Books to Scare and Delight Kids (for Halloween)

Not all kids like scary stories so this list isn't for everyone, but if the children in your life are the type who like to read and re-read creepy tales while giggling uncontrollably, these are some books they might love:

For the youngest readers (mildly scary):

The Dark by Lemony Snicket - Snicket and illustrator Jon Klassen transform darkness from something to fear into something to understand and even befriend.

Go Away, Big Green Monster! - Die-cut pages let children literally dismantle a monster piece by piece, giving them complete control over something that might otherwise seem frightening.

The Monster at the End of this Book - Grover's escalating panic about the monster waiting at the end is hilarious, and the reveal teaches kids that fear of the unknown is often worse than the reality.

The Gruffalo - A clever mouse invents a terrifying monster to scare off predators, only to discover the Gruffalo is real—but not quite as scary as advertised.

There's a Nightmare in My Closet - Mercer Mayer's classic shows a boy confronting his closet monster and discovering it's more scared than scary, crying until comforted with a teddy bear.

The Scary Book - Thierry Dedieu's board book deconstructs scary things interactively

Georgie - While long out of print Robert Bright's stories of a gentle ghost are worth finding.

For kids who enjoy a good scare:

"What Was I Scared Of?" by Dr. Seuss is a story in the Sneetches and other Stories. In it, pair of empty pale green pants haunts the narrator through increasingly creepy encounters until fear gives way to an unexpected friendship.

The Widow's Broom by Chris Van Allsburg - Van Allsburg's mysterious tale of a witch's broom that falls from the sky combines his signature eerie illustrations with a story about prejudice and supernatural revenge. All of Chris Van Allsburg's books are wonderful and mysterious, but if you're looking for creepy, The Wretched Stone is another one to consider.

The Charles Addams Mother Goose - The creator of The Addams Family illustrates classic nursery rhymes with his deliciously macabre sensibility, revealing the darkness already lurking in traditional tales.

The Skull by Jon Klassen- Klassen's spare, haunting illustrations tell a fairy tale about a girl who discovers that the skull warning her of danger is kinder than it first appears.

Ghosts! Ghostly Tales from Folklore- Alvin Schwartz collects authentic American ghost stories and presents them with respect for both the folklore tradition and young readers' intelligence.

My Dead Bunny: A Zombie Rabbit Tale by Sigi Cohen - When a boy's pet bunny claws its way out of the grave, their friendship continues—eyeball dangling and all—in this sweet, gruesome celebration of undying love.

Into the Goblin Market by Vicki Vansickle - Based on Christina Rossetti's eerie Victorian poem, this adaptation captures the strange allure and danger of goblin merchants selling enchanted fruit.

Teacher from the Black Lagoon series- Mike Thaler's series turns childhood anxieties about terrifying teachers and gym class into hilariously exaggerated nightmares that always turn out better than expected.

Miss Nelson is Missing! by Harry Allard - When sweet Miss Nelson disappears and the witch-like Miss Viola Swamp takes over, Room 207's worst-behaved students learn to appreciate kindness through fear.

Guess What? by Mem Fox - A seemingly innocent guessing game takes an unexpected turn when the reveal shows that even the witch has someone who loves her.

Alfred Hitchcock's Ghostly Gallery: Eleven Spooky Stories for Young People - Classic ghost stories with spooky illustrations. This one is for older readers.

Grandpa's Ghost Stories - Come for the scare, stay for the funny/creepy illustrations.