As the weather cools, the leaves begin to change and pumpkin spice everything takes over our newsfeed, we know Fall is in the air and following right along, Halloween. Whether your little ones like ghosts and goblins, skeletons and witches or fairies, princesses, pirates and ninjas, this is a time for all to celebrate! Scary and haunting or happy and fun, we here at Daily Mom have a book for everyone. Cozy up with your pumpkin spice latte, an apple fritter for the little and some afternoon reads sure to get everyone in the Halloween spirit.
Infant and Toddler Favorites
Board books, lift-the-flaps and touch-and-see stories are perfect for little fingers to truly engage the senses. Inspire a love of reading from early on by making it a cozy, cuddly, fun and interactive experience for your infant from birth. Allowing children to develop a sense of touch, feel and even the smell of books will promote a future love for literature while introducing the Halloween holiday.
Little Blue Truck’s Halloween by Alice Schertle
Baby Touch and Feel Halloween by DK
In the Haunted House by Eve Bunting
Pre-School Picks
With more of a theme and plot than the infant and toddler picks, but still with a somewhat rhyming text, our pre-school age stories are perfect for giving the kids just a bit of suspense without anything truly scary. Black cats, skeletons, and witches are take over these tales as our children learn this holiday is both fun and just a little spooky.
Scary, Scary Halloween by Eve Bunting
Arthur’s Halloween by Marc Brown
Rattle Bone Rock by Sylvia Andrews
Early Readers
If your kindergartener loves story time, but in all their independent glory wants to be reading rather than read to, here are some holiday favorites perfect for you. With a few short stories in each book, and easy to read, age-appropriate vocabulary, your child can pick out a Halloween tale perfect for them to read on their own or aloud to you or a sibling.
In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz
Have No Fear! Halloween is Here! by Tish Rabe
Dragon’s Halloween by Dav Pilkey
School-Age Series
Likely to be getting excited about Halloween by now, your school-age reader will love getting in the spirit of the season with the additional benefit of allowing him to practice his reading skills everyday. Another plus to the below list of books is that each is a part of a series, meaning if your child falls in love with the main character or story line, there are plenty more to choose from. Although the books in these series feature many of the same characters, the stories do not really build upon one another, allowing your child to jump around rather than having to read the books in order.
Junie B. Jones, First Grader: Boo…and I Mean It! by Barbara Park
It’s Halloween, I’m Turning Green! by Dan Gutman
Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve: Magic Treehouse Series #30 by Mary Pope Osbourne
Chapter Books for the Fearless
Whether your child is in middle or high-school, she may be venturing into the realm of the suspense novel and lean toward the scarier stories. If so, Halloween is an ideal time to engage your child’s mind, give a bit of a fright and keep your younger reader on the edge of his or her seat to the very end. Teach your child how incredibly entertaining and enjoyable reading can really be by providing books that truly tell a tale.
The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Non-Fiction for Inquiring Minds
If facts, figures, and non-fiction are your child’s forte make sure to select a book or two to teach him about the holidays. The majority of holidays in the United States are based on historic happenings so there is always a plethora of interesting information on the history and evolution of the holiday, including its symbolism, religious components, and current celebration.
Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts: The Story of Halloween Symbols by Edna Barth
National Geographic Readers: Halloween by Laura Marsh
National Geographic Readers: Bats by Elizabeth Carney
Activity Options for your Energetic Offspring
Perfect for a quiet time activity or a long car ride, activity books are the way to go. Keeping children off electronics and thoroughly engaged in something educational is a common goal of most parents, so here to help are some activity books guaranteed to please this Halloween.
I Spy Spooky Night: A Book of Picture Riddles by Jean Marzollo
Halloween Sticker Activities by Tiger Tales
Run, Run As Fast As You Can: Halloween Themed Maze-Runner Book by Jupiter Kids
For all things Halloween check out our Ultimate Halloween Guide for DIY Costumes, Candy-free Treats and Trendy Fall Decor.
