Halloween Picture Books for Kids

Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links. Learn More.

I just love Halloween. When I was a kid, we had the best class parties. We would all dress up and then the school would have a Halloween parade around the whole school. Down the halls and on all the floors. The best costumes were in the parade and the rest of the kids watched.

You didn’t lose eithe way because watching was fun!

Books were also an important part of the holiday. There is just something extra fun about spooky witches and beautiful pumpkins that make reading extra fun this time of the year.

I’m thrilled to share with you some beautiful halloween picture books for kids that would be perfect for a child in your life this Halloween!

Halloween Picture Books for Kids

How to Catch a Witch by Alice Walstead

It’s Halloween night, but something spooky is in the air! When the How to Catch Kids head out for trick-or-treating, they find the streets full of ghosts, goblins, and ghouls. Before long, they realize a witch flying on her broom has opened a magical portal, letting all sorts of creepy creatures escape into the neighborhood. Join in the fun as the kids dream up wild and clever traps to catch the witch, close the portal, and save Halloween before the candy disappears!

How to Catch a Witch is a hilarious and imaginative story that mixes Halloween excitement with STEAM-inspired fun. It’s the perfect gift or treat for little readers ages 3–7 who love a good Halloween adventure!

You’ve been waiting all year to go trick-or-treating with your friends—
But watch out, a witch is on the loose! Let’s catch her before the night ends!

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

The witch and her cat are having the best time soaring through the night sky on their trusty broom—until things start to go wrong! First her hat blows away, then her bow, and finally her wand. Luckily, three kind animals come to the rescue, finding each lost item and returning it to her. In gratitude, the witch offers each one a ride on her broom. But soon a question arises—can everyone really fit? And when danger appears in the form of a fierce dragon, will the new friends be able to save the witch in time?

Full of humor, heart, and beautiful illustrations, Room on the Broom is a delightful story that families will love reading together year after year.

5 More Sleeps Till Halloween by Jimmy Fallon

The thrill of spooky season is something everyone looks forward to—costumes, candy, and plenty of scares! But why not make the final countdown to Halloween even more fun by keeping track of how many sleeps are left until trick-or-treat night?

With Rich Deas’s wonderfully eerie illustrations and Jimmy Fallon’s signature humor, 5 More Sleeps ‘til Halloween captures all the excitement of the days leading up to the big night. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the most delightfully chilling week of the year!

Monster Need a Costume by Paul Czajak

Halloween is just around the corner, and Monster has a big decision to make—what should he dress up as this year? With so many choices—a firefighter, a ballerina, a cowboy, even a ninja—it’s hard to pick just one! In this fun, rhyming tale, Monster reminds young readers that being imaginative and brave enough to try something different can lead to the best kind of surprises.

Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht

Head to the pumpkin patch and choose your favorite—tall and skinny, short and round, bright orange, snowy white, or even speckled green. One of them is bound to be just right!

With lyrical, read-aloud verses and charming vintage-style illustrations, author Patricia Toht and illustrator Jarvis perfectly capture the warmth and excitement of a beloved fall tradition. Follow along as families pick their pumpkins, sip cider, snack on toffee apples, and turn their perfect find into a glowing jack-o’-lantern—celebrating every joyful step of the season’s most magical ritual.

I have the list below and if you want a library checklist to take to the library with you, sign up in the box below to sign up for my email list and the list will come straight to your inbox.

The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky by Jory John

Halloween is the Bad Seed’s absolute favorite time of year—but there’s just one problem: he doesn’t have the perfect costume! And if he can’t find one worthy of the big night, well… he might just have to delay trick-or-treating for everyone!

Will the Bad Seed pull it together before Halloween begins, or will his naughty side make a comeback?

Full of humor, heart, and the signature wit of Jory John and Pete Oswald, this laugh-out-loud addition to the Food Group series is a treat that readers of all ages will enjoy.

How to Haunt a House by Carolyn Crimi

Groana, Moana, and Shrieky are three mischievous little ghosts learning how to give the perfect scare! They practice by stomping through halls, startling pets, and slamming toilet lids. Everything seems to be going great—until they meet a family that isn’t scared at all. In fact, this family loves the ghostly chaos, from the bats to the rats!

Now the ghosties have to get creative. Can they come up with a fright so clever it finally gives this fearless family a scare? Sometimes it takes a little thinking outside the coffin to make Halloween magic happen!

