The Top Ten Halloween Books for Kids!

Monday was library day for the family. The librarian had to ask someone not to run in the library (me or the kids?).  So… very fast feet to the display table of Halloween books for the new month!

Here’s a selection of the best books we’ve read over the years:

Boo to You by Lois Ehlert 

Not everyone is invited to the party… but the cat is coming anyway! The mice have a surprise in store. I love Ehlert’s use of pictures of vegetables and other garden fare as illustrations in this book. Great fun!

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

A very nice witch provides “Room on the Broom” for a group of helpful animals. This is one you definitely should have in your collection.  It was also turned into a fantastic 2014 Academy Award-nominated film, which is currently on Netflix. Film Trailer

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown by Charles Schulz

There are few Halloween books and films that can be called classics, but the Great Pumpkin is one of them. Poor Linus is the only one who believes in The Great Pumpkin. Charlie Brown and the whole gang, even a WW1 flying ace, all get in the mix. The first few minutes of the film…

Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins by James Dean

Pete the Cat is a favorite in our household, and Dean’s adaptation of Five Little Pumpkins is wonderful. The pumpkins are all dressed for Halloween and ready to party… but one by one they disappear. Brand new video of the story using Dean’s illustrations.

Ten Timid Ghosts by Jennifer O’Connell

Spooky AND cute. A perfect combination. Practice counting down from 10 with ghosts, a witch, and a haunted house.

The Witches by Roald Dahl

For a little older crowd. Secret societies of witches are out to get all the children. A little boy and his grandmother will work together to foil their latest plot. Fans of Dahl’s other works will certainly love this one. It was made in a film in 1990 starring Angelica Houston, which seems somewhat neglected over the years. The film trailer.

Spooky Old Tree/ Bears in the Night by Stan & Jan Berenstain

Simple phrases, and some of the best illustrations in the Bear canon make these fantastic. Brother, Sister, and Honey out in the dark night…  Add sound effects to make them extra spooky! Old School Video of Bears in the Night.

Popcorn by Frank Asch

Popcorn is a great spin on the lessons learned from throwing a party when your parents are away.  Sam invites his friends over for a Halloween party and they decide to make some popcorn for a snack… and things get a little out of hand. I still have this book from when I was a kid. A definite keeper!

Max’s Halloween by Rosemary Wells

We’ve read them all, and even seen the TV shorts. Max and Ruby are our favorite brother-sister pair. In this one Max hides his stash for later. He’s a smart little bunny!

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What are your favorite Halloween books for kids? Which ones do you remember reading or being read to you when you were young?