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Halloween Picture Books
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Witches, ghosts, black cats and jack-o-lanterns! This collection of Halloween picture books features some frights, and lots of fun.
Updated October 2, 2022
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Scary, scary Halloween
Bunting, Eve
Paper Book
Four pairs of eyes stare from the blackness to watch fearsome creatures trick-or-treat.
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Bonesville
Fromental, Jean-Luc
Paper Book
This stunning picture book from the bestselling team of Jean-Luc Fromental and Joëlle Jolivet cleverly introduces many of the bones that make up the human body. A mysterious beast is terrorizing the resident skeletons of Bonesville. Under cover of darkness, it...
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How to make friends with a ghost
Green, Rebecca
Paper Book
What do you do when you meet a ghost? One: Provide the ghost with some of its favorite snacks, like mud tarts and earwax truffles. Two: Tell your ghost bedtime stories (ghosts love to be read to). Three: Make sure no one mistakes your ghost for whipped cream or a marshmallow when you aren't looking!...
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Halloween forest
Bauer, Marion Dane.
Paper Book
If you take your trick-or-treat sack and venture into the dark woods on Halloween night, you'll find cat bones, rat bones, and bat bones - and all are looking at YOU! "Take care! Beware! Despair! the bone creatures cry. "You can bet you've just met your worst nightmare!" What will you do?...
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It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Schulz, Charles M.
Paper Book
Spooky tricks and hilarious treats abound in this retelling of the beloved Halloween special that comes with holographic foil and embossing on the cover! Celebrate Halloween with Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang! It's Halloween night, which means...
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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...
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Just say boo!
Hood, Susan
Paper Book
If three dinosaurs roar when you open your door, what do you say "Boo!" of course! In this charmingly spooky story by Susan Hood, little trick-or-treaters learn just what to say in every Halloween situation. From rattling bones to ghostly footsteps, Susan captures all the...
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The Vanishing Pumpkin
Tony Johnston
Paper Book
A 700-year-old woman and an 800-year-old man, both witches, go searching on Halloween night for the pumpkin someone snitched from them.
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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...
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The Bones of Fred McFee
Eve Bunting
Paper Book
In this rhythmic story, an unsuspecting brother and sister bring a toy skeleton home from the harvest fair. They name it Fred McFee and hang it from a sycamore tree. Soon, eerie things begin to happen: The rooster disappears. The hens won't lay. Most terrifying of all, Fred's bones dance...
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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...
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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...
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The Berenstain bears and the spooky old tree
Berenstain, Stan
Paper Book
Carve out family time for this classic Berenstain Bear's read! Three brave little bears explore the inside of a mysterious old tree and go into, up, through, over, down, and out. Bright and Early Books are perfect for beginning beginner readers! Launched by Dr....
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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...
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Big pumpkin
Silverman, Erica
Paper Book
A little bat uses brains over brawn in this not-so-scary Halloween picture book. The witch has grown the biggest pumpkin ever, and now she wants to make herself a pumpkin pie for Halloween. But the pumpkin is so big she can't get it off the vine. It's so big the...
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Arthur's Halloween
Marc Brown
Paper Book
Arthur finds everything about Halloween scary, including his little sister's costume, his morning snack, and the big house on the corner.
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Boris and Bella
Crimi, Carolyn
Paper Book
Bella Legrossi is the messiest monster in all of Booville. Her slime is the slimiest and her grime is the grimiest. Alas, she is neighbors with Boris Kleanitoff, a persnickety ghoul so tidy he vacuums his vampire bats. What could ever bring these two together? It will take a...
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Room on the broom
Donaldson, Julia
Paper Book
Join the witch and her cat for a broomstick adventure!The witch and her cat fly happily over forests, rivers and mountains on their broomstick until a stormy wind blows away the witch's hat, bow and wand. They are retrieved by a dog, a bird and a frog, and each animal asks for a ride on the broom....
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The Pomegranate Witch
Denise Doyen
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...
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Clifford’s Halloween
Norman Bridwell
Paper Book
Clifford is the hit of the Halloween party when he arrives dressed as an enormous ghost! Text copyright 2004 Lectorum Publications, Inc.
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Halloween hoots and howls
Horton, Joan
Paper Book
There's going to be a party. You're invited one and all. We'll be waiting there to greet you At the Ghost and Goblin Ball. A Frankenstein who shops at the grocery store. A ghost who's afraid of ghosts. A witch with a turbo broomstick. These are just a few of the quirky...
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The widow's broom
Van Allsburg, Chris
Paper Book
A widow finds herself in possession of an extraordinary broom left by a witch who fell into the widow's garden.
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Frankenstein makes a sandwich
Rex, Adam
Paper Book
Being a monsternbsp;isn't all frightening villagers and sucking blood.nbsp;Monsters have their trials, too. Poor Frankenstein's cupboard is bare, Wolfman is in need of some household help, and it's best not to get started on Dracula’s hygiene issues. What could be scarier? nbsp;nbsp...
