21 Halloween books to read with your kids this fall

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My kids love celebrating Halloween! Right after my oldest son’s birthday in the middle of October, all their focus shifts to Halloween preparations.

They start drawing costume ideas, creating colorful decorations, and counting down the days until Halloween.

To make this time of the year even more fun for them, I like to prepare simple Halloween activities and a few new Halloween stories for us to enjoy together.

Over the years, we’ve collected some truly lovely Halloween stories. Some are funny, some are sweet, and a few have just the right amount of spooky to make them extra fun for this time of year.

If you are looking for some great Halloween books to read with your kids this year, I gathered here a list to inspire you.

I hope you’ll enjoy discovering these stories with your kids!

Below you can find 21 great Halloween books categorized by age so you can easily find a story for your little ones.

Halloween books for young kids (3-5 years)

1 – Duck & Goose, Honk! Quack! Boo! (by Tad Hills) | 2-4 years ~ A gentle Halloween story with a sprinkle of silliness and two lovable friends

2 – Little Blue Truck’s Halloween (by Alice Schertle) | 2-4 years ~ This one’s a favorite for toddlers just starting to enjoy Halloween

3 – Pete the Cat: Trick or Pete (by James Dean and Kimberly Dean) | 3-6 years ~ An interactive book filled with flaps and costumes – perfect for preschoolers who love Pete’s laid-back adventures

4 – Leo: A Ghost Story (by Mac Barnett) | 3-6 years ~ A beautifully written story about kindness, imagination, and belonging

5 – The Little Kitten (by Nicola Killen) | 3-5 years ~ A gentle, magical Halloween night adventure with soft illustrations and a lovely message about helping and friendship

6 – ⭐ Room on the Broom (by Julia Donaldson) | 3-6 years (one of our favorite Halloween books) ~ Fun rhymes, great rhythm, and a story about friendship that we never get tired of reading

7 – The Little Ghost Who Lost Her Boo! (by Elaine Bickell) | 3-5 years ~ A fun read-aloud with playful rhymes and a ghost on a quest

8 – Pumpkin Jack (by Will Hubbell) | 3-6 years ~ A quiet, thoughtful story that follows a pumpkin as it changes with the seasons

9 – Ghost Afraid of the Dark (by Sara Conway) | 2-4 years ~ The little ghost learns to be brave in the most reassuring way, making this story perfect for easing nighttime fears

10 – The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt (by Riel Nason) | 3-6 years ~ A story about being different and learning to love what makes you unique

11 – Halloween Is Coming (by Cal Everett) | 3-5 years ~ A joyful countdown to Halloween with all the little details kids look forward to—costumes, decorations, and that special feeling in the air

12 – Gilbert the Ghost (by Guido Van Genechten) | 3-5 years ~ Not all ghosts like to scare – Gilbert is gentle, kind, and a reminder that being yourself is always best

Bonus recommendation: Pick a Pumpkin (by Patricia Toht) | 3-6 years ~ A celebration of the pumpkin-picking tradition, with beautiful rhymes and cozy illustrations

Halloween books for kids aged 4-7

13 – Creepy Carrots! (by Aaron Reynolds) | 4-7 years ~ A clever, just-spooky-enough story with dark illustrations and a surprise ending

14 – Sir Simon: Super Scarer (by Cale Atkinson) | 4-7 years ~ A ghost-in-training meets his match and learns what being scary (or not) is really all about

15 – Arthur’s Halloween: An Arthur Adventure (by Marc Brown) | 4-7 years ~ Arthur faces his Halloween fears and finds out things aren’t always what they seem

16 – Gustavo, the Shy Ghost (by Flavia Z. Drago) | 3-6 years ~ Beautifully illustrated and full of heart, this one tells the story of a shy ghost learning to make friends

17 – Christopher Pumpkin (by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet) | 4-8 years ~ A funny twist on the Halloween theme, with a pumpkin who prefers pink icing and bubble baths to spooky spells

18 – Creepy Crayon! (by Aaron Reynolds) | 4-7 years ~ TA crayon with a mind of its own makes for a surprisingly funny and spooky read

Bonus recommendations:

Boo Stew (by Donna L. Washington) | 4-8 years ~ A folktale-style Halloween story with gross-out fun, a brave heroine, and a happy ending

The Bad Seed Presents: The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky (by Jory John) | 4-7 years ~ Funny, quirky, and a gentle reminder that Halloween doesn’t have to be perfect to be fun