Autumn is now in full swing and Halloween is almost upon us. What better way is there to celebrate the mystical season with your family than choosing some Halloween books for kids?!
Many children love Halloween as it’s a time of wonder and imagination, where dressing up as their favourite characters and exploring the mystical and eerie is all part of the adventure.
A perfect way to celebrate Halloween is to delve into the world of captivating Halloween books that will both enchant and delight young minds.
This list is full of spellbinding stories and delightful, not-so-spooky tales perfect for young children. These stories are sure to leave them enchanted, and perhaps even eager to embrace the magic of the night when the moon is full, and the creatures of the night come out to play.
This is my list of some of the best Halloween books for kids.
Halloween Books For Kids 2023: Complete List
I’ve written the books down in order as a simple list but I’ve also included the full descriptions detailing why they deserve a place on my list of best Halloween books for kids.
Feel free to skip to whichever section you prefer.
Halloween Books for Kids 2023: Simple Written List
- Funny Bones by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
- Gigantasaurus: The Scary Cave
- Never Touch A Grumpy Bat!
- There’s A Witch In Your Book by Tom Fletcher
- Supertato Night of the Living Veg by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet
- Room On The Broom by Julia Donaldson
- Mr. Men: Halloween Party by Adam Hargreaves
- Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht
- We’re Going On a Pumpkin Hunt by Goldie Hawk
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Halloween Trick or Treat
- Ollie’s Lost Kitten by Nicola Killen
Halloween Books for Kids 2023: Detailed Descriptions
Funny Bones by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Aimed at children age 3-5 years.
Funnybones by Janet and Allan Ahlberg is a whimsical and delightful children’s book that adds a playful twist to Halloween. This timeless classic introduces young readers to the humorous adventures of a skeleton family as they set out on a night time escapade in search of fun and excitement. With its charming and slightly spooky illustrations, Funnybones strikes the perfect balance between whimsy and the spookiness associated with Halloween.
This book is perfect for young children at Halloween because it offers a light-hearted, not-so-scary introduction to the holiday. It encourages laughter and imagination while featuring iconic Halloween elements like skeletons, moonlit nights, and a touch of the supernatural. Funnybones provides young readers with a sense of the fun and adventure that can be found in the season, making it an ideal choice to spark their creativity and get them into the Halloween spirit without any of the fright.
Gigantasaurus: The Scary Cave
Aimed at children age 3-5 years.
For fans of the Gigantosaurus comes this gently spooky Halloween story. Are the four dino pals brave enough to explore a spooky cave—or are they scaredy-saurs?
After sunset in Cretacea, there is one place no little dino dares to go: the Scary Cave. Unless, of course, the dino’s name is Rocky, and he convinces his friends Mazu, Tiny, and Bill to come along.
What is that strange howling? Who is that hissing? Is that a monster or a rock? What’s that around the bend?
Little readers can help explore by lifting the flaps on each page in this fun and gently spooky tale based on the book by Jonny Duddle, featuring characters from the animated series Gigantosaurus.
Never Touch A Grumpy Bat!
Aimed at babies and toddlers up to three years old.
You must Never Touch a Grumpy Bat . . . unless it’s in this book!
This hilarious, Halloween-themed touch-and-feel book features skeletons, pumpkins, and more. Each page has incredible silicone touches, perfect for little ones to explore.
Aimed at babies and toddlers, this bright, interactive book is the perfect introduction to Halloween.
There’s A Witch In Your Book by Tom Fletcher
Aimed at children aged 3-5 years.
Just in time for Halloween, an adorable little witch has landed in YOUR book!
An engaging adventure from the team that brought you There’s a Monster in Your Book and its companions.
A grumpy little witch has thrown a magic spell at you! If you can capture it, you can use your finger wand to make magic yourself in this participatory book. But, be careful! Your bewitched finger wand might be more powerful than you think!
With a witch as the central character, the book embraces a Halloween theme. It introduces children to the concept of witches and magic in a friendly and non-scary way, making it suitable for the Halloween season.
Supertato Night of the Living Veg by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet
Aimed at children age 3-7.
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!
The book embraces a Halloween theme with its zombie vegetables, offering a playful and non-scary introduction to Halloween concepts for children. Supertato: Night of the Living Veg is a delightful and engaging Halloween-themed children’s book that combines humour, adventure, and positive messages
Room On The Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Aimed at children aged 3-5 years.
The witch and her cat are happily flying through the sky on a broomstick when the wind picks up and blows away the witch’s hat, then her bow, and then her wand! Luckily, three helpful animals find the missing items, and all they want in return is a ride on the broom. But is there room on the broom for so many friends? And when disaster strikes, will they be able to save the witch from a hungry dragon?
While it’s set in a Halloween-themed world with a witch and spooky elements, the book is not overly scary. It strikes a balance between introducing the Halloween concept and providing a comforting resolution, making it suitable for young children who might be sensitive to scarier tales.
Mr. Men: Halloween Party by Adam Hargreaves
Aimed at children aged 3-5 years.
Mr Happy is having a Halloween party. A Halloween fancy dress party with spooky decorations, ghoulishly good treats and creepy Halloween costumes! Mr Happy is a vampire, Little Miss Magic is a witch, but who is the mysterious ghost?
Mr. Men: Halloween Party embraces the Halloween theme, introducing children to Halloween concepts like costumes, pumpkins, and trick-or-treating. It provides a fun and friendly way to explore the spirit of the holiday.
Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht
Aimed at children aged 3-7
Pairing a wonderfully rhythmic read-aloud text with expressive retro illustrations, author Patricia Toht and illustrator Jarvis capture all the excitement and familial feeling of a favourite holiday tradition.
Readers will be happy to follow along with each step, from picking out the perfect specimen at the pumpkin patch (be sure to stop for cider and toffee apples) to carting it home, scooping out the insides, carving a scary face, and finally lighting a candle inside — enjoying the familiar ritual of transforming an ordinary pumpkin into a one-of-a-kind glowing jack-o’-lantern.
Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht is a delightful and heart-warming children’s book that captures the essence of the fall season and Halloween.
We’re Going On a Pumpkin Hunt by Goldie Hawk
Aimed at children aged 3-7 years.
In this delightful twist on a popular folk song, three trick-or-treaters go on a spooky adventure to find a pumpkin!
We’re going on a pumpkin hunt. We’re going to find a big one. What a beautiful night! We’re not scared.
Three trick-or-treaters are looking for the perfect pumpkin on a beautiful, Halloween night. They have to make their way through some sticky cobwebs, flying bats, and even a dark, spooky house! But they’re not scared. The trick-or-treaters eventually find their pumpkin and…a ghost!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Halloween Trick or Treat
Aimed at babies and toddlers up to three years old.
Help The Very Hungry Caterpillar hunt for tasty treats this Halloween! This 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 Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Halloween Trick or Treat is a delightful and child-friendly Halloween board book that features a beloved character, a Halloween theme, colourful illustrations, and interactive elements. It’s a fantastic choice for young readers looking to embrace the spirit of Halloween with a character they adore.
Ollie’s Lost Kitten by Nicola Killen
Aimed at children age 3-5 years.
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 fun autumn Halloween adventure, filled with pumpkins, black cats and witches, Ollie’s Lost Kitten is the perfect book for cosying 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.
Little Blue Truck’s Halloween by Alice Schertle
Aimed at babies and toddlers up to three years old.
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?
A fun Halloween story for toddlers.
Halloween Books for Kids 2023: Summary
I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of Halloween picture books kids will love. If there’s any new Halloween books I believe deserve a place on the list, I’ll be sure to keep this post updated.
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