Thank You!

The perfect book picks are on their way.

You're all set!

Baby & Toddler

Pre-K

Going Fright-Free: 20 Halloween Books for Little Pumpkins

by Dena McMurdie

not-so-scary-halloween-books

Background credit: JamieJayArtist, iStock/Getty Images Plus

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.

Babies & Toddlers

The Very Busy Spider

The Very Busy Spider

by Eric Carle

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.

Also available from:

Where Do Diggers Trick-or-Treat?

Where Do Diggers Trick-or-Treat?

by Brianna Caplan Sayres, illustrated by Christian Slade

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.

Also available from:

Halloween Party! (Blue's Clues & You)

Halloween Party! (Blue's Clues & You)

by Random House

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.

Also available from:

Open the Witch’s Door

Open the Witch’s Door

by Random House, illustrated by Jannie Ho

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.

Also available from:

Happy Halloween, Corduroy!

Happy Halloween, Corduroy!

created by Don Freeman, illustrated by Jody Wheeler

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!

Also available from:

One, Two…Boo!

One, Two…Boo!

by Kristen L. Depken, illustrated by Claudine Gevry

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.

Also available from:

Dr. Seuss’s Spooky Things

Dr. Seuss’s Spooky Things

by Dr. Seuss, illustrated by Tom Brannon

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.

Also available from:

Llama Llama Trick or Treat

Llama Llama Trick or Treat

by Anna Dewdney

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!

Also available from:

Pop-Up Peekaboo! Monsters

Pop-Up Peekaboo! Monsters

by DK

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.

Also available from:

Pre-K

There's a Witch in Your Book

There's a Witch in Your Book

by Tom Fletcher, illustrated by Greg Abbott

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.

Also available from:

Halloween, Here I Come!

Halloween, Here I Come!

by D.J. Steinberg, illustrated by Laurie Stansfield

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.

Also available from:

Duck & Goose, Honk! Quack! Boo!

Duck & Goose, Honk! Quack! Boo!

by Tad Hills

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?

Also available from:

We’re Off to Find the Witch’s House

We’re Off to Find the Witch’s House

by Mr. Kreib, illustrated by R.W. Alley

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.

Also available from:

The Haunted Mansion (Disney Classic)

The Haunted Mansion (Disney Classic)

by Lauren Clauss, illustrated by Glen Brogan

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.

Also available from:

Room on the Broom

Room on the Broom

by Julie Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler

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.

Also available from:

We’re Going on a Goon Hunt

We’re Going on a Goon Hunt

by Michael Rex

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.

Also available from:

Find Spot at the Halloween Party

Find Spot at the Halloween Party

by Eric Hill

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?

Also available from:

Go to Sleep, Little Creep

Go to Sleep, Little Creep

by David Quinn, illustrated by Ashley Spires

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.

Also available from:

Ghost in the House

Ghost in the House

by Ammi Joan Paquett

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.

Also available from:

The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat

The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat

by Stan Berenstain and Jan Berenstain

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.

Also available from:

More Halloween Stories for Little Monsters

Pumpkin Patch Party (Sesame Street)

Pumpkin Patch Party (Sesame Street)

by Stephanie St. Pierre, illustrated by Joel Schick

Also available from:

Pop-Up Peekaboo! Pumpkin

Pop-Up Peekaboo! Pumpkin

by DK

Also available from:

Ladybug Girl and the Dress-up Dilemma

Ladybug Girl and the Dress-up Dilemma

by Jacky Davis, illustrated by David Soman

Also available from:

Trick or Treat on My Street

Trick or Treat on My Street

by J. L. Coppage, illustrated by Melanie Matthews

Also available from:

Shivery Shades of Halloween

Shivery Shades of Halloween

by Mary McKenna Siddals, illustrated by Jimmy Pickering

And Then Comes Halloween

And Then Comes Halloween

by Tom Brenner, illustrated by Holly Meade

Also available from:

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2021.