our favorite halloween books

WHEN MY boys were teeny, we started collecting books for each holiday. It has been a super sweet ongoing tradition and I just love pulling out the books each season, signaling the start of the holiday hoopla. Thank GOODNESS my big guys are still willing to read some picture books with their mama; I’ll be truly devastated when they start to roll their eyes at me when I bust out the holiday books. For now, I’ll cherish each snuggle and giggle and “ooh, I remember that one!” We have amassed a truly awesome collection of Halloween books and I wanted to share a big pile of my favorites and a few that are on our list. Some are sweet, some are spooky, but they’ll all get you excited about the season. If you have any favorites, please do share! I’ll keep adding to our collection until we’re solidly into the eye rolling phase. xo

:: Dia de los Muertos is an excellent explanation and celebration of this colorful holiday with the most awesome illustrations. ::

:: How to Make Friends with a Ghost is sweet and adorable and touching and has really pretty illustrations, too. ::

:: Of course The Scariest Book Ever isn’t even the tiniest bit terrifying, but a scaredy ghost thinks it will be. It’s super adorable and has the brightest, happiest illustrations. ::

:: I absolutely love the fantastic illustrations in Bone Soup. It’s a clever story about using your wits to get what you need and bring people together. ::

:: A World Full of Spooky Stories is a big gorgeous collection of scary stories from around the world, some you may have heard and many that you probably haven’t. ::

:: Skeleton for Dinner is a super cute story about a BIG misunderstanding between friends that ends sweetly. ::

:: The Hallo Wiener is a story about how the tables turn when a small dog saves the classmates who bully him. It’s written by Dav Pilkey, author of Dog Man and Captain Underpants, so you’ll get bonus points from the start. ::

:: Uh oh, Wolfboy is super hangry. This funny book has a surprise ending and THE most awesome ‘illustrations’ made entirely of clay. It’s visually fantastic. ::

:: Popcorn is one in an adorable series of Frank Asch Bear Books. It’s about what happens when you have too much of a good thing. ::

:: Sara Conway’s illustrations in Ghost Afraid of the Dark are SO sweet, plus the cover glows in the dark, which is always a hit. This is a cute story about being brave enough to face your fears. ::

:: I LOVE No Such Thing, it’s part adorable seek + find book and part sweet story about denying that something is right in front of you. ::

:: Bear's Spooky Book of Hidden Things is just THE most adorably illustrated seek + find book ever. My big boys still love going through it together. We also love the Christmas and Springtime versions. ::

:: I LOVE Nobody Likes a Goblin and Ben Hatkes’ gorgeous, detailed, adorable illustrations. While not a true Halloween book, it’s a sweet story about friendship and being brave in the face of perilous adversity AND has goblins, skeletons and witches, so... ::

:: I Need My Monster is a funny, suspenseful story about imagination and unlikely friendship. ::

:: If you love the Crayons’ silly banter as much as we do, you'll appreciate The Crayons Trick or Treat, a wee little book about them trying to learn about this important holiday ritual. ::

:: Gustavo the Shy Ghost is a really sweet story about finding the courage to make yourself seen. ::

:: Creepy Pair of Underwear is another spooky, funny story in the ‘Creepy Tales’ series, filled with mystery and bravery. ::

:: Lonely Planet Kids Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts cleverly teaches kids the story behind the most famous monsters and mythological creatures around the world with some bonus geography in there, too. The illustrations are really fun. ::

:: Creepy Carrots is a funny book about what happens when you get a little greedy. The illustrations are awesome. ::

:: Peanut Butter & Brains is just a really cute and fun story about staying true to yourself even if others don’t get it right away ::

:: Bonaparte Falls Apart is an adorably illustrated story about the power of friendship to help you keep it together. ::

:: That greedy pug is at it again in Pig the Monster. He’s rudely trying to steal everyone’s candy until he’s reminded that dogs can’t eat chocolate and he learns his lesson in the grossest way. ::

:: Room on the Broom is the most awesome now-classic story of inclusivity and friendship and adventure. I just love all of Julia Donaldson’s books. ::

:: Love Monster and the Scary Something is the cutest darn book about being super brave and facing your fears. ::

:: Bonesville is a big gorgeously designed and illustrated book that teaches kids about every bone in their little body while they try to solve a very perplexing Bonesville mystery. ::

:: Monster Needs a Costume is an adorable story about trying something new. It’s super cute for little littles. ::

:: Trick or Treat, Crankenstein is the newest in this series that we love for its relatable grumpy main character and truly awesome illustrations. It’s about what happens when nothing goes the way you’d hoped. ::

:: Ready, Steady, Ghost! shows us that everyone can be brave no matter your size. ::

:: Ok, so Ed Emberley's How to Draw Monsters isn’t a book per se, but it is a favorite. Learn how to draw all of the season’s spookiest characters in Emberley’s iconic style. ::

:: I just love the vintage-feeling illustrations in Ghosts in the House! It’s a simple, super sweet story about how to solve a potentially spooky problem. ::

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