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Click, clack, boo! : a tricky treat
Cronin, Doreen.
Paper Book
Will the barnyard animals trick--or treat--Farmer Brown? Find out in this Halloween tale from the #1 New York Times bestselling creators of Click, Clack, Moo. Farmer Brown does not like Halloween. So he draws the shades, puts on his footy pajamas, and climbs into...
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The little kitten
Killen, Nicola
Paper Book
"Lucky kitten, lucky readers: a sweet, special Halloween story." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "This gentle story is a sweet option for a Halloween read-aloud and will please young feline fans any time of the year." --Booklist From beloved...
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The Halloween Tree
Susan Montanari
Paper Book
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Happy Halloween, witch's cat!
Muncaster, Harriet
Paper Book
A little girl believes her mother is a good witch, and she is a special witch's cat. Together, they're out to find the perfect Halloween costume. But what could be better than being a witch's cat To create the whimsical world of Witch's Cat, author-illustrator Harriet...
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Samurai scarecrow : a very ninja Halloween
Pingk, Rubin
Paper Book
A young ninja and his adorable younger sister who wants to be just like him are in for the Halloween of their lives in this tender sibling story with graphic novel-inspired illustrations, Samurai style. It is Halloween, and Yukio is excited to celebrate! But whatever Yukio does,...
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The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt
Riel Nason
Paper Book
The little ghost who is a quilt can't whirl or twirl at all, and when he flies, he gets very hot. He doesn't know why he s a quilt. His parents are both sheets, and so are all of his friends. He feels sad and left out when his friends are zooming around and he can't keep up. But one Halloween,...
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I spy spooky night : a book of picture riddles
Marzollo, Jean
Paper Book
The New York Times bestseller I Spy Spooky Night is here with a fun design and brain twister riddle section at the back of the book. Get ready to I Spy in a haunted house with lots of creepy riddles to solve! Kids of all ages will enjoy a fun and spooky exploration as a...
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The Halloween House
Erica Silverman
Paper Book
"In a hilarious spoof of the counting classic Over in the Meadow, Silverman deposits two escaped convicts in a haunted house, and then lets the inhabitants scare the escapees back to prison. Cheerfully rendered ghoulies accompany each delightfully understated rhyme...A hit if read aloud or read...
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The story of the Jack O'Lantern
Tegen, Katherine Brown
Paper Book
On Halloween night, we dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, and carve jack-o'-lanterns. But what is really behind these holiday traditions It all started with a greedy man named Jack who made a pact with the wrong person. When it came time for Jack to repay his debt, the deal...
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Pumpkin cat
Turner, Ann Warren
Paper Book
On a stormy night in October, a ginger cat finds refuge in the "Returned Books" bin of the local library. Rescued by two kind librarians, Pumpkin Cat makes a home for herself in the large children's room. But the wooden sheep and the sock monkey never talk, and once the librarians leave for the day,...
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Hardly haunted
Sima, Jessie
Paper Book
From the bestselling creator of Not Quite Narwhal comes a delightfully spooky story about an old house who wants to be a home...even if her new family isn't what she expected. House has a problem. She's a little spooky. She's a little cobwebby. Oh, no! What if...
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Ten Spooky Pumpkins
Steve Soenksen
Paper Book
Join celebrated creator Gris Grimly in this spooky countdown, as one little girl ventures out into the night for an unforgettable Halloween adventure!10 little pumpkins, sitting in a line,looking for a cat and they found nine.The wind said SWOOSH and the gate went CREAK.The owl cried...
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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...
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By the light of the halloween moon
Stutson, Caroline
Paper Book
In this fun, cumulative tale, a little girl's toe taps a tune as her legs dangle from a footbridge that has all sorts of creatures hidden underneath. There are cats and witches, bats and ghosts. With a rhythmic, bouncy text and imaginative illustrations, this Halloween story is sure to tickle...
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Mrs. McMurphy's pumpkin
Walton, Rick
Paper Book
One morning, a few days before Halloween, Mrs. McMurphy wakes up to find a large pumpkin by her front door. "My mouth is here. I speak to you. When my teeth are here, I'll eat you!" it says with a mischievous grin. Unafraid, Mrs. McMurphy politely places the threatening squash outside. But day after...
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Rattlebone Rock
Andrews, Sylvia
Paper Book
BOOM! CLACKA-CLACK! The skeletons dance And rattle their bones. Ghosts join in With musical moans. Mice squeak by And bats swoop down. The BOOMA beat echoes All through the town. Witches and goblins Make the tombstones Knock. It's time to dance To the Rattlebone Rock!
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Snowmen at Halloween
Caralyn Buehner
Paper Book
The snowmen are getting their Halloween costumes ready for the latest picture book in this New York Times bestselling series. Have you ever built a snowman and discovered the next day that his grin has gotten a little crooked, or his tree-branch arms have moved? And you've...
