30 Halloween Books for a Slightly Spooky Bedtime Story

Emily Manning

October 8, 2021

30 Slightly Spooky Halloween Books for Kids lead - Mykidstime

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Snuggling up to read a story together is always fun! Give story time a slightly spooky theme with these fun (and funny!) Halloween books. Our list contains some absolute classics as well as some newer titles, but the one thing they all have in common is a great tale that fits these dark and eerie evenings.

Create a tradition to sit and read some of these books in the run up to October 31st – perhaps you’ll even have a favourite that will become your annual post-trick or treating bedtime story!

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Halloween Books for Kids

Five Little Pumpkins by Ben Mantle

Halloween books for kids

Roll into Halloween with Five Little Pumpkins, a wickedly funny rhyming book!

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
The first one said, “My, it’s getting late!”
The second one said, “There are witches in the air!”
The third one said, “Good folk, beware!”

Five little pumpkins are sitting quietly on a gate until… night falls and they are joined by a cast of creepy characters – witches, spiders, bats, frogs and ghosts – all determined to cause plenty of Halloween mischief.

Funnybones by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

Halloween books for kids

The classic and beloved Funnybones by children’s book superstars Janet and Allan Ahlberg.

In this, the first ever Funnybones book of all, we are introduced to the wonderful humour and fun of the much-loved series. The Funnybones books are a must for children just starting to learn to read – these funny skeletons are definitely not the scary sort!

There’s a Witch in Your Book by Tom Fletcher

Halloween books for kids

There’s a witch in your book and she’s making a terrible mess! Can you use your own magic to show Messy Witch who’s boss and help her keep your book tidy?

There’s a Witch in Your Book is another interactive adventure from the author of The Creakers, The Christmasaurus, and The Dinosaur Who Pooped series.

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Supertato Night of the Living Veg by Sue Hendra

Halloween books for kids

It’s fright-time in the supermarket, and the veggies are seriously spooked! Strange shapes, weird noises and eerie shuffling – whatever can be behind these ghostly goings-on?

Join Supertato and the gang to find out in their latest unmissable adventure, Supertato Night of the Living Veg! This is the perfect book to calm bedtime fears and snuggle up with this Autumn​.

Mr. Tickle and the Scary Halloween by Roger Hargreaves

Halloween books for kids

Ever since Little Miss Scary moved to town, Halloween had become really scary. Scare your pants off scary! But Mr. Tickle has a plan to make this year different – a ticklishly, tricky plan!

Watch out little Miss Scary, there’s someone behind you!

Mr Tickle and the Scary Halloween is a colourful adventures will delight children of two years and upwards.

Mr. Men: Halloween Party by Roger Hargreaves

Halloween books for kids

Mr Happy is having a Halloween Party. A Halloween fancy dress party with spooky decorations, ghoulishly good treats and creepy costumes! Mr Happy is a vampire, Little Miss Magic is a witch, but who is the mysterious ghost?

Following the success of Mr Tickle and the Scary Halloween, this new story features your favourite Mr Men and a spooktacular Halloween party.

Little Blue Truck’s Halloween by Alice Schertle

Halloween books for kids

Celebrate Halloween with the #1 New York Times best-selling Little Blue Truck series in Little Blue Truck’s Halloween.

Beep! Beep! It’s Halloween! Little Blue Truck is picking up his animal friends for a costume party. Lift the flaps in this large, sturdy board book to find out who’s dressed up in each costume! Will Blue wear a costume too?

Dragon’s Halloween by Dav Pilkey

From Dav Pilkey, creator of the #1 New York Times bestselling Dog Man and Captain Underpants series, comes Dragon, the heartwarming hero adored by Dav’s youngest readers!

Dragon is so excited for Halloween! He plans to carve a big, scary jack-o’-lantern and create a creepy costume. Unfortunately, Dragon can’t find a big pumpkin, and he can’t decide which costume to wear. Plus, when Dragon goes for a walk through the woods, he hears some unexpected growling – yikes! Will Dragon’s Halloween be filled with more tricks than treats?

With easy-to-read text, a short-story format, plenty of humour, and full-colour artwork on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and fluency.

That’s Not My Bat by Fiona Watt

Halloween books for kids

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of That’s Not My series with That’s Not My Bat, a delightfully spooky Halloween addition to the series, complete with purple holographic page edges and adorable bats with hairy ears, fluffy tummies and shiny eyes. The bright pictures and textures to stroke are designed to help develop sensory and language awareness.

The Roll-Away Pumpkin by Junia Wonders

A little girl chases her giant pumpkin all over town with some help along the way. Featuring a cast of delightful characters and beautifully illustrated with memorable scenes, you’ll love reciting “Diddle-dee-doo! Oh, what shall I do?”  together with your little pumpkin.

The Roll-Away Pumpkin is exquisitely illustrated by award-winning Italian illustrator Daniela Volpari. Every page is a beautiful work of art, making this one of those picture books whose images will linger long after you’ve turned the page.

Weird But True Halloween: 300 Spooky Facts to Scare You Silly

Weird but True Halloween is packed with hilarious and terrifying tidbits! The wildly popular Weird But True! line is all dressed up for Halloween with 300 all-new spooky facts about candy, costumes, pumpkin carving, and more!

