Anyone who knows me, knows I’m an absolute fanatic when it comes to Halloween. It’s an obsession that started when I was a child. One of my fondest memories was reading Halloween books with my mom. We had so many books, she tried to rotate them so we weren’t reading the same ones all the time. When she pulled the Halloween books from the shelf, I knew one of my favorite holidays was on its way! Over the years, I’ve tried to share my love of Halloween books with my own children. Here are a few of my favorite Halloween books for young readers:
My kids LOVED Happy Halloween, Little Critter by Mercer Mayer and I enjoyed reading it to them. The illustrations in these books are adorable, and I always got a kick out of the expressions on the faces of the critters. You always knew what these guys were thinking just from the pictures alone! There are several holiday-themed Critter books out there, including more than one Halloween story.
Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat by Stan & Jan Berenstain was another favorite. I loved reading this book to my kids when they were little. Last year, I bought it for my grandkids. Actually, there are several Halloween themed Berenstain books available, and trust me, your little ones (ages 4 and up through elementary school) will adore these. There's usually a good moral lesson in Berenstain books, so your child will be entertained while learning something too. A win-win for parents and kids!
As a child, my all time favorite Halloween read was Old Witch Rescues Halloween by Wende Devlin - I almost didn't list this book because it's out of print and almost impossible to find. But, how could I leave out a book that was a precious part of my childhood? Oh, how I adored this book. My mom always did voices for the Old Witch and for Mister Butterbean which made it extra special. If you can manage to find a copy in your local library, it's definitely worth reading with your preschool and elementary school-age children.
The Grimsley Hollow series by Nicole Storey is one of my favorites for middle-grade kids. The series follows an autistic boy named Gage who must call upon his inner strength and courage in order to save his friends. There are actually three books in the series, so if you want to get your kids hooked on reading, this is a great way to start!
Creepy Hollow Adventures by Erika Szabo and Joe Bonadonna is another fantastic middle grade series. So far, there are two books to enjoy in the series! It's an enchanting adventure complete with illustrations to bring the story to life. You'll have fun reading this with your kids, but it's a story slightly older elementary school-age kids can read on their own.
How could I possibly talk about creepy Halloween books without mentioning Goosebumps by R.L. Stine? My oldest son loved this series of scary books! From werewolves to haunted amusement parts, this series has it all! Some of these books are pretty creepy, so as a parent, you'll have to determine whether or not you feel these books are right for your child, but in general, I'd say most are suitable for about eight years old and up.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz was another favorite in my house, at least for the older kids! Many of the stories in this collection remind me of the ones we told at sleepovers when I was growing up. If your child is old enough to read Goosebumps, they'll probably like this series too. Yes, I said series! There are additional collections you can add to your library - if you're brave enough!
This is by no means a complete list of all the Halloween books I've read and enjoyed. There are too many to list! If you have a favorite Halloween book or creepy story to recommend, please leave a comment! I'm always looking for books to add to my ever-growing reading list. Happy reading, everyone!
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