There’s something about October that makes story time even more magical. The days grow darker, pumpkins glow on doorsteps, and suddenly curling up with a stack of Halloween books feels like the cosiest ritual of the season.

For kids under 8, Halloween can be both thrilling and a little spooky. The right books help strike that balance — celebrating pumpkins, costumes, and friendly ghosts while keeping things light, playful, and full of giggles.

Here are 10 of the greatest Halloween books for children under 8 — plus simple ideas for making reading them even more fun this October.

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🎃 1. Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

A cheerful witch, her cat, and a cast of new animal friends all squeeze onto a broomstick — until it snaps in two! Luckily, teamwork (and a little magic) saves the day.

Why kids love it: The rhyming text is playful and easy to follow, and kids adore the silly chaos of everyone piling onto the broom.

Make it extra fun: Give kids a blanket “broomstick” and have them pile on together while you read. At the “SNAP!” moment, tumble over in giggles.

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👻 2. Ghosts in the House! by Kazuno Kohara

This charming story follows a little witch who moves into a house full of ghosts… but instead of being scared, she puts them to work as curtains and tablecloths!

Why kids love it: The bold black, white, and orange illustrations are simple but captivating.

Make it extra fun: Hang a white sheet over a chair and let kids “capture” their own pretend ghosts while you read.

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👻3. We’re Going on a Ghost Hunt: A Halloween Lift-the-Flap Adventure by Martha Mumford

Join the bunnies from We’re Going on an Egg Hunt as they head out on a spooky (but not too scary) adventure. With rhyming text, playful repetition, and over 30 flaps to lift, little readers can peek behind doors, trees, and windows to discover what’s hiding in the haunted night.

Why kids love it: The lift-the-flap surprises keep even the youngest listeners engaged, and the rhyming chant makes it fun to join in.

Make it extra fun: Read it with torches (flashlights) in a darkened room, and let kids “hunt” for hidden ghost stickers or paper cut-outs around the house after storytime

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🎩 4. Click, Clack, Boo! by Doreen Cronin

The beloved barnyard animals from Click, Clack, Moo are back — this time planning a Halloween party, while Duck tries to spook Farmer Brown.

Why kids love it: It’s funny, familiar, and perfectly silly.

Make it extra fun: After reading, host your own “barnyard party” with animal noises and dance to a Halloween playlist.

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🦇 5. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat! by Lucille Colandro

This Halloween twist on the classic rhyme is goofy, repetitive, and just the right amount of spooky.

Why kids love it: They’ll shout the lines with you after a few pages.

Make it extra fun: Print or draw the items she “swallows” (bat, owl, ghost…) and let kids feed them into a paper “old lady” bag as you read.

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🕷️ 6. Ten Timid Ghosts by Jennifer O’Connell

A witch moves into a haunted house and the ghosts want her gone — but she has tricks up her sleeve.

Why kids love it: It’s a countdown story, which makes it interactive and easy for young readers.

Make it extra fun: Draw 10 little ghosts on sticky notes and peel them off as each ghost disappears in the story.

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🐱 7. Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell

This sweet story follows the life cycle of a jack-o’-lantern — from glowing pumpkin to rotting, then sprouting into new life.

Why kids love it: It’s both magical and science-y, showing how pumpkins grow.

Make it extra fun: After reading, save pumpkin seeds from your jack-o’-lantern and plant them in a cup to watch sprout.

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🍬 8. Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet by Diane deGroat

Gilbert the opossum gets into a Halloween costume mix-up that makes for a funny and slightly embarrassing trick-or-treat night.

Why kids love it: They’ll giggle over the costume mix-up and cheer for Gilbert.

Make it extra fun: Have a silly costume dress-up box ready and let kids try mismatched costumes after reading.

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🕯️ 9. Spooky Pookie by Sandra Boynton

Little Pookie the pig tries on different costumes before deciding which one is just right.

Why kids love it: It’s short, silly, and perfect for toddlers.

Make it extra fun: Let kids try on hats or costume pieces while you read.

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🌙 10. At the Old Haunted House by Helen Ketteman

A rhyming, counting story that introduces kids to all sorts of friendly monsters at a haunted house.

Why kids love it: The rhythm makes it fun to chant along.

Make it extra fun: Make it musical — sing it to the tune of “Over in the Meadow” and let kids join in.

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🧡 Tips for Making Halloween Reading Extra Fun

• Create a reading nook: Toss a blanket over chairs, add flashlights, and call it a “haunted reading cave.”
• Read in costume: Nothing makes a story sillier than reading it while dressed as a witch, bat, or pumpkin.
• Add snacks: Pair Pumpkin Jack with roasted pumpkin seeds, or There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat with a bowl of gummy worms.
• Act it out: Let kids stomp like monsters, flap like bats, or cackle like witches during the story.
• Make it a countdown: Read one Halloween book a night leading up to October 31st as part of your bedtime rhythm.

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🎃 Final Thoughts

Halloween books are more than stories — they’re invitations into giggles, costumes, and cozy evenings together. With the right stack of books, October becomes a month-long celebration of imagination.

And if you’re looking to take the fun even further, don’t miss our Halloween Activity Countdown Tracker in the Spoon & Sky shop — 31 days of crafts, recipes, games, and sensory play to make this season magical (without adding stress).

With markers on the table and joy in the mess,
Lily ✨