You’re in for a treat of weird freaky facts, stats, and trivia about one of our favourite holidays! Did you know that there is an underwater pumpkin carving contest? Maybe you’d be amazed to discover that there are more Halloween emojis than there are U.S. states?

Download

Skeletons, vampires and ghosts, oh my! Download our Halloween bingo printable and see how many you can spot this Halloween!

Baby Touch and Feel Halloween

Halloween books for kids

Peekaboo, it’s Halloween! This adorable touch and feel book will get your little pumpkins in the mood for the spookiest night of the year.

Baby Touch and Feel Halloween is filled with animals and images associated with the holiday. Fall in love with a happy pumpkin, a sweet little candy corn, a furry black kitty, and more spookily adorable friends you won’t be able to resist.

Ten Little Monsters by Mike Brownlow

Halloween books for kids

Count along with the Ten Little Monsters in this Halloween counting rhyme adventure!

Ten Little Monsters are going trick-or-treating … But what will the Ten Little Monsters do when they meet a wailing ghost? Two creepy witches? And a GIANT SPIDER?

Part traditional counting rhyme, part fun-filled story, Ten Little Monsters is perfect for sharing together.

Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht

It’s Halloween! Which means it’s time to dangle cobwebs and bats from the windows, put on costumes, and – most important of all – visit the pumpkin patch and pick out that perfect pumpkin! Then cart it home, scoop out the insides, carve a scary face, and finally light a candle inside, transforming it into a one-of-a-kind, glowing jack-o’-lantern.

With rhythmic read-aloud text and illustrated by the winner of theV&A Best Illustrated Book 2017, Pick a Pumpkin captures all the excitement of Halloween and is the perfect book to share on the spookiest night of the year!

Ollie’s Lost Kitten by Nicola Killen

One windy autumn day, Ollie and her cat Pumpkin are jumping in piles of fallen leaves when they discover a little kitten. After lots of fun and games, Ollie learns that the kitten is actually lost, and she must help him find his way home! But after returning the kitten to his rightful owner, she realises she has lost something very dear to her…

A spectacular autumn Halloween adventure, filled with pumpkins, black cats and witches, Ollie’s Lost Kitten is the perfect book for cozying up with on spooky nights! With striking illustrations, cutouts and foil inside, this series is a great way to help ones engage with, and explore textures and shape.

The Pug Who Wanted to Be a Pumpkin by Bella Swift

Halloween books for kids

The Pug Who Wanted to Be a Pumpkin is a perfectly sweet Halloween treat! Peggy the pug is back for a spooky adventure. But can she conquer her fear of the dark before Halloween night?

Peggy the pug’s family are getting ready for Halloween, but Peggy’s friend Chloe is too scared of monsters to look forward to trick-or-treating. Peggy can’t let her best friend miss out on all the Halloween fun. She’ll just have to conquer her own fears and go trick-or-treating with Chloe, to keep her safe. But first she needs the perfect costume…

Peggy’s bravery helps Chloe realise that monsters aren’t real in this heartwarming Halloween story about overcoming fears and anxiety.

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

Room on the Broom Halloween books for kids

The witch and her cat fly happily over forests, rivers and mountains on their broomstick until a stormy wind blows away the witch’s hat, bow and wand. Luckily, they are retrieved by a dog, a bird and a frog, who are all keen for a ride on the broom. It’s a case of the more, the merrier, but the broomstick isn’t used to such a heavy load and it’s not long before . . . SNAP! It breaks in two! And with a greedy dragon looking for a snack, the witch’s animal pals better think fast.

A very funny story of quick wits and friendship, Room on the Broom is another smash hit from the unparalleled picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo.

You’re My Little Pumpkin Pie by Natalie Marshall

Halloween books for kids

With adorable illustrations, shaped cutouts, and raised elements, You’re My Little Pumpkin Pie is a sweet, interactive book celebrates the little pumpkin pie in your life!

You’re My Little Pumpkin Pie is a adorable board book to share with your little one. With chunky pages for little hands and die-cut shapes to add depth and interest, children will love the interactive features alongside the story. This endearing board book is a wonderful read for Halloween or any time.

Little Monsters by David Walliams

Little Monsters Halloween Books for Kids

Howl with laughter and squeal with delight at Little Monsters, this monstrously exciting new picture book from bestselling author David Walliams.

Howler is a small werewolf with a BIG problem. He is just not scary! And that makes him the odd one out at Monster School…But when Howler finds some new friends, he discovers that being the odd one out might just make him the coolest one of all…

With giggles on every page, this hilarious new picture book is perfect for all little monsters.

Download

We have a frightful checklist of 50 Fun Halloween Activities for Kids that you can download and work your way through!

Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper

Halloween books for kids

Cat, Duck and Squirrel live in an old white cabin, with a pumpkin patch in the garden. Every day Cat slices up some pumpkin, Squirrel stirs in some water and Duck tips in some salt to make perfect pumpkin soup… until the day Duck wants to do the stirring.

