Halloween picture book recommendations are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, Mrs. Ferraris may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. The Retired School Librarian is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. These titles are available under my Amazon Storefront under Halloween Picture Books– https://amzn.to/4myjhWo .)
❗This cumulative list grows over time, with the newest books always appearing at the top.❗
Scritch! Scratch!: An Itchy, Witchy Halloween Tale
by Teri Sloat (Author), Zuzana Cupova (Illustrator)
Summary: This tale is a rhyming Halloween story about three children who hear a mysterious “scritch, scratch” and become convinced that a witch is following them. The sound follows them throughout the story as they hide and try to avoid the frightening visitor.
Comments: The book is created with India ink and liquid watercolors, and the illustrations use a palette of grays, blacks, and oranges that gives the story a spooky Halloween atmosphere. The story ends with a twist that is much less frightening than the children imagine.
The rhyming text makes it a fun read aloud, while the repeated “scritch, scratch” creates suspense. Teachers can ask children to predict what might be making the sound.
This would be a fun choice for teachers looking for a Halloween read-aloud that is not too spooky–just spooky enough.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
The Haunted Playground
by R. J. Palacio (Author), Brett Helquist (Illustrator)
Summary: Magnificus Rex, king of the ghosts, summons the ghosts to a playground every Halloween night. When Joe and Lulu, who live next door, can’t sleep, they discover the gathering and ask to join the fun, soon finding themselves playing alongside the ghosts. At midnight, all of the ghosts leave. Magnificus Rex proclaims that the two siblings have permission to join them next year.
Comments: This fun, rhyming Halloween book is not too spooky for teachers to use when discussing friendship, inclusion, and imagination. The illustrations could inspire an art activity about using color to create mood.
The oil illustrations use shades of gray and blue to create an evening atmosphere, with the ghosts in various shades of white. Joe and Lulu are the only brightly colored characters.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
Nice to Eat You
by Karen Yin (Author), Carolina Coroa (Illustrator)
Summary: A group of children meet a seemingly friendly witch in the woods. She invites them to her home for treats, but her choice of words makes the children increasingly suspicious. Through playful wordplay and a series of misunderstandings, the suspense builds until a surprise ending.
Comments: This would make a fantastic Halloween read-aloud. The bright digital illustrations complement the playful story, while the repeated wordplay invites children to listen carefully and anticipate what the witch really means. I would love to do the witch’s voice while the children learn how one word can change the meaning of a sentence. It would also be a fun book for discussing how authors create suspense and humor.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
The Broom of Doom
by Becky Davies (Author), Thomas Elliott (Illustrator)
Summary: A broom feels overlooked and underappreciated. Broom is jealous of the attention Witch receives each Halloween. She comes across one of Witch’s wish potions and wishes to become a star. After several magical transformations and wishes, Broom must decide whether having everything she wants will finally make her happy or whether she can appreciate who she is.
Comments: Although this is a Halloween story, its themes can be discussed any time of the year. Teachers could use it to explore jealousy, envy, self-acceptance, and appreciating our own strengths. The humorous story makes these social-emotional themes approachable without feeling like a lesson.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
Millie Fleur’s Pumpkin Problem
by Christy Mandin (Author, Illustrator)
Summary: Garden Glen is beautifully manicured with bright flora until Autumn arrives. However, Millie Fleur continues with color by planting a unique pumpkin patch. Her magical shed escapes spilling seeds all over town.
Comments: This story is full of alliteration and descriptive adjectives. It goes well with garden life cycles, creative problem-solving, and fall units.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
The Great Pumpkin Pancake Party
by Celeste Pewter (Author), Kelly Wu (Illustrator)
Summary: Lilly’s Lao Ye (maternal grandfather) stays with her family. He learns about American traditions and teaches his granddaughter about Chinese pumpkin pancakes. For Halloween, he puts out tables in the front yard including orange paper lanterns to celebrate his pumpkin pancakes with the neighbors.
Comments: This is a lovely book with intergenerational bonding and cultural traditions. Teachers can use it to introduce family heritage and autumn-themed STEM activities.
This story is based on the author’s real tradition she has with her grandfather who immigrated from Taiwan. The pancake pumpkin recipe is in the back.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
The Pumpkin Thief
by Alice Hemming (Author), Nicola Slater (Illustrator)
Summary: Squirrel and Bird plant pumpkin seeds causing five to grow. Squirrel claims the largest one and is doing some gardening when he notices that they are slowly disappearing. He follows the clues and tries to figure out the mystery.
Comments: This is a humorous mystery that has several mystery elements: clues, predictions, and inference.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
The Zombees
by Justin Colón (Author), Kaly Quarles (Illustrator)
Summary: There is buzzing in the Honey Hills Graveyard. Bees in green? They’re zombees chasing everyone in town on Halloween night. Why and what do they want?
Comments: A fun and not scary Halloween story that would make an excellent read-aloud for preschool – 2nd grade. Spooky at just the right level.
Rhyming text.
The bright illustrations against a black background were created digitally.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
Murray’s Howl-o-ween: A Halloween
by E. G. Keller (Author)
Summary: Murray loves the city and was not happy at first to go to the country, where nothing smells or sounds like the city. Everything was new: the town, the pumpkin patch, and the maze. Will this city dog learn to like the country?
Comments: A humorous read-aloud to address being scared of new things and overcoming them.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat
by Julien Chung (Author, Illustrator)
Summary: All the letters dress up for Halloween and climb the tree. Suddenly, a ghost comes swishing in, booing, and scaring everyone down the tree. They decide to go back up again and receive a treat.
