Read-alouds and series
Halloween books for kids
A range from silly to properly spooky. Ages are for the first reading; some of the scarier ones suit confident readers only.
Titles, authors and publication details were checked against Open Library in October 2026; age ranges follow publisher and library guidance and are approximate. Series order is the order of publication. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.
Room on the Broom
Julia Donaldson · Ages 3-7
A witch keeps picking up animals and her broom starts to crack. Rhyme and a dragon.
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Creepy Carrots!
Aaron Reynolds · Ages 4-8
Jasper Rabbit thinks the carrots are following him. Caldecott Honor 2013.
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The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
Linda Williams · Ages 3-7
Spooky pieces of clothing follow a woman home. Repeating chorus.
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Big Pumpkin
Erica Silverman · Ages 3-7
A witch cannot lift a pumpkin; a bat, ghost and vampire help.
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Click, Clack, Boo!
Doreen Cronin · Ages 3-7
Farm animals try to enjoy Halloween.
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Spookley the Square Pumpkin
Joe Troiano · Ages 3-7
A pumpkin who is shaped differently saves the patch.
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Goosebumps: Welcome to Dead House
R. L. Stine · Ages 8-12
A family moves to a house with a secret. The series that began the Goosebumps craze.
Watch for: Scary but not graphic.
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Coraline
Neil Gaiman · Ages 9-13
A girl finds a door to a mirror house with button eyes.
Watch for: Truly creepy for under 10.
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The Graveyard Book
Neil Gaiman · Ages 10-14
A boy raised by ghosts. Newbery Medal 2009.
Watch for: It opens with a murder of a family.
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The Witches
Roald Dahl · Ages 8-12
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Alvin Schwartz · Ages 9-13
Short folk horror with Stephen Gammell's pictures.
Watch for: Pictures are the scary part.
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