Pumpkin Soup is a funny, rhythmical story about friendship and sharing, with fabulous animal characters, illustrated in glowing autumnal colours.

Winnie and Wilbur: The Amazing Pumpkin by Valerie Thomas

Halloween books for kids

When Winnie and Wilbur decide to grow some vegetables, they end up with a gigantic pumpkin that’s big enough to feed the whole neighbourhood. But when only the shell is left, a bit of magical recycling is required.

Winnie and Wilbur: The Amazing Pumpkin is a supersize Winnie and Wilbur adventure!

Pete the Cat: Trick or Pete by James Dean

Pete the Car Halloween books for kids

Pumpkins, candy, and costumes! Join Pete the Cat from New York Times bestseller James Dean as he goes trick-or-treating from house to house and discover what is waiting behind each door.

With flaps that reveal fun Halloween surprises, Pete the Cat: Trick or Pete is sure to be a sweet treat for your little trick-or-treaters.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Halloween Trick or Treat by Eric Carle

Halloween books for kids

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Halloween Trick or Treat is an irresistible new Halloween adventure with spooky creatures to count on every page and a trick or treat surprise at the end. There’s so much to explore…if you dare!

The Nightmare Before Christmas by Tim Burton

The Nightmare Before Christmas for Halloween books for kids

Jack Skellington is the most important figure in Halloweenland and for years he has delighted in organising macabre tricks and frights for Halloween. But this year he doesn’t feel right – there must be more to life than scaring people? Then Jack stumbles upon a cheerful, colourful place called Christmas Town and he knows what he must do – he will bring Christmas to Halloween!

This beautifully designed commemorative edition of The Nightmare Before Christmas celebrates the 20th anniversary of this classic book, written and illustrated by Tim Burton.

The Witch’s Cat and the Cooking Catastrophe by Kirstie Watson

The witch has gone out and, inspired by the old cookbook, the cat is determined to knock up a super-scrumptious surprise lunch for her. But unfortunately, his enthusiasm far exceeds his cooking abilities, and he carelessly overlooks some rather important information. But hey, what’s the worst that could happen?

The Witch’s Cat and the Cooking Catastrophe is a funny and heart-warming tale that’s sure to bring some magic to your bedtime stories. Perfect for Halloween!

Christopher Pumpkin by Sue Hendra

Meet Christopher Pumpkin, the Halloween pumpkin who doesn’t want to be scary, in this funny rhyming story from the authors of Supertato and the creators of Simon Sock.

Christopher Pumpkin is delighted to be magicked to life by a witch – until he discovers she wants him and the other pumpkins to get her creepy castle ready for the spookiest party ever! Chris just can’t bring himself to hang cobwebs and cook curried slugs – he’s much more into bunting and fairy cakes!

That’s Not My Witch by Fiona Watt

Halloween books for kids

There are five friendly witches to meet in That’s Not My Witch, the Halloween addition to the much-loved That’s Not My series.

Babies and toddlers will love turning the pages and touching the textured patches as they try to find their witch. The bright pictures and textured patches to stroke are designed to help develop sensory and language awareness.

What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen by Nick Sharratt

Halloween books for kids

Britain’s most popular artist presents a brilliantly original format that very young children will delight in time and again.

The witch has hidden a trick and a treat in her magical kitchen cupboards! Which one you find depends on how you open the doors. Whether it’s frogspawn or popcorn, lollipops or rabbit plops, there are hilarious rhymes to discover inside in this innovative new novelty book from Nick Sharratt.

What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen? is perfect for children to read again and again, not only for Halloween but all year round.

The Little Ghost Who Didn’t Like to Be Scary by Isla Wynter

Layla is a ghost and ghosts are supposed to be scary. They’re supposed to haunt castles and shout BOOO! But Layla would much rather play with her friends.

When Halloween approaches, she needs to decide whether she’s going to be a proper ghost or if there’s another way. One that doesn’t involve being scary.

The Little Ghost Who Didn’t Like Being Scary is a picture book about a little ghost trying to figure out what’s right, not just at Halloween.

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

Make story time a little spookier with fantasy master Ray Bradbury as he takes readers on a riveting trip though space and time to discover the true origins of Halloween in The Halloween Tree.

Join the shadowy Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud as he takes eight trick-or-treaters on an unforgettable journey to find their missing friend, Pip. Travel through space and time, from the tombs of ancient Egypt to the gargoyles of Notre-Dame Cathedral, all the way to the cemeteries of Mexico on el Día de Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. Is Pip still alive? And if so, can his friends save him from a ghastly fate before it’s too late?

30 Halloween Books for a Slightly Spooky Bedtime Story - Mykidstime

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Published On: October 8th, 2021 / Categories: Entertainment, Entertainment mobile / Last Updated: October 11th, 2021 / Tags: , , /

About the Author: Emily Manning

Emily is the coffee-loving Editor of MyKidsTime. Mum of one daughter and two naughty Tibetan Terriers, she is particularly partial to Curly Wurlys and unable to resist pretty stationery and new cookbooks. As an avid foodie and domestic goddess-wannabe, she is most likely to be found in the kitchen.

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