30 Best Halloween Books for Toddlers, Preschoolers and Little Kids
Looking for the best Halloween books for toddlers and preschoolers? This list has 30 silly, sweet, and spooky reads perfect for kids of all ages. Great for story time, classrooms, or cozy family nights.
Halloween is such a magical time of year for little ones—pumpkin patches, costumes, trick-or-treating, and spooky (but not too spooky!) fun. One of the best ways to celebrate the Halloween season with your kids is through books.
Whether you’re reading at bedtime, adding titles to your classroom library, or putting together a seasonal basket, this list of the best Halloween books for toddlers, preschoolers, and kids is packed with fun, age-appropriate stories.
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Why Halloween Books Are Great for Kids This Time of Year
Halloween books are perfect for reading aloud this time of year, and are a great way to spend some cute spooky fun with your little ghosts and goblins.
- Celebrate the holiday season: Books help kids understand the fun traditions of pumpkins, costumes and candy.
- Encourage literacy: Seasonal vocabulary like “bat,” “ghost,” and “jack-o’-lantern” help with language development.
- Create cozy traditions: Reading together before a Halloween party or on Halloween night makes for fun family memories.
In this post I’ll share some of our favorites, and you can also click here to find them all in my Amazon storefront for easy shopping, too.
The Best Halloween Books for Toddlers
Toddlers need simple, repetitive stories with bright illustrations. These Halloween books for toddlers are perfect for little hands and short attention spans.
- “Five Little Pumpkins” by Dan Yaccarino
A classic finger-play rhyme turned into a colorful board book. - “Biscuit’s Pet & Play Halloween” by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Soft touch-and-feel elements make this a hit with young children. - “Where Is Baby’s Pumpkin?” by Karen Katz
A lift-the-flap board book with a simple, fun storyline. - “Llama Llama Trick or Treat” by Anna Dewdney
Adorable rhyming fun for toddlers who love costumes. - “Happy Halloween, Daniel Tiger!” by Angela C. Santomero
Perfect for toddlers who adore this favorite character. - “You’re My Little Baby Boo” by Nicola Edwards
This addition to the beloved You’re My Little series features beautiful nighttime illustrations of iconic Halloween characters such as ghosts, pumpkins, and candy corn. - “The Itsy Bitsy Pumpkin” by Sonali Fry
A gentle, spooky twist on the classic nursery rhyme “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.”
The Best Halloween Books for Preschoolers
Preschoolers love silly stories, fun Halloween activities, and characters who are just the right amount of spooky. These Halloween books for preschoolers are a great way to celebrate the time of year.
- “Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson
A delightful rhyming story that preschoolers will want to read again and again. - “Pete the Cat: Trick or Pete” by James Dean
A lift-the-flap Halloween adventure with Pete the Cat. - “Spooky Pookie” by Sandra Boynton
Cute, short, and funny—this is a great fun activity before heading out trick-or-treating. - “The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything” by Linda Williams
A fun book with repetition and interactive storytelling. - “Little Blue Truck’s Halloween” by Alice Schertle
Beep! Beep! It’s Halloween! Little Blue Truck is picking up his animal friends for a costume party in this spooky fun lift the flap book. - “It’s Pumpkin Day, Mouse” by Laura Numeroff
Join Mouse as he decorates the perfect pumpkin in this cute little tale. - “Corduroy’s Best Halloween Ever” by Don Freeman
Join Corduroy as he tries to find the perfect Halloween costume for his Halloween party. - “Little Monster (10 Minutes to Bed)” by Rhiannon Fielding
While not technically Halloween-themed, this sweet book about a little monster not being ready to go to bed is adorable for spooky season. - “Clifford’s Halloween” by Norman Bridwell
A cute little story about Clifford and Emily Elizabeth’s Halloween adventures.
The Best Halloween Books for Kids (Kindergarten & Early Elementary)
Kids ages 5–8 are ready for slightly longer stories with humor, mystery, and plenty of Halloween fun. These titles are great Halloween books for kids who want a little extra excitement.
- “How to Catch a Monster” by Adam Wallace
A fun twist on monster stories—catching one instead of fearing it. - “How to Catch a Witch” by Alice Walstead
Follow along in this frightfully fun story as they set zany traps for the witch! - “Trick or Treat, Crankenstein” by Samantha Berger
Kids love the silly grumpiness of Crankenstein on Halloween night. - “At the Old Haunted House” by Helen Ketteman
A counting book with a Halloween twist—perfect for the dinner table or classroom. - “Scaredy-Cat, Splat!” by Rob Scotton
Follow Splat the Cat in his Halloween adventures—fun for older siblings to read aloud. - “Pick a Pumpkin” by Patricia Toht
Beautiful illustrations make this story a favorite for celebrating the pumpkin patch. - “Click, Clack, Boo!: A Tricky Treat Ready to Read Level 2” by Doreen Cronin
Did your kids love “Click, Clack, Boo” as preschoolers? This version was created for early readers, and is a great option to help encourage your child to read one of these out loud by themselves.
Fun Ways to Use Halloween Books
- Crafts: Pair “Pick a Pumpkin” with making your own paper pumpkins or a fun craft using construction paper and googly eyes.
- Photo Op: After reading “Five Little Pumpkins,” stage your own pumpkin photo shoot with your toddler in a little pumpkin costume.
- Family Activity: Host a family game night where you read “Room on the Broom” and then act out the characters with costumes.
- Classroom Teachers: Add “The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything” to your literacy centers or as part of a social studies lesson about seasonal traditions.
- Alternate with Other Books: While this list of books for kids are all Halloween-related, you might also enjoy adding in a few of our favorite fall books for kids this October.
Easy Halloween Crafts and Activities to Do With Your Kids
Need some extra Halloween inspiration for this year? You might also love these posts:
- October Family Bucket List: 31 Fun Ideas (+ Free Printable)
- Frankenstein Halloween Pretzel Rods
- Halloween Food Labels (free printable)
- Creative Halloween Costumes for Brothers
Final Thoughts on the Best Halloween Books for Kids
From silly board books for toddlers to laugh-out-loud stories for older kids, this list of the best Halloween books for toddlers, preschoolers, and kids is a perfect way to celebrate the spooky season.
So grab your whole family, pour some apple cider, and enjoy these stories together. The best part of Halloween might just be snuggling up with a good book and making lasting memories.
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