One of the best ways to celebrate any holiday is by breaking out some of the best children’s books to read with your little ones — and there’s no shortage of fun kid’s books for Halloween. Of course, many of them are on the creepy side, and no matter how much your child is clamoring to read the scariest book possible, we’d venture a guess that you’d prefer not to give your little one nightmares. RELATED: Halloween Trivia And Fun Facts About The Spooky Holiday Luckily, plenty of authors have found a happy medium. These 15 books are creepy enough to give your kids a delightful shiver down their spines, but they (and you!) will be able to sleep peacefully through the night once the last page has been read.
1. Eek! Halloween!
The chickens in Sandra Boynton’s Eek! Halloween! is feeling a little on edge. An enormous mouse! A pumpkin with flickering eyes! A wizard and a witch! By the end of the book, they’ve all relaxed after realizing it’s just Halloween and there’s nothing to be afraid of.
2. The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
Written by Linda Williams and illustrated by Megan Lloyd, this classic read-aloud tells the tale of an old lady who’s fearless… that is until she hears a mysterious “Clomp!” “Shake!” and “Clap!”
3. What Was I Scared Of? A Glow-in-the-Dark Encounter
If there’s anyone who can deliver a seriously silly scare, it’s Dr. Seuss. The narrator of What Was I Scared Of? is terrorized by… a pair of empty pants. The aforementioned pair of empty pants is equally terrified of the narrator. Spoiler alert: They become friends in the end.
4. Creepy Carrots
Written by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Peter Brown, this Caldecott winner tells the story of Jasper Rabbit. Jasper simply adores carrots and can’t get his fill, so imagine his surprise when a slightly menacing group of carrots begins following him…
5. The Night Before Halloween
Written by Natasha Wing and illustrated by Cynthia Fisher, this humorous spin on Clement C. Moore’s classic poem depicts little monsters and goblins preparing for Halloween. All is well among them, but how will the trick-or-treaters react on the big night? RELATED: 11 Spooky Halloween ‘Boo Basket’ Ideas
6. Monster Museum
Marilyn Singer and Gris Grimly introduce a cast of characters including the werewolf, Count Dracula, the mummy, and their group of friends who just happen to be slimy, slithery, and prone to screaming at any given time. But don’t worry — it’s all fun and games once you get to know them.
7. Pumpkin Eye
Denise Fleming injects just the right amount of spookiness for preschoolers in this Halloween night tale of the thrills (and occasional scares) of trick-or-treating.
8. Ten Timid Ghosts
Author and illustrator Jennifer O’Connell’s book provides the perfect counting lesson to use this month. What could be better than counting with 10 ghosts, a witch, and a haunted house?
9. Scary, Scary Halloween
Green eyes are watching! Skeletons, goblins, and ghosts enjoy the Halloween festivities in this classic, written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Jan Brett. Your kids will love the rhymes that lead up to a spooky surprise.
10. The Berenstein Bears and the Spooky Old Tree
Who can resist a book about everyone’s favorite family of talking bears? When the brave little bears encounter a mysterious tree, they conquer their fears and do some exploring. RELATED: 20 Halloween Icons, App Covers & Home Screen Themes For A Spooky Aesthetic
11. Where’s My Mummy?
Little Baby Mummy absolutely loves playing hide-and-shriek with Big Mama Mummy. The night creatures are mostly friendly, but what happens when Little Baby Mummy gets a scare? Big Mama Mummy will be there to provide comfort, of course. Written by Carolyn Crimi and illustrated by John Manders, this sweet book is the perfect bedtime read-aloud.
12. By the Light of the Halloween Moon
Written by Caroline Stutson and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, By the Light of the Halloween Moon tells the tale of a little girl sitting on the edge of a very old bridge dangling her bare foot off it. It’s not long before a variety of ghosts and ghouls arrive and begin to vie for its ownership. Yikes!
13. Halloween Hustle
Skeletons like to go to Halloween parties with their friends too. In this picture book written by Charlotte Gunnufson and illustrated by Kevan J. Atteberry, Skeleton is all dressed up in his favorite jack-o’-lantern-print T-shirt — but he runs into some trouble as he dances his way to his friend Ghost’s Halloween celebration.
14. The Spooky Wheels on the Bus
Written by J. Elizabeth Mills and illustrated by Ben Mantle, this Halloween-themed twist on “The Wheels on the Bus” delivers laughter and a few scares as the bus travels through the town picking up passengers — some scarier than others.
15. The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Halloween Trick or Treat
This brand-new spin-off of the Eric Carle classic lets your kids help the Very Hungry Caterpillar hunt for tasty treats in this fold-out book. And to really take the festivities and go full immersive Halloween with your child, pair this book with a Very Hungry Caterpillar costume and matching picnic basket playset. RELATED: 57 Best Trendy Pop Culture DIY Halloween Costume Ideas For 2021 Caitlin is a freelance writer who specializes in reading and book curation. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram. YourTango may earn an affiliate commission if you buy something through links featured in this article. This article was originally published at SheKnows. Reprinted with permission from the author.
