INTERACTIVE BOARD BOOKS
Peek-a-Flap Boo: Written by Rosa Von Feder and Illustrated by Gaby Zermeno
This book introduces kids to some of our most beloved Halloween traditions like visiting pumpkin patches, costume parades, and trick-or-treating. Kids love the pull down flaps and talking about what their families do to celebrate Halloween. BUY NOW
Don’t Push the Button! A Halloween Treat: Written and Illustrated by Bill Cotter
Help Larry the monster trick-or-treat at the scary house in the neighborhood. This book is fun to read aloud and gets kids into the spooky season through interactive reading. BUY NOW
SILLY FAVORITES
Spooky Pookie: Written and Illustrated by Sandra Boynton
Sandra Boynton is a favorite in our house! In this Halloween book, little Pookie needs to find a costume, but none of them seem to work. The rhymes and illustrations are delightful to kids and adults alike. BUY NOW
Room on the Broom: Written by Julia Donaldson and Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Donaldson is another must have in our home. Although not strictly a Halloween book, the antics of a witch and her animal companions are delightful and heart-warming and Donaldson’s rhymes are beautifully lyrical. BUY NOW
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat!: Written by Lucille Colandro and Illustrated by Jared Lee
This is a ridiculous book and my kids love it. Written for kids in pre-K to early grade school, this book is about an old lady with an appetite for all things Halloween. BUY NOW
HALLOWEEN BOOKS WITH CHARACTERS YOUR KIDS WILL KNOW
Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch: Written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and Illustrated by Pat Schories
Kids love Biscuit the dog. In this board book, Biscuit explores a pumpkin patch. It’s a perfect book to celebrate the arrival of fall with toddlers and preschoolers. BUY NOW
Little Blue Truck’s Halloween: Written by Alice Schertle and Illustrated by Jill McElmurry
My youngest son loves the Little Blue Truck. In this book, Little Blue collects all his animal friends and takes them to a costume party. This book is also interactive: kids lift the flaps to find out which animals are under the costumes. BUY NOW
The Bad Seed Presents: The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky: Written by Jory John and Illustrated by Pete Oswald
My eldest son gets a kick out of The Bad Seed books. In this story, Bad Seed celebrates his favorite holiday: Halloween. The book is both funny and makes kids think about the right course of action, which Bad Seed may or may not take. BUY NOW
OLD FAVORITES
Clifford’s Halloween: Written and Illustrated by Norman Bridwell
I loved the Clifford books as a child and I love reading them to my kids now. They are heart-warming and show true friendship. In this Halloween story, Clifford and Emily Elizabeth partake in all the usual Halloween activities. It’s a great book to talk about traditions with children. BUY NOW
Anancy and the Haunted House: Written by Richardo Keens-Douglas and Illustrated by Stephane Jorisch
The Anansi stories began as oral tales told by the Ashanti people of Ghana. In this version Anancy the brave spider enters a haunted house. He needs to rely on his friends if he is going to escape. We love Anancy and the Haunted House because it teaches a lesson through a spooky setting. BUY NOW
Corduroy’s Best Halloween Ever!: Written by Don Freeman and Illustrated by Lisa McCue
Corduroy is another classic children’s book character. In this book, Corduroy partakes in Halloween traditions with his friends. Like Clifford’s Halloween, it’s another great book to talk about what families do to celebrate fall and the spooky season. BUY NOW
DAY OF THE DEAD
Día de los Muertos (Celebrate the World): Written by Hannah Eliot and Illustrated by Jorge Gutierrez
This board book is wonderful for teaching young children about the traditions of Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), which originated in Mexico. Observed at the end of October, Día de los Muertos celebrates the life cycle and honors family members who have passed. BUY NOW
Gustavo, the Shy Ghost: Written and Illustrated by Flavia Z. Drago
This book is gorgeously illustrated and deals with a range of feelings and experiences from loneliness to bravery. Gustavo encapsulates what it’s like to be the shy kid. Through this book, children will recognize common human experiences while also seeing familiar Halloween images and learning about Día de los Muertos. This book is a must have! BUY NOW
About the author: Melissa D. is an avid reader. By day she works as a literature professor. By night she is an aspiring middle-grade writer. And at all hours of the day she is a mother to two grade-school sons.
