10 Fun Halloween Books for Kids: Stories, Activities & More
Looking for fun Halloween books for kids? Discover Halloween stories, beginning reader books, LEGO ideas, sticker activities and more for Halloween fun all month long.
10/7/20267 min read
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Halloween books are one of my favorite ways to add a little extra Halloween fun to October.
But I’ve also learned that not every child wants to sit down and read a traditional storybook.
My son Brayden is at that stage right now. He’s learning to read, but reading isn't usually the activity he chooses when given the option. Give him something hands-on to do, though, and he’s much more interested.
That’s why I wanted this list to include more than traditional Halloween stories.
I’ve included some of our own favorite Halloween books, books from characters and series we already enjoy, and activity books that let kids build, search, create, or play while still getting some reading practice along the way.
Whether you have a toddler who loves being read to, a beginning reader, or a child who would much rather build with LEGO or play with stickers, there’s a little bit of everything here.
1. Little Blue Truck’s Halloween
By Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry
Best for: Younger children and Little Blue Truck fans
This one has to be first because it has been one of Brayden’s absolute favorites.
We originally bought Little Blue Truck’s Halloween as a seasonal book, but apparently Brayden never got the memo that Halloween books are supposed to be put away after October. We’ve pulled this one out at other times of the year because he enjoys it that much.
If your child already loves the Little Blue Truck books, this is a fun one to bring out during Halloween season. It’s also a great choice for younger children who enjoy having a parent read with them.
2. Pete the Cat: Trick or Pete
By James Dean and Kimberly Dean
Best for: Pete the Cat fans and younger readers
Brayden has enjoyed other Pete the Cat books, which is exactly why Trick or Pete caught my attention.
One thing I like about choosing seasonal books featuring familiar characters is that kids already have a connection to them. If your child enjoys Pete the Cat throughout the year, bringing Pete into your Halloween reading is an easy way to make the season feel special.
This is one I’m considering adding to our own Halloween book collection.
3. The Spooky Wheels on the Bus
By J. Elizabeth Mills, illustrated by Ben Mantle
Best for: Preschoolers and kids who love sing-along books
If your child already knows The Wheels on the Bus, a silly Halloween version can make reading feel more like play.
The Spooky Wheels on the Bus takes that familiar concept and gives it a Halloween twist. Books based on songs and rhymes can be especially fun for younger children because they can participate even if they aren't reading independently yet.
This would be a fun one to add to a Halloween story time or read together during October.
Halloween Storybooks for Kids
4. Room on the Broom
By Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Best for: Families looking for a Halloween story to read together
Room on the Broom is a fun choice if you want a Halloween-season story that you can sit down and enjoy together.
With a witch, a broom and plenty of adventure, it fits right into October without needing to be scary.
I also like having a few traditional storybooks mixed in with all of the activities we do during Halloween. Sometimes a cozy book is exactly what you need after a busy fall day.
Halloween Books for Learning and Beginning Readers
5. First 100 Spooky Words
By Roger Priddy
Best for: Toddlers, preschoolers and children learning new words
This one is especially sentimental for me because First 100 Spooky Words was Brayden’s first Halloween book.
He loved the First 100 books when he was younger, and we ended up with a whole collection of them.
Books like this are simple, but that's part of what makes them useful. Younger children can look at the pictures, learn new words and participate without having to follow a long story.
If you already have a child who enjoys the First 100 series, the spooky version is an easy way to bring Halloween into something familiar.
6. My Favorite Spooky Stories Box Set
Best for: Beginning readers who are ready for short stories
Once kids start learning to read independently, finding books that are interesting without being overwhelming can be tricky.
That’s why I liked the idea of including My Favorite Spooky Stories. The set includes five Halloween-themed books designed for beginning readers.
Instead of handing a new reader one long Halloween book, shorter stories can give them a chance to practice while still feeling like they accomplished something.
It also gives families several stories to spread throughout October rather than finishing everything in one sitting.
Halloween Activity Books for Kids Who Would Rather Do Something
This category might be my favorite because it fits the stage we're currently in.
Brayden is learning to read, but if I ask whether he'd rather sit down and read a book or work on an activity, I already know which one he's going to choose.
Activity books can still get kids looking at words, following directions, solving problems and using their imaginations. Sometimes adding an activity is exactly the incentive a reluctant reader needs to pick up a book in the first place.
7. LEGO Halloween Ideas
By Selina Wood. Julia March, and Alice Finch
Best for: LEGO fans and kids who love building
Brayden loves LEGO and getting creative, but he also really enjoys building things by following instructions.
That makes LEGO Halloween Ideas exactly the kind of book that would appeal to him.
Instead of simply reading about Halloween, kids can use the book for inspiration and actually build Halloween creations themselves.
I especially like books like this because they don't have to be finished in one afternoon. Kids can choose different projects throughout October, making the book part of your Halloween activities for the whole month.
8. Paint by Sticker Kids: Halloween
Best for: Kids who enjoy crafts, puzzles and stickers
Paint by Sticker Kids: Halloween is another fun alternative to a traditional Halloween book.
Kids use stickers to gradually create Halloween pictures, almost like a combination of a puzzle, sticker book and craft project.
I like activities like this because they're entertaining without requiring you to set up an elaborate Halloween craft. Everything is already contained in the book.
It's the kind of activity kids can work on a little at a time throughout October, and they end up with completed Halloween pictures when they're finished.
9. Halloween Hidden Pictures Puffy Sticker Playscenes
By Highlights
Best for: Kids who enjoy hidden pictures, stickers and hands-on activities
This is another option I really like for children who are learning to read but need a little extra incentive to pick up a book.
Brayden is right in that phase.
He may not be excited when I suggest reading, but give him something to search for, solve or stick onto a page and suddenly he's much more interested.
This Highlights activity book combines hidden-picture activities with reusable puffy stickers, so kids aren't just sitting and reading—they have something to do.
It could also be a handy quiet activity for a rainy October afternoon, a road trip, or while you're waiting somewhere with the kids.
10. Monster Mash Mad Libs
Best for: Older kids, beginning writers and families who like silly games
Mad Libs are a completely different kind of book, which is exactly why I wanted to include one.
Instead of simply reading a Halloween story, kids get to help create one—and usually end up with something completely ridiculous.
For children who are learning about nouns, verbs and adjectives, Mad Libs can also sneak a little language practice into something that feels much more like a game than schoolwork.
This would be especially fun to do together as a family. Everyone can contribute words and then read the finished story aloud to see just how silly it became.
Halloween Books Don't Have to Mean Just Storybooks
One thing I've learned as Brayden has gotten older is that encouraging kids to read doesn't always have to mean handing them a traditional book and asking them to sit quietly.
Some kids love that.
Others would much rather build something, hunt for hidden pictures, place stickers, solve a puzzle or create a ridiculous Mad Lib.
And sometimes those activities can be the thing that gets a reluctant reader interested.
That's why I like having a mixture of books available. We can still pull out favorites like Little Blue Truck’s Halloween, but we can also find ways to combine Halloween with the things Brayden already enjoys doing.
You don't need all ten books on this list, either.
Choose one or two that match what your child already loves. A LEGO fan might get much more use out of a building book. A younger child might love a familiar story. A child who can't sit still for a traditional book might surprise you when stickers or hidden pictures are involved.
The goal isn't to build a huge Halloween book collection.
It's simply to find another fun way to enjoy the season together.
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