Comments: This is in the wonderful rhyming and rhythm of the Chicka Chicka books.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
¡Vamos! Let’s Celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos
by Raúl the Third (Author, Illustrator), Elaine Bay (Illustrator)
Summary: Little Lobo and friends dress up to celebrate Halloween by trick-or-treating. Afterward, they help prepare and decorate the cemetery for Dia de Los Muertos.
Comments: Spanish and English words mingle throughout the story. The story is told with traditional text and speech bubbles.
I enjoy the details of the illustrations, which were created using pen and ink on smooth plate Bristol board, with the colors created using Adobe Photoshop.
The back pages have a glossary, A Note From Raúl the Third, and A Dia de los Muertos Activity.
Fantastic to see an illustrator using the front and back endpapers instead of just leaving them white. Absolutely full of details and color.
Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
Ghouldilocks and the Three Ghosts
by Annie Sullivan (Author), Paula J. Becker (Illustrator)
Summary: In this retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a little girl ghoul walks into a haunted house, discovering ghoulash, chairs, and beds.
Comments: There are traditional text and speech bubbles.
The moral of the story shifts from learning not to enter a stranger’s house to this new retelling, which emphasizes making friends with the inhabitants.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
This Year, a Witch!
by Zoey Abbott (Author, Illustrator)
Summary: A little girl shares all of the cute Halloween costumes she has been in the past, but now wants to be something scary–a witch. Her dad helps make the costume and applies her makeup. All is okay until she looks in the mirror.
Comments: The story highlights a child’s growing independence as she moves from cute costumes of the past to a spookier look this year. The father-daughter dynamic is wonderful by showing how her father supports her choice.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
Hap-Pea Halloween
by Keith Baker (Author, Illustrator)
Summary: Adorable little peas dressed in various Halloween costumes ask what the reader will be for the holiday, giving several suggestions in fun rhyming and rhythmic verses.
Comments: I enjoy the fun details throughout the happy peas’ world. The rhyme and rhythm of the text make this an excellent seasonal read-aloud for toddlers to kindergartners.
The illustrations were created in Adobe Photoshop.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
Lila and the Jack-o’-Lantern: Halloween Comes to America
by Nancy Churnin (Author), Anneli Bray (Illustrator)
Summary: Lila, an Irish immigrant, is on the ship in 1850 with her mother and two siblings on the way to America, where their father waits for them to join him. They talk about a spirit named Jack that visits homes on Halloween night to play pranks. They would carve a turnip and place a glowing coal inside, so Jack sees it and leaves them alone. They wear sheets and knock on doors for sweets. When Lila arrives and sees that there are no turnips, she improvises with the help of her new friend Julia, who learns about the foods and traditions of Halloween in Ireland.
Comments: This would be an excellent read-aloud for students to learn the origins of Halloween.
The back pages are Author’s Note and Colcannon and Barmbrack.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
Bruce and the Legend of Soggy Hollow (Mother Bruce Series)
by Ryan T. Higgins (Author, Illustrator)
Summary: Although grumpy Bruce does not like holidays, especially Halloween, with all of those visitors appearing at his door, Bruce gets talked into and agrees to role-playing a scary story called “The Legend of Soggy Hollow” with his forest friends…but were they indeed all of his friends?
Comments: A cute and hilarious parody of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, one of my favorite spooky stories.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
The Goblin Twins
by Frances Cha (Author), Jaime Kim (Illustrator)
Summary: Doki and Kebi are dokkaebi, a cross between a spirit and a goblin, who will need to move, as their home was being torn down to build a new one. Although Doki likes to give gifts of gold and silver to people with his magic club while his twin, Kebi, wants to scare people with his, they decide to live together in a haunted house in a strange land called America just in time for Halloween.
Comments: This is based on Korean lore. A more detailed explanation can be found in the back of the book in the Author’s Note.
I love to read monster/mythical creature lore from other countries. This would make an excellent addition to the Halloween or folklore section of a library.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
Halloween (Traditions & Celebrations)
by Charles C Hofer (Author)
Summary: Young readers will learn how Halloween began, how we celebrate it today, and how other countries(Mexico, Germany, France, and Japan) celebrate holidays like it.
Comments: Words in bold are in the glossary. The back sections are Glossary, Read More, Internet Sites, Index, and About the Author.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
Halloween (Holiday History)
by Spanier Kristine Mlis (Author)
Summary: Young readers will learn about the origins of Halloween, its traditions, and how South Korea and Ireland celebrate it.
Comments: Several “Did You Know?” squares give more information about the page’s topic. The back sections are Quick Facts & Tools: Halloween Place of Origin, Glossary, Index, and To Learn More.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
Halloween in the Orchard (Countryside Holidays, 3)
by Phyllis Alsdurf (Author), Lisa Hunt (Illustrator)
Summary: A young boy and his parents dress up in costumes to visit an orchard on Halloween, where there are many fun activities, including trick-or-treating with scarecrows, a corn maze, and a hayride.
Comments: What child(or adult) wouldn’t like to go to an apple orchard like this on Halloween night!?!
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page (paid link).
This is the third book of the Countryside Holidays series.
The selected children’s books are chosen by a certified, retired elementary school librarian who passionately reads and recommends picture books to teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book enthusiasts.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris recommends are checked out from the public library. The only exception is for the complimentary copies that she receives for an honest review, which are duly noted.