While I don’t enjoy dressing up for Halloween and am definitely more into the cute decorations than the creepy ones, I do love getting my kids skeleton jammies (this year I got a matching pair) and reading lots of Halloween picture books.
Last year I shared 13 favorite Halloween books, but I’ve discovered a few more books we love. Grab these from your library or add to your collection!
Goodnight Goon: A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex. I read Goodnight Moon to my kids so many times when they were babies and toddlers that I have it memorized. This parody of the bedtime classic still has the rhyme scheme and rhythm of the original, but I love the illustrations and fun Halloween characters it introduces. Both my kids read this several times before we returned it to the library. I’ll probably buy our own copy this year.
A Tiger Called Tomás by Charlotte Zolotow. Apparently this book was originally written in the 1960s and has been updated a few times, but I’d never read it before. A little boy is afraid to play with his neighbors because he thinks they don’t like him. His mom brings home a tiger costume for him to wear trick-or-treating, and he’s excited to hide behind a mask on Halloween. Tomás realizes that his neighbors know it’s him and that he doesn’t need to be afraid after all. This would be a perfect pick for a school library! Bonus: It uses a mixture of English and Spanish words throughout.
Mother Ghost: Nursery Rhymes for Little Monsters by Rachel Kolar. I found myself singing these spooky nursery rhymes out loud, since they’re parodies of classics like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and “Hickory, Dickory Dock.” My 6-year-olds had fun reading them aloud, too, and the illustrations added a scary-but-not-too-scary element. These are great for bedtime.
Winnie the Witch by Valerie Thomas. Last year, my kids came home from kindergarten telling me all about this silly book their teacher had read them. I got it from the library and then immediately bought it. Winnie the Witch keeps bumping into her cat, Wilbur, because everything in her house is black, including Wilbur. She comes up with various ideas to change Wilbur’s color (none that Wilbur like) and finally realizes SHE can change, too. This is such a darling book, and the illustrations make it even better.
Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman. This is another classic Halloween book that’s really fun to read aloud in a classroom (or just at home with your kids). When the witch wants to make pumpkin pie but can’t seem to pull her big pumpkin off the vine, a bunch of friends try to help, including a vampire, a mummy, and a bat. The repetition and rhythm make this one stand out.
Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago. Technically, this is a Day of the Dead book, but I thought it was adorable. Brand-new this year, the book tells the story of Gustavo, a shy ghost no one seems to notice. When he has trouble making friends, he decides to invite everyone over for a violin concert on Día de los Muertos. The illustrations are so cute, and I love the message of acceptance.
Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins. We LOVE this book so much and have it in our collection. Poor Stumpkin is a little pumpkin who sits in a store display and watches all the other pumpkins become jack-o-lanterns in homes. Why? Because Stumpkin doesn’t have a stem, which makes it harder to carve him. It’s got a sweet message about rising to your potential even when you’re a bit different.
Tell me about your favorite Halloween picture books and traditions! Do things look different at your house due to COVID-19? We’re still planning on trick-or-treating here, but there’s no costume parade since our kids are currently learning from home. Wishing you a fabulous holiday!