The Little Ghost who was a Quilt by Riel Nason

Ghosts are usually light and airy—soft sheets that twirl, whirl, and float with ease. But one little ghost is different. He’s made of patchwork quilt squares, and no matter how hard he tries, he can’t spin or soar like the others. When he flies, he even gets warm instead of cool!

He doesn’t understand why he’s not like everyone else. His parents are sheets, his friends are sheets—even his great-grandmother, who was a lace curtain, doesn’t make him feel any better. Feeling left out and discouraged, he wishes he could be just like the other ghosts.

But everything changes one magical Halloween night. The little ghost discovers that being a quilt makes him special—and that sometimes our differences are exactly what make us shine.

Little Blue Truck’s Halloween by Alice Schertle

Beep! Beep! It’s Halloween night, and Little Blue Truck is on the move—gathering all his animal friends for a big costume party!

Lift the flaps in this sturdy board book to see who’s hiding under each disguise. What costumes will the animals wear—and will Blue join in the fun too?

Creepy Crayon by Aaron Reynolds

Jasper Rabbit is having a rough time at school—his spelling tests are a mess, and his math grades are downright scary. But everything changes the day he spots something unusual in the gutter: a purple crayon. Pointy. Perfect. And strangely… cheerful.

At first, the crayon seems like a dream come true. Suddenly, Jasper’s grades are amazing, his homework is flawless, and school has never been easier. But before long, things start to feel off. The crayon is showing up everywhere—and it’s not taking “no” for an answer. Now Jasper has to figure out how to get rid of his clingy, color-crazed companion before it completely takes over!

There’s a Ghost in This House by Oliver Jeffers

A little girl lives in a house that everyone says is haunted—but she’s never actually seen a ghost! What do they look like? Are they white with holes for eyes? Are they see-through? Join her as she searches every corner of her creaky old house—under the stairs, behind the couch, even up in the attic—in hopes of finding one.

From New York Times bestselling creator Oliver Jeffers comes a clever, interactive picture book that invites readers right into the story. With special tracing paper pages that reveal the ghosts as you turn the page, this delightful read is full of humor, imagination, and Halloween spirit!

Cats Night Out by Caroline Stutson

From a duo of waltzing cats to a conga line of twenty, these lively felines fill the streets, rooftops, and fire escapes with rhythm and fun. This delightful picture book combines counting with a playful introduction to music and dance. Told in short, catchy rhymes and paired with bold, energetic illustrations from a rising DreamWorks animator, it’s a perfect read-aloud story that captures the magic of one unforgettable night on Easy Street—when two cats start to move to the beat and the whole neighborhood joins in.

The Halloween Tree by Susan Montanari

Say hello to The Halloween Tree! This grouchy, twisted tree soon learns that standing out is something to be proud of.

While most young trees dream of being decorated for Christmas, this grumpy old tree finds a new purpose—and shows children and parents alike that being different can be wonderful. With humor, heart, and just the right touch of spooky fun, this picture book shares an uplifting message about self-acceptance.

A perfect, not-too-scary pick for the Halloween season, The Halloween Tree is a favorite among teachers and librarians for fall storytimes.

Make this autumn one to remember—bring home The Halloween Tree and start a new family Halloween tradition you’ll cherish every year.

It’s Halloween by Jack Prelutsky

Thirteen playful poems to add extra fun and fright to everyone’s favorite spooky holiday.

Dorrie’s Magic by Patricia Coombs

Dorrie was trying to whip up a little magic to help her clean her messy room.
“Abracadabra, skittery doo!” she chanted, tipping some blue liquid into a bowl.

“Stop!” shouted Cook. “Stop right now!”

“Stop what? What’s wrong?” Dorrie asked, puzzled.

Cook stomped her foot and waved a spoon in the air. “Three white ducks—that’s what’s wrong! They’re swimming around in my soup pot!”

But Cook’s warning came too late. Dorrie’s spell was already in motion, and everything was going haywire. The only thing Dorrie could think to do was add a little more of everything to her magical mix and hope for the best.

Harry’s Spooky Surprise by n.g.k.

The third installment in the beloved Harry the Happy Mouse series, Harry’s Spooky Surprise takes place on Halloween night.

When Harry sets out after dark to visit his friends and gather a few special items, he discovers there’s nothing to fear about the nighttime after all. Along the way, he also learns an important lesson about gratitude and the power of saying “thank you.”