20 Delightfully Spooky Halloween Picture Books

Jasper Rabbit was having trouble in school, but when he found a perfect, purple crayon, he soon found that his luck was going to change. When writing with his new purple crayon, Jasper got all the right answers, but is the magical crayon as good as it seems? After deciding to give the crayon a break, things began to get creepy.  Will Jasper give in to the crayon or figure out how to do things on his own?

A little old lady went for a walk in the woods to find an array of mysterious objects that moved and made noise all on their own. Determined to make it home, the lady declared that she is not afraid of these objects, but picks up the pace with each new item that shows up. Startled by a large pumpkin with a spooky greeting, she runs home. When someone knocks on her door, can she face her fears?

Everyone knows that ghosts are sheets, but this little ghost was a quilt, and he didn’t know why. Unable to do the things that the other ghosts could do, the little ghost felt defeated and didn’t like being different. On Halloween, the little ghost is mistaken for an actual quilt and taken home with a little girl. What will the little ghost do? Can differences actually be a good thing?

Oscar was a long dog. Some of the other dogs called him wiener dog which he did not like. Normally these nicknames would bother him, but today was Halloween and Oscar couldn’t wait to dress up in the spookiest costume. Unfortunately, his mom already had one for him, a giant hot-dog bun. The other dogs made fun of his silly costume and Oscar’s slow pace caused him to miss out on all the treats. When a monster jumps out to attack the dogs, Oscar sees something that his friends don’t. Can he save the day?

This delightful rhyming picture book tells the story of a kind witch and her cat who fly through the sky on a broomstick. When she starts dropping items, a few animal friends come along to help her and tag along for a ride. Despite the broom becoming crowded, the witch welcomes them all. When a dragon threatens the witch, her new friends band together to save her.

With mostly black pages with extra bold words, this “picture book” is a fun introduction to spooky stories. The book follows two brothers who hear creepy noises through the night, but the suspense is broken with silly twists, funny creatures, and surprises that keep kids giggling instead of frightened. With its lighthearted tone, this picture book turns fear into fun, encouraging children to be brave and laugh at what once seemed scary.

The Crayons are back in this charming Halloween-themed picture book. Each dressed in a unique costume, matching their colors and personality, the crayons are ready to go trick-or-treating. But what exactly are you supposed to say when someone opens the door? Get ready for lots of giggles as the crayons figure out what phrases work and which ones don’t on Halloween night.

After eating them constantly as a child, Rebecca Estelle is not a fan of pumpkins. One day, when a pumpkin falls off a truck and splatters in her yard, something surprising happens, dozens of pumpkin vines grow the next year. At first Rebecca is frustrated, but she decides not to let them go to waste. She bakes, carves, and shares her pumpkin creations with the whole town. Her generosity brings the community together and changes her feelings about pumpkins.

Although not technically a Halloween picture book, this glow-in-the-dark rhyming book is perfect for the spooky season. The story begins with a character who encounters a pair of pale green pants with nobody inside them. Initially terrified, he repeatedly runs away from the mysterious pants and tries to avoid him at all costs. However, when the pants are found crying, he soon realizes they are just as scared as he is. With playful language and illustrations, this book is a great example of overcoming fear through understanding.

Featuring the beloved character Mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, the story follows Mouse as he decorates seven pumpkins for Pumpkin Day. Each pumpkin displays a different facial expression, showing emotions like happy, sad, etc. With colorful illustrations and minimal text, the book is ideal for toddlers and preschoolers. It encourages creativity, emotional awareness, and seasonal celebration, making it ideal for fall and Halloween reading.

Everyone’s favorite Big Red Dog and his owner, Emily, are celebrating Halloween together. They love holidays and with costume parties, trick-or-treating, and pumpkin carving, they are set to have the best Halloween. However, with Clifford’s large size, it’s always a little tricky finding the perfect costume. What do you think he should be?

Pete the Cat is back for this Halloween-themed lift-the-flap picture book. In this story, Pete dresses up in a superhero costume and goes trick-or-treating with his dad and friends. As they walk through the neighborhood, Pete feels a little nervous about some spooky sights, but with each flap, he sees that it’s never what it seems. In the end, there are no tricks, just sweet surprises.

A fun twist on Clement C. Moore’s popular Christmas poem, The Night Before Halloween, is set on Halloween Eve following a group of monsters who are preparing for the big night. Using playful rhymes, the book describes how the monsters decorate their haunted house, plan tricks, and make their spooky disguises just right. But what will happen when the trick-or-treaters realize the monsters aren’t in costume? You’ll have to read it to find out!