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Not very scary
Brendler, Carol
Paper Book
Melly is a brave little monster who is not afraid of anything. She loves surprises, and when her fun-loving cousin invites her over for a big surprise, Melly excitedly sets out for a visit. On her way, she notices skittish skeletons, a coal-black cat, and even ghoulish goblins following her. But...
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Boo! haiku
Caswell, Deanna
Paper Book
Bestselling illustrator Bob Shea and poet Deanna Caswell are back, this time with a haiku book filled with frights that delight. Here's a spooky haiku just for you! broom across the moon pointed hat at the window hair-raising cackle Can you guess who from this...
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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...
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10 busy brooms
Gerber, Carole
Paper Book
Celebrate Halloween with this fun and festive counting book, perfect for fans ofRoom on the Broom! Young readers will want to fly the night sky with the ten little witches in this bright and adventurous Halloween story. Whether zooming past rattling skeletons, buzzing by...
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Trick or treat, bugs to eat
Gold, Tracy C.
Paper Book
An adorably cute Halloween book for children with educational nonfiction elements woven in. A perfect book for kids learning and playing in classrooms, libraries, and at home! Follow along as a young bat takes flight on Halloween night and eats lots of delicious bugs along the way!...
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The ugly pumpkin
Horowitz, Dave
Paper Book
No one wants to take home the Ugly Pumpkin. Sure, he doesn’t look like any of the other pumpkins, but why does everyone have to tease him so much? The poor, lonely pumpkin goes in search of a place where he’ll fit in—and finally discovers the truth about who he is and where he...
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Pete the cat Five little pumpkins
Dean, James
Paper Book
Author and artist James Dean brings us a groovy rendition of the classic favorite children's song "Five Little Pumpkins," sung by cool cat Pete and perfect for Halloween. A New York Times bestselling favorite! Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins is in a sturdy paper-over...
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Halloween Is Coming!
Cal Everett
Paper Book
A fun, rhyming read-aloud Halloween picture book that starts a new holiday tradition. Perfect for kids 4-8 or any young child wanting to celebrate the spookiest season of the year! Marching in the school parade in frightening costumes that we've made; Look around, the signs...
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Halloweena
Miriam Glassman
Paper Book
When crotchety old witch Hepzibah is given a human child to take care of, she's horrified (not a wart on her, poor thing).And when, after years of careful training in witchery, the child, Halloweena, asks for human playmates, Hepzibah is aghast. Nevertheless, she wants to see Halloweena happy, and...
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Duck & Goose, Honk! Quack! Boo!
Hills, Tad
Paper Book
It's Halloween in the meadow, and the beloved, classic, and New York Times bestselling feathered friends Duck & Goose go trick-or-treating!Now an animated series, available to stream on Apple TV+! Duck is going as a spooky ghost. Goose is going as a brave superhero. And...
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Ethan Long presents 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...
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Boo to you!
Ehlert, Lois.
Paper Book
The harvest garden is bursting with delicious vegetables, the pumpkins are decorated and lit, and the mice have their costumes ready. Everyone is looking forward to the annual Halloween-night feast. Scary Cat wasn't invited to the party, but he seems to think he's coming anyway. Time for a clever...
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Fright night flight
Melmed, Laura Krauss
Paper Book
First stop, off we pop to a craggy mountaintop. Spooky castle, creaky floor -- who is opening the door? Is it a lurking, smirking Vampire? Or a howling, growling Werewolf? One by one, a ghoulish gang climbs onto this super jet-fueled broomstick for a frightfully fun flight on Halloween night. Want...
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Cookie boo
Paul, Ruth
Paper Book
The cookies climb out of the cookie tin and go on a Halloween adventure in this rhythmic read-aloud, perfect for family sharing. Seven spooky cookies sitting in a tin, waiting for the moonlight to let the magic in... Cookie Boo, from award-winning author...
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Halloween night
Murray, Marjorie Dennis.
Paper Book
'Twas Halloween night, Tand all through the house, Every creature was stirring, including the mouse . . . The witch is cooking. Banshees are singing. The goody bags are oozing with ooey, gooey snacks. Everyone's warming up for the best Halloween party ever. Get ready for a...
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Shake dem Halloween bones
Nikola-Lisa, W.
Paper Book
It's Halloween night. The city is quiet. The city is still. But as the lights go down, the music comes up - and the guests start to arrive at the hip-hop Halloween ball! And oh, what a party it is. Told in hip-hop rhyming text, L'il Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks, Tom Thumb, and all of their fairy...
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Moonlight: The Halloween Cat
Cynthia Rylant
Paper Book
Softly padding through the darkness, Moonlight explores the world on her favorite night, Halloween. The town and countryside glow with shining stars. The wide yellow moon lights pumpkins, racoons, and children out having fun. . . . Told in eloquently simple, lyrical words, with...
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