Baby & Toddler
Pre-K
Going Fright-Free: 20 Halloween Books for Little Pumpkins
by Dena McMurdie
Are you looking for Halloween books that won’t frighten the tiniest of trick-or-treaters? If so, I’ve got you covered! From board books to picture books, these reads for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers alike are a surefire way to get your little monsters into the Halloween spirit without giving them nightmares.
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Babies & Toddlers
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The Very Busy Spider
Also available from:Spiders have long been a symbol of Halloween! In this classic book, a little spider diligently spins her web, undeterred by the farm animals that try to distract her. It’s just the right amount of creepy-crawly for little readers, but for an extra Halloween treat, check out Happy Halloween from The Very Busy Spider.
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Where Do Diggers Trick-or-Treat?
Also available from:Go trick-or-treating with your favorite machinery! Babies and toddlers that love things that go will adore this seasonal installment of the Where Do… Series. From monster trucks to tractors, follow along and get a sneak peek into the lives of vehicles when they’re not at work.
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Halloween Party! (Blue's Clues & You)
Also available from:It is Halloween night, but Magenta doesn’t have a costume yet! As your little one reads through this book, they’ll find clues from Blue that will help them discover what Magenta should wear to go trick-or-treating. This fun interactive board book is a great way to introduce Halloween to your baby or toddler and get them excited about their own costume.
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Open the Witch’s Door
Also available from:Put your baby’s busy fingers to work with this magical board book. With flaps to lift, spells to cast, and plenty of Halloween objects to uncover, it’s the perfect way to introduce your little one to the holiday.
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Happy Halloween, Corduroy!
Also available from:Everyone’s favorite teddy bear is getting ready for Halloween. Readers follow along as Corduroy makes his costume, carves pumpkins, and makes candy apples. This festive book is not only perfect for Halloween but is a wonderful celebration of Fall!
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One, Two…Boo!
Also available from:Little readers count their way through a spooky house, lifting flaps and finding a few bats, ghosts, and witch’s brooms along the way. This fun board book is the perfect treat for those still too little for candy.
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Dr. Seuss’s Spooky Things
Also available from:There’s no world like the world of Dr. Seuss, and the littlest of readers will love to observe Thing One and Thing Two dress up in classic Halloween costumes. With bright colors and simple rhymes, this board book is a Halloween hit.
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Llama Llama Trick or Treat
Also available from:Get excited for the holiday with Llama Llama, his Mama, and all his friends. With short rhythmic text and bright colorful images, this is the perfect introduction to Halloween and to the entire Llama Llama series that your child will love!
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Pop-Up Peekaboo! Monsters
Also available from:Little readers will love lifting the flaps to discover adorable little monsters playing hide-and-seek. The creepy critters are all styled to look like stuffed toys, making them appear to seemingly jump off the page.
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Pre-K
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There's a Witch in Your Book
Also available from:The latest in Tom Fletcher's popular interactive series, There's a Witch in Your Book is pure Halloween fun! When a little witch lands in the book, she's ready to cause some magical mischief. Little readers will love using their magic finger wands to block her spells and keep her from causing too much havoc.
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Halloween, Here I Come!
Also available from:First-time trick-or-treaters will delight in this playful collection of poems that celebrate the joys of Halloween. From choosing a costume to sorting candy, bright illustrations and upbeat rhymes walk kids through the most fun and festive moments of Halloween night.
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Duck & Goose, Honk! Quack! Boo!
Also available from:Get ready for another charming Duck & Goose adventure as they gear up for Halloween. Duck is a ghost and Goose is a superhero, but both are terrified of the swamp monster searching for them. Should they be?
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We’re Off to Find the Witch’s House
Also available from:When a group of kids set out on Halloween night to find the witch’s house, they come across a host of creatures like a skittle-skattling skeleton and the herky-jerky Frankenstein along the way. Colorful illustrations and a singsong-like rhythm make this the perfect Halloween read-aloud.
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The Haunted Mansion (Disney Classic)
Also available from:Take a tour of the Haunted Mansion with this frightfully fun Little Golden Book. Follow the Ghost Host through the portrait gallery, the séance room, the grand hall, and more. Entering this house of happy haunts is easy. The chilling challenge comes with finding a way out.
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Room on the Broom
Also available from:Join the witch as she makes friends with one animal after another and learns that sharing can bring unexpected results. With rollicking rhyme and a surprise ending, this story is a hit with tiny book lovers.
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We’re Going on a Goon Hunt
Also available from:This spooky-silly parody of the perennial kids’ favorite, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, is a Halloween delight. Ever-so-creepy illustrations pair with hilarious rhyming text about a family that treks through graveyards, swamps, and pumpkin patches in search of a goon.
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Find Spot at the Halloween Party
Also available from:No tricks here! This lift-the-flap board book is definitely a treat for little ones. They’ll love finding Spot and all of his friends in their spooky costumes at the Halloween party. With fun surprises on every page, what’s not to love?
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Go to Sleep, Little Creep
Also available from:A bedtime read full of adorable little monsters and their patient parents, Go to Sleep, Little Creep plays out the full range of nighttime routines for mummies, werewolves, trolls, and more. Giggle-inducing and oh-so-relatable, it’s sure to be a read-aloud favorite.
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Ghost in the House
Also available from:Preschoolers can practice their counting skills in this ghoulishly fun story set in a haunted house. First a ghost bumps into a mummy, then the two of them bump into a monster — and on it goes, until the unexpected ending.
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The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat
Also available from:It’s Halloween in Bear Country and Brother and Sister are getting ready to go trick-or-treating with their friends in the neighborhood. But when someone suggests that they play a trick, the night takes a turn for the worst and feelings get hurt. This is a great introduction for first-time trick-or-treaters on how to be a good friend and neighbor. This edition also comes with 50 bonus stickers, so the fun can continue throughout the Fall.
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More Halloween Stories for Little Monsters
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Pumpkin Patch Party (Sesame Street)
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Pop-Up Peekaboo! Pumpkin
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Ladybug Girl and the Dress-up Dilemma
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Editor’s note: This post was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2021.