustrator: Celia Krampien
Release Date: July 14, 2026
Genre: Middle Grade
Age: 8 – 12
More info: New York Times Bestselling author
Plot
This illustrated middle grade novel is not for the faint of heart. Flora is so excited when Mac moves into the creepy house on the street. They quickly become best friends, but weird things seem to happen at Mac’s house, and just what is the story behind Mac’s ex-best friend Daphne?
Helpful Tip
- Start a new Halloween tradition by giving the child in your life a new Halloween book each year. By the time they are grown, they will have a mini seasonal library they will cherish forever.
- Decorate your mantel with Halloween books. They make perfect decor pieces that also encourage reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best new Halloween books for kids?
I’m loving The Haunted Playground by R.J. Palacio for picture book fans, and Yarn Is Everything! by Aaron Reynolds for early readers.
What is a good new Halloween book for a baby?
The Bats on the Bus by Alison Jackson has my heart for Halloween 2026.
Related Content
Epilogue
These are our most anticipated 2026 Halloween books for kids. Did you find anything you wish to get for a child in your life?
