Spooky Picture Books

Looking for the perfect spooky book to read a loud this fall? Check out these titles!

Updated October 5, 2023
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Leo : a ghost story
Barnett, Mac
A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2015 You would like being friends with Leo. He likes to draw, he makes delicious snacks, and most people can't even see him. Because Leo is also a ghost. When a new family moves into his home and Leo's efforts to welcome them are...
Poesy the monster slayer
Doctorow, Cory
New York Times bestselling author Cory Doctorow and illustrator Matt Rockefeller present a sweetly scary picture book about a girl whose monster-catching activities delay her bedtime inPoesy the Monster Slayer. A monster slayer needs no bedtime!
The baddies
Donaldson, Julia
From the creators of Room on the Broom and The Gruffalo, a perfect read-aloud tale of spooky, silly fun! Oh no! The Baddies are coming! They're the meanest and nastiest ghost, witch, and troll in all the land, and they just love being bad. When a little girl moves into a...
Leila, the perfect witch
Drago, Flavia Z.
In this charming picture book from the author-illustrator of Gustavo, The Shy Ghost, a witch who is spellbindingly good at everything discovers that baking is no piece of cake. Leila Wayward is a little witch who excels at everything she does. She's the fastest...
Poultrygeist
Geron, Eric
From a debut picture-book author and a #1 New York Times best-selling illustrator, a wry take on "Why did the chicken cross the road?" that gives a whole new meaning to "the Other Side." Cock-a-doodle-BOO! It's punny. It's spooky. It's a meta picture book that puts a fresh...
Bruce and the legend of Soggy Hollow
Higgins, Ryan T.
Celebrate all things scary with #1 New York Times best-selling author Ryan T. Higgins's beloved Mother Bruce. Bruce is a bear who does not like holidays, and he really doesn't like Halloween. His family of mice and geese decides the only way to get Bruce excited...
There's a ghost in this house
Jeffers, Oliver
A captivating and utterly unique picture book with interactive, transparent pages about a girl who lives in a haunted house from world-renowned artist Oliver Jeffers. A young girl lives in a haunted house, but she has never seen a ghost. Are they white with holes for eyes? Are...
The monsters' monster
McDonnell, Patrick
Once upon a time, there were three little rascals who thought they were the BIGGEST, BADDEST monsters around. Then along came an even BIGGER monster who changed their minds. And all it took was two little words. In this playful tale from bestselling picture book author...
Creepy crayon!
Reynolds, Aaron
A #1 New York Times bestseller! From the team behind the New York Times bestselling Creepy Carrots! and Creepy Pair of Underwear! comes the third in this hilariously spooky series about a young rabbit and his peculiar encounters--featuring a...

Find out how the Creepy series started with Creepy Carrots and Creepy Pair of Underwear!

Hardly haunted
Sima, Jessie
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...
If your babysitter is a bruja
Siqueira, Ana
This bouncy, bilingual picture book is an enchanting, rollicking read-aloud for small ones with big imaginations. On the night before Halloween, a new babysitter might be more than she appears. If she wears a black sombrero and cackles like a crow, she might just be a bruja! One...
The dark
Snicket, Lemony.
Laszlo is afraid of the dark. The dark lives in the same house as Laszlo. Mostly, though, the dark stays in the basement and doesn't come into Lazslo's room. But one night, it does. This is the story of how Laszlo stops being afraid of the dark. With...
Lots of cats
Taylor, E. Dee
In this hardcover picture book that's not just for Halloween (but perfect for it anyway!), a lonely little witch tries to brew a magical potion to conjure up some friends, but instead she gets cats...lots of cats! Margaret the witch is about to find out that taking care of a...
The little old lady who was not afraid of anything
Williams, Linda
"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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