I love reading, and holidays are a great way to incorporate themed books into your reading! Here are my top 10 books you can read with your children or students this Halloween!
Ghost in the House by Ammi-Joan Paquette and illustrated by Adam Record
This is an adorable book with just a hint of spook and suspense. It’s a cumulative counting book packed full of interesting characters, including a ghost, witch, skeleton, mummy, and more! But the best part is the surprise ending, where readers can see for themselves the scariest creature of all!
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler
This is a fun cumulative story about a friendly witch flying around on her broom. As she travels, many mishaps occur, and as she encounters a variety of animals that help her find her lost items, each asks for a ride on the broom! But can the broom hold the witch and all of her animal friends? This is a clever and fun book, full of vibrant and exciting illustrations!
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Peter Brown
Creepy Carrots is a hilarious and spooky story about Jasper Rabbit, who loves to eat lots of carrots from the neighborhood carrot field. Then something strange begins to happen. Is Jasper being paranoid, or are the carrots really following him? The storytelling is suspenseful and creepy, and Peter Brown’s subdued illustrations with touches of bold, bright orange only add to the spook factor! This is a book kids will be sure to love!
Pete the Cat and Five Little Pumpkins by James Dean
Pete the Cat fans will be glad to know there’s a Halloween-inspired version, complete with Pete and plenty of Halloween touches as he shares his own rendition of “Five Little Pumpkins.” Readers can sing or read along with this fun story and colorful illustrations. It makes for a short and simple read aloud, but one that young readers will be asking for again and again!
Bonaparte Falls Apart by Margery Cuyler and illustrated by Will Terry
This adorable story showcases Bonaparte, a skeleton who often falls apart and loses his bones. He worries about what will happen when school starts—will the others make fun of him? Bonaparte’s wonderful friends, including Franky Stein, Blacky Widow, and Mummicula, try and come to his rescue with many ideas to help, but will any of them work? Not only is this a charming Halloween story, but its school theme makes it extra-relatable for kids.
Spookie Pookie by Sandra Boynton
Sandra Boynton is a master of hilarious children’s books, and this is a fun Halloween story about the many costumes one could wear. Featuring a pig dressing up in all sorts of hilarious costumes—a bunny, banana, a dragon, a bear—what will Little Pig like the most? Complete with silly illustrations and rhymes, this will be a great addition to your Halloween collection!
Ten Timid Ghosts by Jennifer O’Connell
In this spooky Halloween story, ten timid ghosts live in a haunted house, but a “witch moved in and wanted them out.” The story continues in a cumulative pattern as the witch comes up with many clever plans to remove the ghosts one by one. The illustrations are spooky and full of detailed illustrations. And the story includes a great surprise at the end!
B is For Boo: A Halloween Alphabet by Greg Paprocki
Alphabet books are great for so many reasons, and combined with Halloween, this one makes for the perfect learning resource! This Halloween book includes each letter of the alphabet along with a short phrase, like “F is for Frankenstein.” The vocabulary words are unique and interesting, and the illustrations are absolutely stunning. This is one book you cannot miss!
Monster Trouble by Lane Fredrickson and illustrated by Michael Robertson
“Winifred Schnitzel was never afraid,” and even though monsters visit her room each night, she can’t help but think of these scary and ferocious creatures as anything but “cute.” Despite their cuteness, there is one major problem: they are keeping her awake night after night! Winifred comes up with plan after plan, but the monsters remain. Readers will enjoy her bravery, her cunning plans, and the wonderful and hilarious ending, not to mention the colorful and interesting illustrations!
Monster School by Kate Coombs and illustrated by Lee Gatlin
This collection of poems features a host of different characters from Monster School, including vampires, banshees, nagi, pumpkin heads, and more! The rhymes are fun and clever, and the illustrations are excellent. And even though each poem features monsters and their entertaining and creepy antics, they’re also totally relatable! Check this one out!