The best Halloween books for kids

Perfect for the littlest of pumpkins, Eek! Halloween! is all about smiles, not screams. A group of suspicious chickens are wondering what exactly is going on when jack o'lanterns start surfacing and witches begin taking flight on their brooms. Don't be chicken, guys! It's just some Halloween fun! Ages 4 and under.

A perfect introduction to horror lit, this big book of all-things eerie gives kids a peek at the scariest characters in town from classic novels. Expect ghosts, dragons and Count Dracula, among other frightening friends. Ages 10 and up. 

A lovely parody that both parents and little readers will appreciate, Goodnight Goon follows a young werewolf who is trying ever so hard to get a good night's rest, but one Goon won't let that happen. Ages 4–8. 

Pookie the pig is having a little trouble selecting a Halloween costume. (Same, girl.) After trying on one outfit after another, she just can't seem to find the right fit. What will be her final selection? Spooky Pookie is a great one to read with your kid before you pick out a Halloween costume. Ages 4–8.

It's Pumpkin Day follows our same rodent protagonist who so desperately wanted a cookie is back, but now he's got his eyes set on a pumpkin. However, one's missing from the patch. What happened to it? Ages 4 and under. 

The TV classic in paperback form has been a crowd-pleaser for generations. If you let Halloween slip by without at least one reading of the beloved tale, all we have to say to you is "Good grief!" Ages 4–8. 

Our go-to cartoon character is celebrating the spooky season to the fullest in Happy Halloween, Daniel Tiger. Join Daniel, Katerina Kittycat, Miss Elaina and all his other pals as they search for the perfect costume to wear to the neighborhood parade. Ages 3 and under. 

The Spooky Tale follows Mr. Krupp and Melvin attempting to make Halloween illegal with a horrifying campaign. Unbelievable! That is when George and Harold swoop in with the idea of an imposter Halloween, filled with hack-o'-lanterns and sneak or snacking. Will it work? Catch the movie on Netflix, too! Ages 9–12. 

Big Pumpkin is an exciting one. This witch is in for one wicked disaster. She's grown a wonderful pumpkin that's perfectly suitable for the pie she's planning to bake. But unfortunately, there's a problem: She can't seem to get the gourd off the vine. She's elicited the help of other spooky creatures such as the mummy and vampire, who haven't had any luck, either. A bat swoops in to lend a hand (er, wing) to help rectify the situation. Will she get her pumpkin pie? Ages 4–8.

Read Pinkalicious, cuz Pink just looks so good on us even on Halloween. But it looks like the Halloween festivities have come to a screeching halt. When the lights go out in Pinkagirl's town, the mayor cancels the seasonal celebration, which means no pumpkins, no candy and—perhaps worst of all—no costumes. How will Pinkagirl be able to show off her pretty in pink attire? This kick-butt superhero isn't about to let the holiday go by without a celebration, so she swoops in to save the day. Ages 4–8

Our favourite red dog is getting the orange treatment. In celebration of Clifford's first Halloween celebration, his owner Emily Elizabeth dons the pup in a cute ghost costume as he embarks on traditional festivities—bobbing for apples, trick-or-treating and more. Ages 2–3. 

No horror collection is complete without the work of R.L. Stine. From A Night in Terror Tower to Monster Blood, this Goosebumps anniversary set celebrates one of the spookiest series on the shelves. We wouldn't recommend a reading session before bed! Ages 8–12. 

Super-sleuth with the coolest kid detectives in the biz. This set of Hardy Boys novels will introduce readers to the first 10 books of the series, which includes The Secret of the Caves, The Tower Treasure and other classic tales. For a dose of mystery, horror and adventure, these go-to stories can't be beat. Ages 8–12. 

Reading a Nancy Drew book is a rite of passage for young girls. In this 10-book set, children are introduced to the beginning of her spooky mysteries—The Hidden Staircase, Nancy's Mysterious Letter and other crime-fighting goodness. Ages 8–12. 

Coraline quickly discovers all that glitters isn't necessarily gold. She opens the door to another—seemingly better—home and thinks she has hit the jackpot. But when this new family catches wind of her arrival and won't let her go, things get hairy. This marriage of fairy tales and horror is a must for all kids. Ages 8–12. 

These scary stories to tell in the dark are as irresistible on Fourth of July as they are on Halloween. Any little horror aficionado will delight in the creepy illustrations and stories that guarantee to turn dreams into nightmares. Anyone will certainly think twice before entering that graveyard on a dare after skimming through this fan-favourite. Ages 8 and up.

