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Hi Kid Lit Friends!
Next week I’ll be putting together a list of super scary middle grade books, but this week I’m going for some sweet Halloween picture books to read with your little ones to celebrate the holiday. What are your favorite Halloween picture books?
Ghosts in the House! by Kazuno Kohara
At the edge of town lives a clever girl with a spooky problem: Her house is haunted! Luckily, she happens to be a witch and knows a little something about taking care of ghosts. She catches them, puts them in the washing machine, airs them out to dry, and gives them new lives as sofa covers, table cloths, and, of course, bed sheets to cozy up under. Fresh and charming illustrations in dynamic orange, black and white bring this resourceful heroine and these spooky ghosts to life.
Leo: A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Christian Robinson
You would like being friends with Leo. He likes to draw, he makes delicious snacks, and most people can’t even see him. Because Leo is also a ghost. When a new family moves into his home and Leo’s efforts to welcome them are misunderstood, Leo decides it is time to leave and see the world. That is how he meets Jane, a kid with a tremendous imagination and an open position for a worthy knight. That is how Leo and Jane become friends. And that is when their adventures begin.
Bad Kitty Scaredy-Cat by Nick Bruel
Kitty wasn’t always such a scaredy-cat. She used to be brave and lionhearted and nervy. That is, until one late October day a group of terrifying monsters showed up on her doorstop and Kitty became VERY scared. Then she decided to take matters into her own paws.
Ginny Goblin Is Not Allowed to Open This Box by David Goodner, illustrated by Louis Thomas
Ginny Goblin has one simple rule to follow: She is not allowed to open this box. Not until dinnertime.
But Ginny Goblin doesn’t like to follow the rules, so nothing will stop her from trying to open this box. Not a tall tower, not a misty mountain, not a frightful forest, and certainly not a murky moat filled with scaly, scary serpents . . .
But wait! What is in the box? You’ll have to open this book to find out! (Don’t worry, you’re allowed.)
How to Make Friends With a Ghost by Rebecca Green
What do you do when you meet a ghost? One: Provide the ghost with some of its favorite snacks, like mud tarts and earwax truffles. Two: Tell your ghost bedtime stories (ghosts love to be read to). Three: Make sure no one mistakes your ghost for whipped cream or a marshmallow when you aren’t looking! If you follow these few simple steps and the rest of the essential tips in How to Make Friends with a Ghost, you’ll see how a ghost friend will lovingly grow up and grow old with you.
Beneath the Bed and Other Scary Stories by Max Brallier, illustrated by Letizia Rubegni
What is hiding under the bed? What is scratching at the window? Find out in New York Times bestselling author Max Brallier’s scary stories collection. These five spine-chilling stories will have beginning readers everywhere begging to stay up late to read (with the light on!). With authentically scary, easy-to-read text and creepy, full-color artwork throughout, this book is perfect for young children who crave lite scares. This is also THE book to share at sleepovers or around a campfire. It will send SHIVERS down your spine!
The Scariest Book Ever by Bob Shea
Reader beware! This is the scariest book ever! Or so claims its melodramatic ghost narrator. You can go ahead and turn the page, but don’t expect him to come with you. Anything might pop out of that black hole in the middle of the forest. What do you mean it’s just a bunny? Well, it’s probably a bunny with big fangs. Watch out, it’s–picking pumpkins with its friends, you say? Actually, despite the ghost’s scare-mongering, none of the animal characters in the illustrations seem scary at all. . . . What’s up with that?
If You’re Spooky and You Know It by Aly Fronis, illustrated by Jannie Ho
The monsters in the book all want to show how spooky they are! Filled with spooky skeletons clapping hands, wicked witches stomping feet, hairy werewolves jumping up and down, sneaky vampires nodding heads, naughty mummies snapping fingers, and creepy frankensteins honking noses, little ones will love this frightful, Halloween-themed twist on the song “If You’re Happy and You Know It”!
Creepy Pair of Underwear by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown
Jasper Rabbit is NOT a little bunny anymore. He’s not afraid of the dark, and he’s definitely not afraid of something as silly as underwear. But when the lights go out, suddenly his new big rabbit underwear glows in the dark. A ghoulish, greenish glow. If Jasper didn’t know any better he’d say his undies were a little, well, creepy. Jasper’s not scared obviously, he’s just done with creepy underwear. But after trying everything to get rid of them, they keep coming back!
Ghosts for Breakfast by Stanley Todd Terasaki, illustrated by Shelly Shinjo
When the Troublesome Triplets complain that they have seen ghosts in Farmer Tanaka’s field, Papa sets off with his son to hunt the ghosts in this fun story set in 1920s California.
Did you know that Book Riot is giving away the year’s 10 best mystery/thrillers so far! Enter here!
What are you reading these days? I want to know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.
Until next time!
Karina
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Don’t Date Rosa Santos
Calvin
Birthday
Patron Saints of Nothing
Got my hands on: 
Five Midnights by Ann Davila Cardinal, narrated by Almarie Guerra – I finally got to this book and I looooove. This novel set in Puerto Rico is inspired by a Latinx boogeyman myth: in Mexico it was el cucuy, in Puerto Rico it’s el cuco. No matter what your gente call it, many a brown kid is trembling with fear at the mere mention of the monster that will kidnap them for not cleaning their rooms satisfactorily.
Wilder Girls
Simon the Fiddler
Remember
