Children's Book Suggestions | Halloween Picture Books

Not-too-scary picture books for readers age 3-7.

Updated October 5, 2023
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I want to be in a scary story
Taylor, Sean
Paper Book
Monster may think he wants to be in a scary story, but then again . . . A hilarious return by the team that brought us Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise. Our author would like to write a funny story, but his main character -- Monster -- has a different idea. He...
She wanted to be haunted
Ewert, Marcus
Paper Book
This delightfully spooky picture book answers the important question of how you can be your very best self. If only I were haunted-I'd never be alone! But look at me: I'm cheerful! I've got to change my tone! Clarissa the...
There's a witch in your book
Fletcher, Tom
Paper Book
UH-OH! An adorable little witch has landed in YOUR book! An exciting Halloween adventure from the creators of There's a Monster in Your Book. A cute little witch has thrown a magic spell at you! Use your finger wand to make magic yourself in this interactive book. But, be...
The most haunted house in America
Dapier, Jarrett
Paper Book
A rollicking, spooky-fun trip through the most haunted home in America: the White House!It was late October, the moon was pale,late in October when it came by mail:a letter, a missive, a kind invitationto drum at THE MOST HAUNTED HOUSE IN THE NATION! When the Skeleton Drummers receive an invitation...
First broom
George, K.
Paper Book
A charming rhyming read-aloud just right for Halloween! Little witch, Little broom. Brand-new gift, Brand-new moon. Little witch is so excited by her new present for Halloween night -- a new broom! But learning to fly a broom is harder than you think, especially when...
Moldilocks and the three scares : a zombie tale
Lynne Marie
Paper Book
A zombie-tastic take on a favorite fairy tale!   "A horror spoof with a big heart: Lorenzo's acrylic and colored pencil cartooning offers a warm glow, and readers will cheer for this undead family that finally feels complete." --Publishers...
Chicken on a broom
Lehrhaupt, Adam
Paper Book
It's time for a Halloween costume party with Zoey the chicken! When everyone is getting ready for the Halloween costume party, Pip's mask goes missing. It's up to Zoey the brave chicken and her sidekick Sam to go looking for the missing mask in the spooky barn. From...
Pick a pumpkin
Toht, Patricia
Paper Book
The creators of Pick a Pine Tree are back with a joyful, energetic celebration of a Halloween tradition. Pick a pumpkin from the patch. Tall and lean or short and fat. Vivid orange, ghostly white, or speckled green, might be just right. Pairing a...
Bone soup : a spooky, tasty tale
Capucilli, Alyssa Satin
Paper Book
"A delight...Just the right mix of creepy and humorous, treading the line between scary and fun." --Kirkus Reviews "Plenty of tasty vocabulary...As ghoulishly bright as a jack-o'-lantern." --Publishers Weekly Three little witches...
A tiger called Tomás
Zolotow, Charlotte
Paper Book
A new edition of the timeless classic by celebrated children's author, Charlotte Zolotow, featuring Spanish words and phrases! When Tomás and his family moved to a new house on a new street, he took it into his head that the new people might not like him. "Of course they'd like you,...
Stumpkin
Cummins, Lucy Ruth
Paper Book
From the critically acclaimed author and illustrator of A Hungry Lion comes a unique Halloween story about a stemless pumpkin who dreams of becoming a jack-o-lantern. Stumpkin is the most handsome pumpkin on the block. He's as orange as a traffic cone! Twice as round as a...
The little old lady who was not afraid of anything
Williams, Linda
Paper Book
"A splendiferous Halloween story." --The Horn Book "A great purchase for Halloween or any time of year." --School Library Journal (starred review) Once upon a time, there was a little old lady who was not afraid of anything! But one autumn night, while walking in the woods, the...
The scariest book ever
Shea, Bob
Paper Book
Reader beware! This is the scariest book ever! Or so claims its melodramatic ghost narrator. You can go ahead and turn the page, but don't expect him to come with you. Anything might pop out of that black hole in the middle of the forest. What do you mean it's just a bunny? Well, it's probably a...
The pomegranate witch
Doyen, Denise
Paper Book
When a scary old tree blooms with the most beautiful pomegranates ever seen, the neighborhood kids' mouths water with anticipation. But the tree isn't theirs--and it has a protector! So begins the Pomegranate War, a fun, rollicking, rhyming tale of a battle between the sly, plucky young rascals and...
Creepy carrots!
Reynolds, Aaron
Paper Book
In this Caldecott Honor-winning picture book, The Twilight Zone comes to the carrot patch as a rabbit fears his favorite treats are out to get him. Jasper Rabbit loves carrots--especially Crackenhopper Field carrots. He eats them on the way to school. He eats...
The ghosts go scaring
