Are you looking for some fun books to share with your little ones this spooky season? Read on to discover some great recommendations. If you want more, check back for the next part of this list (soooo many great picture books for Halloween!)
Sammy’s Spooktacular Halloween by Mike Petrik
Does your family love Halloween? No matter how much you love this holiday, it cannot compete with Sammy Loomis’ family. Every year, the Loomis family converts their farm into the neighborhood haunted house, and every member of the family contributes to the spooky mischief and merriment. This year, though, young Sammy wants to be the one in charge, and he has plenty of great haunts and scares he wants to implement to the haunted farm.
What follows is a year of experimentation, much to the dismay of Sammy’s family. Spiders at Thanksgiving, zombies at Christmas, skateboarding skeletons at sleepovers. It’s all a little more than the Loomis family can handle. Eventually, Sammy and his family learn to work together, and by Halloween they build their most “spooktacular” haunted house yet!
For a "spooky" book, there is nothing in Sammy’s Spooktacular Halloween too scary for kids. In fact, Sammy’s idea of Halloween will probably be in-line with the ideas many young Halloween enthusiasts have. The haunted house is fun, and the family demonstrates a positive home life. The artwork is cartoony and active, and kids will love exploring each of Sammy’s concoctions.
Poesy the Monster Slayer by Cory Doctorow, illustrated by Matt
Rockefeller
Poesy is not the best about falling asleep after bedtime. In fact, she’s usually up all night, much to her parents’ dismay. But she has a good reason! There are monsters everywhere, and it's her job to protect her house.
Werewolves, beasts, vampires, and even Frankenstein’s monster all arrive after lights-out, and Poesy (who is well-versed in monster lore) is prepared to defeat each and every one. Meanwhile, her parents are desperate to get some sleep, a difficult request when your daughter is monster-slaying all night long.
An imaginative story very relatable for the parents of young ones with imaginations that get busier after their bedtimes. Poesy is brave and clever, while her parents suffer through a sleep-deprivation their daughter mistakes for zombism. Parents will find no solutions to their troubles here, but kids will enjoy Poesy’s night-time adventures.
Fright Club by Ethan Long
What’s the most terrifying thing you can think of? Is it a vampire, witch, or mummy? Or maybe a cute fluffy bunny? In Fright Club, a group of cute forest animals are determined to join a club of ghosts and ghouls who spend Halloween night frightening humans. But the established monsters are having none of it and bar the creatures from their club. When the animals prove they have what it takes to be scary, the monsters learn that appearances can be deceiving and “when it comes to scaring, the more the merrier.”
A cute story addressing bias, acceptance, community, and Halloween, Fright Club is both funny and engaging. The artwork is cartoony, and the dialogue is mostly given in speech bubbles. While scaring is the game of this club, there is nothing here to give your little ones nightmares. In fact, they are probably going to be laughing the whole time.
Vampenguin by Lucy Roth Cummins
Have you ever noticed that penguins look like little Draculas? After reading Vampenguin, you’ll never be able to un-see the resemblance again.
The Dracula family are looking forward to a Saturday spent at the zoo. While there, they visit all their favorite animals, such as lions, elephants, and penguins. But when they are distracted by the adorable antics of the penguins, their young toddler wanders away. An equally curious penguin takes the toddler’s place in their stroller, with no one wise to the switcheroo.
In loose and colorful illustrations, both the penguin and the toddler experience a day like no other! The penguin sees new animals, enjoys ice cream, and even gets to ride in a stroller. The toddler enjoys some fresh fish, brisk swimming, and making new penguin friends.
Light on text and full of bright artwork, Vampenguin is a fun bedtime or story time read for mischievous young readers who enjoy animals and monsters alike.
Click here for more Halloween fun and check back in a few days for another list of great picture books for your little monsters.
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