5 Spooky Books for Kids
5 Spooky Books for Kids
We’re officially well into the spookiest month of the year - OCTOBER IS HERE!! I’m so excited when this time of the year rolls around, and pretty much spend the other 11 months just wistfully wishing for Pumpkin Spiced Lattes & carved jack-o-lanterns. Judging by the excitement I see from people on social media each year, I’m not alone!
There are so many things to appreciate about the spooky season - things that many of us enjoy the rest of the year as well, but are especially fun when there’s a crisp chill to the air and every store’s shelves are lined with skeletons and cauldrons. Horror movie marathons, creepy decorations, terrifying TBR lists, and more - I love it all so much!
This year’s Halloween season is especially exciting for me, since I’m releasing my very first illustrated book for kids, Rosie Paints with Ghosts! To celebrate the release, I put together a short list of books that I read and loved while doing research for Rosie with the aim of providing a handy guide for anyone looking to encourage a young, spooky reader in their life . Or, if you’re like me, you’ll want these just to add a little bit of creepy fun to your own shelves!
Written by Marcus Ewert
Illustrated by Susie Ghahremani
Clarissa is a very cute house, and she hates it. Her parents are both super creepy - a vampire’s castle & a witch’s hut, respectively - and Clarissa wishes she were more like them. You know, a little more haunted!
As a huge fan of both the spooky & adorably cute aesthetics overall, this book really spoke to me when I saw it on the bookshelf. The bright illustrations and lyrical story pulled me in, and without spoiling anything, I will say that She Wanted to Be Haunted proves that being true to yourself always pays off in the end - even if it isn’t in the exact way you thought it’d be!
Reading Age: 3 - 6 years
The Good, The Bad, and the Spooky
Written by Jory John
Illustrated by Pete Oswald
This is actually an entry in a whole series of books starring this cute little character, The Bad Seed, and his friends. With entries like The Good Egg, The Cool Bean, and The Couch Potato, there’s enough here for kids to enjoy throughout the rest of the year, too!
That said, this spooky entry in The Food Group series is probably my favorite - and it’s not necessary to read any of the other books in the line to enjoy it, making it a perfect pick for October!
Reading Age: 4 - 8 years
Written & Illustrated by Flavia Z. Drago
This quick little tale of a shy ghost trying to make friends is one of the most heartwarming and sweet books I’ve read, ever. The bright pink cover and pencil-like illustrations also add a lot of whimsical charm that make this one of my all-time favorites - I’ve recommended it a lot since reading it for the first time, and revisit it any time I need a cute little pick-me-up.
Important to note that although this is a very cute read for October, the holiday mentioned in the book is actually Day of the Dead, which originated in Mexico and is celebrated during the 2 days following Halloween (November 1st & 2nd).
Reading Age: 3 - 7 years
How to Make Friends with a Ghost
Written & Illustrated by Rebecca Green
This is for those out there who might like a little less color in their kid books - it’s got a more subdued color palette, but the art is still fantastic & it has a really sweet theme of lifelong friendship.
I will mention that as a small bit of warning, this one does sort of directly imply actual death at the end of a lifespan, unlike some of the other books on the list, which take a less realistic approach in their stories. That realism may not be for every kid (or every parent!), so I did want to note it. Still, I really liked this one - nothing cuter than a sweet little ghost, in my opinion!
Reading Age: 4 - 8 years
Written by Patricia Toht
Illustrated by Jarvis
I know I’ve raved about the illustrations in these books a lot so far, but please deal with me for this last entry on the list because WOW!! I loved the cover for this one, but did not expect the full-page illustrations to absolutely blow me away when I read it.
Although this one is super colorful, the tone feels a little spookier to me, and I loved that a lot. The story is also told in a rhythmic, lyrical way that would make this a blast to read aloud with kiddos, I’m sure! I can imagine this accompanying a family’s annual tradition of picking their own pumpkins each year - so cute!!
Reading Age: 2 - 5 years
And a bonus, because more books is always a good thing, right?!
Written & Illustrated by Cassie Daley - that’s me!
If you’re still looking to add some extra color & kid-friendly spookiness to your shelves after all those great recommendations above, I’d be absolutely honored if you checked out my own sweet little Rosie! She’s a creative little girl that discovers a hidden door beneath her bed, and travels to a secret town inhabited by ghosts. Once there, Rosie finds that she can’t return home - and not only that, but the whole world has lost its color!
Her journey to finding a solution to both of these problems was so much fun to write and draw. I had a blast creating this book, and am really excited for kids - and adults! - to read it. You can buy your copy in my Etsy shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LetsGetGalacticArt
Reading Age: 4 - 8 years
By Cassie Daley
Website: letsgetgalactic.com
Etsy: Lets Get Galactic
Twitter: @CtrlAltCassie