Halloween Books for Every Age

In October I wrote about a collection of hallowed books for kids about Halloween and fall. This article was originally published by Mesa Verde Living.

Our neighborhood is quickly becoming more festive for Halloween as pumpkins and ghouls

appear on lawns and porches across Mesa Verde. With fall in the air, it’s a great time to start

reading books about Halloween, autumn, and Dia de los Muertos. This month I put together a

mummy-approved list of age-appropriate books about Halloween for you. Wishing you the best

during this spooktacular season!

For Young Boos and Ghouls

● Where is Baby’s Pumpkin? A classic lift-the-flap book by Karen Katz, this book is a

baby and toddler favorite as the baby looks behind furniture and in closets for her

pumpkin pail before trick-or-treating.

● Gustavo the Shy Ghost A beautifully illustrated and funny book by Flavia Z. Drago,

Gustavo shows off all of the typical paranormal activities like walking through walls, but

he struggles to make friends because he’s shy and feels invisible.

● Corduroy’s Best Halloween Ever Corduroy plans ahead and makes his costume for

his Halloween party, but when a friend’s costume falls apart, Corduroy knows how to

save the day! By

● Dia de Los Muertos Explore the Latin American holiday that honors the lives of

departed family and friends with sugar skulls, marigolds, and tamales by Roseanne

Greenfield Thong and Carles Ballesteros. With spanish words and playful verses this

book is educational, beautiful, and fun.

For Slightly Older Witches and Vampires

● Room on the Broom A story for every one, really, this book is silly and fun and shows

that a little bit of teamwork and a friendly scare can sometimes help a friend out! By Julia

Donaldson.

● Bats at the Library This award-winning book by Brian Lies is part of a series about bats

that’s relatable to kids and showcases some batty fun in the library at night.

● Zatanna and the House of Secrets Though this book is not about Halloween, it’s a

great graphic novel about a girl who uncovers the mysteries of her house and some

magic while trying to find her magician dad with the help of her rabbit Pocus. By author

Matthew Cody and illustrator Yoshi Yoshitani.

For FrankenTeens

● Pumpkinheads For those looking for a wholesome and heartwarming story instead of a

scary one, check out this YA novel by acclaimed author Rainbow Rowell about teens

who work at a pumpkin patch every year and try to make the most of their last season

together.

● Ophie’s Ghosts This middle grade historical novel combines paranormal mystery with a

tale of grief, racism, and a young woman’s grit as she discovers some ghosts and the

secrets of Daffodil Manor. A GoodReads favorite – by Justina Ireland.

● Classics like Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by

Washington Irving are great choices, but if you want a little bit of horror, new classics,

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvine Schwartz or anything by R.L. Stein, will run

a chill up your spine.