Clever wordsmith Jack Prelutsky bring us another collection of scary poems as a follow-up to his book, Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep. These 12 spine-chilling tales accompanied by black-and-white artwork—including the eerie account of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow—will creep kids out just the right amount. Ages 6 and up.

Roald Dahl paints a seriously scary picture of child-eating witches in this eerie chapter book - The Witches. A young boy and his grandmother move to England, prompting her to teach him about the various bands of witches throughout the world. When he accidentally wanders into a gathering of the English witches, led by the Grand High Witch herself, he sets out to warn others about their evil plan. Ages 8–12.

Hop inside the Little Blue Truck! He’s picking up his animal friends and taking them to a Halloween costume party. Each character is hiding behind a costume and it's up to little fingers to lift the tabs and figure out who’s who. The Little Blue Truck series delights young readers with this seasonal adventure that will spark their imagination. Maybe they’ll even find costume ideas in the pages of this board book! Ages 2–3.

When a witch and her cat encounter an unexpected gust of wind during a flight on her broom, she loses three items in the night—her hat, her bow and her wand. Three animals help the witch recover her lost possessions, but in return they want to hop on her broom for a ride. The witch has to decide if there’s enough room for them all, but when a hungry dragon attacks, she might just be glad to have all the help she can get. Kids expecting a spooky, evil witch will be pleasantly surprised by our generous friend in Room on the Broom. Ages 4–8.

Our littlest Berenstain Bears muster up the courage to explore a creepy old tree by going into, up, through, over, down and out on the other side. Kids will get the slightest chill while learning about directions through rhymes and bright visuals. Ages 4–8.

In a cute twist on the famous poem “The Night Before Christmas,” friendly ghosts and ghouls prepare their haunted mansion for Halloween night. This not-so-spooky book is sure to get your youngsters in the spirit with fun rhymes and colourful illustrations. Ages 4–8.

Little ones who can’t handle being spooked too much will love The Monster at the End of This Book, starring Grover from Sesame Street. As the title warns, there’s a monster lurking in the final pages, and Grover does all he can to warn you before it’s too late! The blue, fuzzy guy will have tots giggling the whole way through. Ages 3–7.

Your kids’ bedtime rituals might be a bit different than Little Monster’s! Before he tucks in, he’ll have to drink his worm juice and scrub his scales—but don’t forget the night light! The adorable watercolor illustrations in this fun, Halloween bedtime story - Goodnight Little Monsters - make monsters less than scary for the little ones. Ages 3–5.

With so many stories about scary creatures with terrible tusks, claws, teeth and jaws, how are we to know what’s real and what’s make-believe? In Julia Donaldson’s award-winning picture book, a brave little mouse believes he’s spinning a yarn about the frightening Gruffalo to ward off some predators in a dark wood…but what’s that lurking nearby? Ages 3–7.

If you’re looking for a child-friendly dark and depressing book with spellbinding illustrations this Halloween, this Jacqueline Wilson classic is for you and your kid. It follows Violet as she retreats further into her own fantasy after a shocking secret about her controlling brother Will is revealed. The arrival of a new girl at school might change her life for the better but it seems like she can never break free of Will’s spell. Ages 9-11.

This book is perfect for the sweetest of creatures, looking for a mini suspenseful adventure before bed on Halloween. Coupled with vibrant illustrations, In the Dead of the Night follows Lily conquering her fears of the dark to find a surprising ending. Ages 3 and up.

When objects disappear or spookily move around the house, fearless little Georgia always finds an explanation. No Such Thing is only a beautifully illustrated story but also a fun activity debunking the ghoulish mystery of disappearing items and spotting hidden (or not-so-hidden) ghosts on every single page! Ages 3-7.

A sure favourite, because which kid doesn’t start giggling at the word ‘bum’? A Halloween-y edition to the bestselling I Need A New Bum! Series, one little boy is excited about picking out the best costumes for the best Halloween ever. It is cheekily funny with lots of fun details for the kids to spot throughout the book. Ages 2-6.

Everyone talks about how ghosts are scary, but no one ever talks about how to make friends with them. In Rebecca Green’s delightful and quirky book, learn the essential tips to make a ghost the perfect friend. Start with providing the ghost with some of its fav snacks like earwax truffles. Then go from there. It’s witty, stylish and charming for a more heartwarming Halloween. Ages 4-8.