28 spooky (but fun!) Halloween books for kids

Written and illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins, Atheneum Books for Young Readers (ages 4-8) Stumpkin is the perfect pumpkin, except for one thing, he has a  stump instead of a stem. Will anyone ever want to take him home? $24, indigo.ca

Written by Charlotte Zolotow and illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns, Jabberwocky Kids (ages 4+) The 1963 classic A Tiger Called Thomas gets a revamp with this new version that incorporates Spanish words and phrases. Shy Tomás is worried that the people in his new neighbourhood won’t like him, but dressed as a tiger for Halloween, he finds the courage to leave his stoop. $24, amazon.ca

Written and illustrated by Calef Brown, Carolrhoda Books (ages 6-10) Get in the Halloween spirit with this collection of spooky poems featuring a creepy cast characters your kids will love. $26, indigo.ca

Based on the TV series created by Neville Astley and Mark Baker, Candlewick Press (ages 2-5) Halloween is almost here and it seems all the costume ideas are already taken. Will Peppa be able to dress up as anything for trick-or-treating this year? $16, amazon.ca

Written and illustrated by Bill Cotter, Jabberwocky Kids (ages 0-3) This spooky addition to the popular Don’t Push the Button! series has you and Larry trick or treating at a scary house. Will you push the button and ring the doorbell? $9, amazon.ca

Written and illustrated by Roger Priddy, Macmillian Publishers (ages 0-3) Little Monster has gone missing, but all we can find are her spooky friends! Where could she have gone? $8, amazon.ca

Written and illustrated by Mike Petrik, Two Lions (ages 3-7) Sammy loves Halloween, and he’s finally got a chance to plan his family’s haunted house. It’s only November, so Sammy has a full year to get ready for the big night. $26, indigo.ca

Written by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Steven Henry, Chronicle Books Herbert isn’t very sure about Halloween, but his father is here to help him get ready for the big night. As his father makes Herbert pieces for his tiger costume, the little pig practices his best roar. Kids will follow along as Herbert comes to find that Halloween can be a lot of fun. $22, indigo.ca

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Written by Teri Sloat and illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet, Little Brown Books for Young Readers (AGES 4-8) Count up to ten with these wickedly fun witches as they zoom around on their brooms—and back down again as they fall off one by one. Written in playful rhymes, this entertaining tale will teach kids their numbers by trick-or-treat time! $23, indigo.ca

Written by Margret and H. A. Rey and illustrated by Martha Weston, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (AGES 4-7) Curious George and the man with the yellow hat are going to a Halloween party. But they didn’t know it was a costume party. Luckily, there are some extra costumes in an old trunk in the house. Which outfit will George pick? $14, indigo.ca

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Written by Aly Fronis and illustrated by Jannie Ho, Little Bee Books (AGES 2-5) In this twist on the classic children’s song, vampires, witches, werewolves and more little monsters want to celebrate how spooky they are by stomping their feet, honking their noses and snapping their fingers. Your little ghouls will definitely want to clap along. $7, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton, Workman Publishing Co (AGES 1-3) Kids will love this zany tale about nervous chickens who keep seeing strange things like a pumpkin with flickering eyes, an enormous mouse and a spooky robot. What does it all mean? Those silly chickens will soon discover it’s Halloween. $11, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Leslie Patricelli, Candlewick Press (AGES 0-2) It’s time for Halloween! From pumpkin picking to carving, and dressing up in a costume, this book covers everything little ones need to know about Halloween—including that it is okay to be scared! But, you don’t have to be. $10, indigo.ca

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Written by Robert Heidbreder and illustrated by John Martz, Kids Can Press (AGES 4-8) There’s a whole lot of Halloween-y gobbledygook in this book that will excite your kids as you rhyme the whole way through. “Black and bittern was night, that Halloween night, when SKUL-A-MUG-MUGS spled out skellety fright…” $19, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Geneviève Côté, Tundra Books (AGES 3-7) Bob’s pet ghost Fluffy has a serious appetite. How ever will Bob control her, especially after Fluffy gobbles Bob right up? $20, indigo.ca

Written by Robert Munsch and illustrated by Michael Martchenko, Scholastic (AGES 3-7) Lance thinks he’s the scariest kid on the block, and uses his Halloween makeup to shock his neighbours and take their candy. The tables turn when Lance is “Boo!”-ed by someone even creepier than him! $8, indigo.ca

Written by Sonia Goldie, translated by Claudia Z. Bedrick and illustrated by Marc Boutavant, Enchanted Lion Books (AGES 4-8) There are ghosts lurking about. Some hide out in your fireplaces, some among your books, and others around the corner in the nighttime. Don’t be fooled – they may look cute, but these ghosts are some of the creepiest you’ll ever meet! For intrepid readers with nerves of steel. $25, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, Running Press (AGES 4-8) The Peanuts gang is celebrating Halloween, and your little trick-or-treaters are invited to join them. This updated classic Halloween book comes with an array of reusable stickers for your readers to put on each page to complete the illustrations. $10, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey, Scholastic (AGES 3-6) Oscar has a little bit of an… er… long issue. His canine friends make fun of his wiener-shaped figure all the time, but after rescuing them from a “monster” (while wearing a hot-dog costume, no less) they realize that the shape and size of a true friend doesn’t matter at all. $8, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney, Viking Children’s Books (AGES 3-5) It’s time to pick out a perfect Halloween costume! Youngsters can help Llama Llama find just what he’s looking for. $7, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Nick Bland, Scholastic (AGES 3-7) It’s hard to be a monster and not do the one thing you were born to do—scare! But Marcel would much rather spend his time cooking up roasts than trying to frighten kids. $15, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by David Catrow, Orchard Books (AGES 4-8) Zombies, werewolves, vampires, ghouls and monsters of all sorts are performing the monster mash! Your teeny bookworms will want to join along. $19, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Mélanie Watt, Kids Can Press (AGES 4-8) When you’re Scaredy Orville Squirrel, whose to-do list always consists of tasks like: “panic,” “prepare for the worst” and “let imagination run wild,” Halloween is a particularly fraught night of the year.  His how-to safety guide is for fellow scaredies and is full of interactive quizzes, maps and tips. $19, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Stephen Savage, Dial Books for Young Readers (AGES 3-5) Where once there were ten pumpkins, now there is one! Little readers can count all the mysterious ways the pumpkins disappear into the night. $18, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Harriet Muncaster, Harper (AGES 4-8) This little girlis sure her mother is a good witch. After all, a lady who grows magical plants, keeps potion bottles and buys jars of eyeballs could be nothing but! $20, indigo.ca

Written by Susan Hood and illustrated by Jed Henry, Harper (AGES 3-8) On Halloween night, an array of eerie sounds will chill your bones. How should you respond? Just say, “Boo!” $16, indigo.ca

Written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond, HarperCollins (AGES 0-4) Mouse is a teeny artiste who has decided to decorate all the pumpkins in the pumpkin patch! What will he paint next? $9, indigo.ca

Written by Lemony Snicket and illustrated by Jon Klassen, HarperCollins (AGES 3-7) Lazlo is afraid of the dark. He doesn’t like how it’s always lurking about. But when the Dark comes to visit him in his room one night, it helps Lazlo conquer his fear! $20, indigo.ca

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