Kids BooksNo. 1974 · The 2026 edition
30 Children’s Halloween Books for a Spooktacular Story Time
Get ready for spooky storytime with a curated selection of 30 enchanting Halloween books perfect for young readers in 2025.
Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at rd.com.
This roundup features 30 children's Halloween books that are sure to delight kids in 2025, covering a range of tales from gentle pumpkin patches to friendly ghosts and silly witches, ideal for cozy reading sessions leading up to Halloween.
About this
A ranked roundup of 30 children’s Halloween books chosen from bestsellers, reader favorites, classics and highly rated titles, with picks from a children’s librarian and Reader’s Digest editors. Each entry lists the title, author, target age range and a short summary of the story or theme. The list spans board books for toddlers through middle-grade chapter books, mixing lighthearted fun with gentle scares.
The list
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01
Goosebumps 1992
Award-winning horror series since 1992; over 60 books from werewolves to slime.
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02
Trick or Treat on Scary Street
NSYNC’s Lance Bass writes rhyming tale of 13 kids braving Scary Street.
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03
Creepy Carrots 2012
Caldecott Honor about Jasper Rabbit, who fears carrots are following him.
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04
I’m Looking for a Monster 2008
Pop-up book; a boy hunts a monster not too scary or big.
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05
Room on the Broom 2003
Witch loses hat, bow and wand; animals earn broom rides.
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06
Can You See What I See? On a Scary Scary Night 2008
Search-and-solve picture puzzles set around a hilltop castle.
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07
Frankenstein Takes the Cake
Cartoons, poems and postcards show monsters have their own problems.
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08
The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky 2021
Bad Seed faces trick-or-treating after failing to find a costume.
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09
Los Gatos Black on Halloween 2016
Bilingual tale of Halloween creatures preparing for a ball; Yuyi Morales art.
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10
Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Halloween with Pumpkins, Costumes and Candy 2009
Nonfiction on Halloween origins and global traditions, costumes and jack-o’-lanterns.
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11
Tucker’s Spooky Halloween 2007
Grown Tucker tries many cute costumes before choosing a spooky one.
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12
How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? 2007
Classroom story counts pumpkin seeds; lessons on math, science and kindness.
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13
The Ugly Pumpkin
Ugly Duckling twist about an oddly shaped pumpkin seeking where he fits.
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14
Bats at the Library 2014
Rhyming picture book celebrating library story time through book-loving bats.
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15
Where’s My Mummy? 2009
Baby Mummy stalls bedtime with hide-and-shriek; punny creepy creatures.
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16
Ghost Afraid of the Dark 2019
Ghost Boo fears the dark; hardcover edition has glow-in-the-dark cover.
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17
You’re My Little Nightmare 2024
Board book with Nightmare Before Christmas characters in a loving rhyme.
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18
Shake dem Halloween Bones 2000
Hip-hop-style picture book where fairy-tale characters throw a Halloween party.
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19
Five Little Pumpkins 2003
Nursery rhyme brought to life, teaching counting with expressive pumpkins.
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20
The Halloween Tree 2019
A sapling destined to be decorated for Halloween rather than Christmas.
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21
The Night Before Halloween 1999
Rhyming bedtime book showing monsters celebrate Halloween much like humans.
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22
The Scariest Story You’ve Ever Heard 2022
Award-winning tale of brothers investigating a noise during a blackout.
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23
The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin 2001
Square pumpkin saves the patch; over 100,000 copies sold.
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24
The Monster at the End of This Book 2000
Sesame Street classic; Grover begs readers not to reach the final page.
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25
How to Catch a Witch 2022
Kids trap ghouls a witch releases; praised for its STEAM concepts.
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26
Behind the Mask 2006
Korean American boy dresses as his grandfather, a mask dancer.
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27
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown 2015
Retelling of the Peanuts special; Linus waits for the Great Pumpkin.
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28
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Creepy-Crawly Halloween 2024
Lift-the-flap board book revealing forest creatures hiding inside.
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29
Horrible Harry at Halloween 2002
Twelfth series book; third-grader Harry surprises classmates with his costume.
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30
Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve 2010
Magic Tree House Merlin Missions; Jack and Annie break a castle curse.
More photos
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