In my home, one of our favorite ways to get excited for an upcoming holidays is to read, read, read! Kids can never have enough stories read to them and it’s extra fun if they have something to do with the approaching holiday…and this time, it’s Halloween. So, I spent some time online reading reviews and finding the top-rated, best-loved Halloween books to add to yours (and my) collection.
Here’s what I found…
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HALLOWEEN BOOKS FOR KIDS:
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This book gets a perfect 5 stars from every reviewer! They say it’s hilarious, teaches a great lesson, and is a favorite at their house. I can’t wait to get this one 🙂
“Oscar is a dachshund who is “…half-a-dog tall and one-and-a-half dogs long.” All the other neighborhood dogs-a motley crew of meanies-make fun of him. His mother doesn’t help matters any, showering him publicly with endearments that refer invariably to sausage. What Oscar wants more than anything is to be something scary for Halloween, but when he rushes home from obedience school his mother surprises him with a costume that’s exactly the opposite of what he had in mind-“…a giant hot-dog bun, complete with mustard.” He gives his mom a kiss, but the look on his face is pure pain. Poor Oscar! Slowed down by his silly costume, he trails behind his pack of greedy peers, who snarf up all the treats at each house before he has a chance to grab any. But Oscar is truly a good dog-when two cats disguised as a monster chase his pals into the lake, he swims to their rescue and finally earns their appreciation.” Vanessa Elder
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Reviewers rave about this book for the illustrations, lessons in cooperation, and wonderful rhymes.
“There’s always room for one more on this affable witch’s broomstick… or is there? In another mild-mannered tale from the creators of the Smarties Prize-winning picture book, The Gruffalo, a witch and her happily purring cat fly through the wind on their broomstick, without a care in the world, until the witch’s black hat blows away. In the process of retrieving it, they pick up another passenger, a polite and helpful dog. All goes well until the witch’s hair bow flies off. And then her wand. And then real disaster strikes–in the shape of a big red dragon, a broken broom, and some very important (but notably absent) friends. Julia Donaldson’s story, though not earthshaking in plot or rhyme, is a pleasant way to pass the time leading up to the witching hour (Halloween!) especially when paired with the friendly illustrations by Axel Scheffler. Readers will especially love the final illustration, in which our heroes solve their space problems once and for all.” (Ages 4 to 7) –Emilie Coulter
Jessica’s youngsters are big fans of this book!
“The Little Old Lady. . . is a clever reworking of the classic story of a ghostly body that appears bit by bit (see “What’s the Matter” in Maria Leach’s Whistle in the Graveyard Viking, 1974 ). The humor of the little old lady’s fearless attitude and her clever solution as to what to do with the lively shoes, pants, shirt, pumpkin head, etc., that are chasing her, will enchant young audiences. The catchy refrain never falters, and the rhythmic repeated sounds made by each of the woman’s pursuers are sure to appeal to children. Lloyd’s brilliantly-colored, detailed folk art-style illustrations are a perfect complement to the text. A great purchase for Halloween or any time of the year, and a must for both school and public libraries”. Alice Cronin
Reviewers love this book because it’s “educational, inspirational, and fun”…not so spooky.
“A pinch of modern fairy dust is sprinkled on Halloween traditions in this playful, ghoul- and goblin-free introduction to the holiday. Eve, a young fairy from the All Hallows pumpkin patch, loves candy but is unable to make it—she can only create toys with her magic. Eve determinedly practices her spells, hoping she’ll be able to magic up candy on her birthday, October 31st. During her dress-up birthday party, Eve’s finest attempts yield only candy-shaped toys—such as candy bar blocks, candy cane whistles, and squeaky toy cakes. As her frustration grows, her party guests save the day by visiting all the pumpkins in the patch and collecting candy to fulfill Eve’s wish. Overjoyed by their kindness, Eve gratefully offers the toys she created to her friends. A tale of friendship, cooperation, and self-acceptance, this story also provides health-conscious families and those with specific dietary concerns an alternative way to enjoy the holiday activities.” Amazon
Apparently, 30 years ago this book was a BIG hit and women have been looking for it ever since. It’s a novel that most of them read around ages 8 to 12 and they can’t wait to read it again. Sure has me curious!
“When I was a little girl I loved all books having to do with magic, and especially witches. This book was my all-time favorite. I checked it out of the library so many times that eventually the card in the back was filled up with my signature on both sides!This book is about magic, but it’s also about the power of imagination. The Witch family, all though very real in their own right, have been created out of the mind of little girl who’s mother first introduced her to them. Amy appoints herself caretaker to the witch family, and through the pictures she draws of them she can keep tabs on all that is going on in their world “up on the great glass mountain”.
A benchmark of good children’s literature, this book holds up under the test of time. I have re-read it as an adult and still enjoyed it very much. I can’t wait until my own children are old enough for me to share it with them.” (ages 8 – 12) Amazon Reviewer
A benchmark of good children’s literature, this book holds up under the test of time. I have re-read it as an adult and still enjoyed it very much. I can’t wait until my own children are old enough for me to share it with them.” (ages 8 – 12) Amazon Reviewer
Who didn’t love this book when they were little?? I still have memories of listening to the audio tape for this book over and over and over and over…it’s a timeless classic! Get really animated when you read it, the little ones will LOVE it!
Who needs Twilight when you can have a vampire bunny?!? This is a great little novel for ages 8 and up…reviewers RAVE about it!
This immensely popular children’s story is told from the point of view of a dog named Harold. It all starts when Harold’s human family, the Monroes, goes to see the movie Dracula, and young Toby accidentally sits on a baby rabbit wrapped in a bundle on his seat. How could the family help but take the rabbit home and name it Bunnicula? Chester, the literate, sensitive, and keenly observant family cat, soon decides there is something weird about this rabbit. Pointy fangs, the appearance of a cape, black-and-white coloring, nocturnal habits … it sure seemed like he was a vampire bunny. When the family finds a white tomato in the kitchen, sucked dry and colorless, well … Chester becomes distraught and fears for the safety of the family. “Today, vegetables. Tomorrow … the world!” he warns Harold. But when Chester tries to make his fears known to the Monroes, he is completely misunderstood, and the results are truly hilarious. Is Bunnicula really a vampire bunny? We can’t say. But any child who has ever let his or her imagination run a little wild will love Deborah and James Howe’s funny, fast-paced “rabbit-tale of mystery.” Amazon
I have great memories of this book and have always liked it way better than the author’s other “Scary Stories” (which is for slightly older kids, but the stories in it are really lacking.) I loved the “green ribbon” story where the girl’s head fell off when she untied it! Gross, kinda…but, kids eat that stuff up and this book doesn’t take it over the top.
What books do you and your kids love for Halloween time??
I can attest to the awesomeness of Bunnicula (and its sequels: The Howliday Inn & The Celery Stalks at Midnight). I read them when I was a kid – meaning, that they were originally published when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Anyway, I LOVED that series as a kid. Fun, and just a little scary. Read it!
My kids love making the noises in the Lady Who Wasn’t Afraid of Anything book- thanks for the great list!
Popcorn by Frank Asche was always a favorite Halloween story at our house. My daughter is in college now but this list brought back some fun memories.