Bozik, Chrissy
Paper Book
Boo! Boo! Boo! It's Halloween night and the ghosts are out of the shadows and ready to scare! One by one and then two by two, the ghosts float through the neighborhood having some fun. Seven by seven and eight by eight they cause a fright for everyone they meet! Count from one ghost to ten ghosts on...
Monster trucks
Denise, Anika
Paper Book
"Monster-truck fans won't want to miss this Halloween showdown." --Kirkus "Full-throttle Halloween fun." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) Readers will delight in this lively read-aloud story with a clever and surprising twist at the end--perfect for Halloween and...
Fright Club
Long, Ethan
Paper Book
This monster mash-up from Geisel winner Ethan Long doles out the laughs and the chills in equal measure. Each year, on Halloween eve, Fright Club meets to go over their plan: Operation Kiddie Scare. Only the scariest of monsters can join Fright Club--Vladimir the Vampire, Fran...
Dia de Muertos: Numeros : A Day of the Dead Counting Book
Tonatiuh, Duncan.
Paper Book
From award-winning and beloved author-illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh comes this celebratory bilingual picture book centering on a Día de Muertos ofrenda (Day of the Dead altar), constructed annually to honor the memory and welcome the spirit of a loved one. The book uses a counting structure, from one...
Pumpkin trouble
Thomas, Jan
Paper Book
Did that pumpkin just quack?
Pumpkin cat
Mortimer, Anne.
Paper Book
Through the seasons, Cat and Mouse work together in the garden. Together, they watch seeds that turn into plants in the spring, and plants that turn into flowers in the summer, and flowers that turn into pumpkins in the fall! And when their pumpkins are finally ready,...
Pattan's pumpkin : a traditional flood story from southern India
Soundar, Chitra
Paper Book
A vibrant variation on the traditional flood myth from the Irular tribe in Southern India. When Pattan finds a yellow-flower vine wilting in his valley, he replants and cares for it, watching as a pumpkin appears and grows taller than the goats, taller than the elephants, as tall...
Over in the hollow
Dickinson, Rebecca.
Paper Book
Over in the hollow, where the cobwebs are spun, Live a giant mother spider and her little spidey one. Who else lives over in the hollow? A papa mummy and his little mummies two, a mama owl and her little owlets three...and more! And they all have something to say, whether...
Los gatos black on Halloween
Montes, Marisa
Paper Book
Follow los monstruos and los esqueletos to the Halloween party Under October'sluna, full and bright, the monsters are throwing a ball in the Haunted Hall.Las brujas come on their broomsticks.Los muertos rise from their coffins to join in the fun.Los...
Zen ghosts
Muth, Jon J.
Paper Book
Stillwater, the beloved Zen panda, now in his own Apple TV+ original series!It's Halloween. The trees are ablaze in fiery reds. Excited children don colorful costumes. And there's mystery and fun around every corner!When Addy, Michael, and Karl finish trick-or-treating, their bags are...
Gustavo, the shy ghost
Drago, Flavia Z.
Paper Book
A #1 New York Times bestseller! This winning debut picture book from Mexican artist Flavia Z. Drago about finding the courage to make friends is perfect for the spooky season -- or anytime. Gustavo is good at doing all sorts of ghostly things: walking through...
Dem bones
Barner, Bob.
Paper Book
Shoulder bone connected to da neck bone Neck bone connected to da head bone Dem Bones, Dem Bones, Dem Dry Bones Colorful torn paper collages bring to life this classic African American spiritual. The frolicking skeletons will captivate children and adults while they...
I am scary
Gravel, Elise
Paper Book
Key Selling Points In this cute and funny board book, a young child refuses to be scared by a monster. Author and illustrator Elise Gravel is very well known for her art and books, which include the Olga series (HarperCollins), The Cranky Ballerina(HarperCollins) and The...
How to help a pumpkin grow
Wolff, Ashley
Paper Book
What does it take to help a pumpkin grow? Find out in this warm, rhyming tale of gardening and unexpected friendship. Dog is planting a garden, doing all he can to help his pumpkins grow: protecting them from snow, weeding and watering their patch, and keeping them safe from...
Runaway pumpkins
Bateman, Teresa
Paper Book
Roll into pumpkin season this autumn with a fall favorite perfect for storytime. A field trip to the pumpkin patch almost ends in disaster in this rollicking tale of resourcefulness and resilience. The old adage of "when life hands you lemons, make lemonade" is...
Pumpkin Island
Geisert, Arthur
Paper Book
Drawn from life, Arthur Geisert's Pumpkin Island is the fantastical story of a real life town brought to a halt by a profusion of pumpkins. Elkader, Iowa, is the perfect picture of small town life-that is, until the pumpkins arrive. One pumpkin? Fine. Two pumpkins? Okay. But with...

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