Here are our favorite children’s Halloween books to celebrate the start of October. This book list contains illustrated story books with gentle, not so scary stories that are appropriate for children ages 3 through 8. You’ll find a little bit of everything, from stories about friendly ghosts to pumpkins and magical cats. Every year we display Elliot’s favorites on his book shelves and in his seasonal book basket. Some of these titles are ones that we’ve been enjoying for years, and a couple are new for us this year. I’ve rounded up our top 20 current favorite titles below and I hope that you find something to add to your collection to get you in the mood for the spookiest of all seasons.
The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt by Riel Nason
A little ghost is different than his family and friends because unlike them, he is made from a heavy quilt instead of a light sheet. He learns that being different is not such a bad thing, and that his unique qualities make him special! Beautifully illustrated and an absolute favorite title in our house.
How to Make Friends With a Ghost by Rebecca Green
A whimsical story centered around the theme of friendship and written as a fun “how to” guide on all the ways that you can befriend a ghost. This is a wonderful non-spooky story with sweet illustrations and handwritten text– a charming detail that I really love about this title.
A Teeny Tiny Halloween by Lauren L. Wohl and Henry Cole
Short and sweet story about a teeny tiny woman who has a teeny tiny problem— her home is buried under autumn leaves! Certain words and phrases are printed in different sizes, to indicate when a word should be read loudly or softly when reading aloud. Warm and cozy illustrations and a great addition to your autumn collection.
Luna Oscura by Heidi Moreno
Luna, a black cat is made to feel that she does not belong among other cats due to superstitious beliefs. Along with her friend Toad, she embarks on an adventure to find a place where she belongs and along the way realizes how uniquely special she is. Beautifully illustrated bilingual story written in both English and Spanish.
Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White
A humorous story about Rebecca Estelle who hates pumpkins and suddenly finds her yard overtaken with them. She embraces the opportunity and a little bit of creativity she uses them to bring her entire community together. It’s just the most heartwarming story and one that I enjoy putting out every year.
Gustavo the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago
Gustavo is a shy ghost who has a difficult time fitting in and letting himself be seen. He comes up with a plan that involves an activity that he loves, allowing him to be brave while still remaining true to himself. Beautifully illustrated and a very cute and quirky non-scary story. We really love this one as Gustavo’s experience is very relatable!
Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins
A sweet story about a pumpkin named Stumpkin)who is different from the other pumpkins because he does not have a stem. As Halloween nears, other pumpkins are chosen and it seems like he will be left behind. There is a heartwarming surprise ending and this one is sure to become a staple in your collection.
There’s a Ghost in This House by Oliver Jeffers
This is a really fun picture book with transparent pages about a girl who lives in a haunted house but has never seen a ghost. Search along with her by layering the pages to find the ghosts that appear when you flip the page. Interactive and a favorite in our house.
Georgie’s Halloween by Robert Bright
vintage
I absolutely love the Georgie series. The stories are gentle, nostalgic and timeless. Georgie, a shy and introverted ghost ventures out on Halloween and goes to a party. He attempts to stay hidden, and when he is spotted he runs back home to his friends who are waiting for him with a surprise. This is another favorite of ours and very much relatable.
I’m Not Scary by Raahaat Kaduji
Bat longs for friendship but when the other animals see his shadow they assume that he must be a monster. This is a beautiful story about being open-minded and not judging someone before you get to know them. Stunning illustrations and a beautiful, gentle story with a warm ending.
Pumpkin Cat by Anne Mortimer
A cute story about a cat and mouse that work together in their garden. As each season passes, their seeds turn into flowers that turn into pumpkins that are ready to be picked in the end. The short text on each page is great for new readers and the illustrations are beautiful. We love reading this as we plant and harvest our own pumpkins in our garden.
The Scariest Book Ever by Bob Shea
If you like quirky, offbeat humor then this is the book for you! The story is silly and has a lot of charm, told from the perspective of a ghost who is rather melodramatic and fearful of everything. The story doesn’t have a major storyline or anything but if you enjoy a certain type of humor you will be pleased with it.
Gus Was a Friendly Ghost by Jane Thayer
A sweet tale of the unlikely friendship between Gus the friendly ghost and a mouse that he invites into his home. I really enjoy the changing dynamic of their relationship and the illustrations are charming and timeless. Nostalgic and just really sweet!
Ghost Afraid of the Dark by Alex Willmore and Sarah Conway
Boo is a sweet shy ghost who realizes that he is scared of many things as he experiences them for the first time. He learns to be brave with the help and support of his friends. This is a wonderful non-scary story that is also great for younger children. Beautifully illustrated and the cover glows in the dark which is really fun!
The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Steven Kroll
Desmond and Clayton unknowingly choose and care for the same pumpkin but have different dreams for what they want it to become. When they discover that they have chosen the same pumpkin they end up working together to grow the biggest pumpkin ever! This was one the first titles we added to our collection years ago.
The Little Kitten by Nicola Killen
Ollie and her cat find a scared kitten when out exploring one autumn day. When they discover “lost kitten” posters, they set out on a journey to return the cat to it’s home as it nears close to Halloween. It’s revealed at the end that the cat belongs to a witch and they receive a sweet gift in return. Beautiful artwork with cutouts and foil accents on the pages make this book really unique.
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
This is a wonderful interactive book about a woman who— as you may have guessed, is not afraid of anything! As she walks home through the woods she is followed by items that try to spook her. This one’s a classic and the rhythmic story telling will get stuck in your head.
Mother Ghost Nursery Rhymes for Little Monsters by Rachel Kolar
Spooky (but not scary!) halloween renditions of classic nursery rhymes. Clever, entertaining and a fun book to read aloud. Really fun illustrations and a fun book for getting into the Halloween spirit. The illustrations may be more suited for older children, as some of them could be a little scary for very young or sensitive children.
Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell
This story explores the life cycle of a pumpkin after Halloween is over. The carved pumpkin is set out in the garden and decomposes over the next few weeks. By Spring a new plant grows. A great choice if you want to add a fun but more educational title to your collection.
Leila The Perfect Witch by Flavia Z. Drago
Leila the witch is seemingly good at everything. She dreams of winning the Magnificent Witchy Cake-off but soon discovers, however, that baking is surprisingly not easy for her. With the help of her three sisters she enters the contest and ultimately learns that being the best is not always the most important thing. This is the same author as Gustavo the Shy Ghost and is just as lovely.
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