Spooky season is back! Below is a list of our favorite diverse picture books for Halloween to help you diversify your read alouds both at home and in the classroom. We hope you enjoy these slightly scary books and we would love for you to comment below with other Halloween themed books you recommend.
Comment below with other new titles to help our readers
find new favorites for their bookshelves at home
and in the classroom!
• Diverse Books for Halloween•
TRICK OR TREATING IN THE CITY
When a little girl can't follow her usual tradition, she turns to her New York City neighbors for help. This is a can't-miss celebration of generosity and community from bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson.
Janelle knows exactly what she wants to be for Halloween, but she has no idea how she'll celebrate—her mommy has to work and can't take her to trick-or-treat in the suburbs, and daddy has to run his store like always. But listening to her friends and neighbors' stories of Halloweens past and present, helps Janelle realize that there may be a way to celebrate the fall-iday that lets her give as much as she gets.
TRICK OR TREATING IN THE CITY
Written by Tiffany D. Jackson and Illustrated by Sawyer Cloud
Published by Dial Books
I GOT THE SPOOKY SPIRIT
It's spooky season! Award-winning creators Frank Morrison and Connie Schofield-Morrison celebrate Halloween with their delightful series.
It's October, and that means it's time to carve pumpkins, hang up spooky decorations, and host a big ghosty dance party!
This girl hears the spooky spirit howling in the windy, misty gloom–SWOOM, SWOOP, SWOOSH! She dances with other ghouls and goblins–MONSTER MASH! She trades candy with her new spooky friend–CRACKLE CRUNCH!
Halloween may only be one night, but she knows the spooky spirit will be back next year.
In this exciting addition to the series including I Got the Rhythm, I Got the Christmas Spirit, and I Got the School Spirit,readers can explore the traditions of another fun holiday!
I GOT THE SPOOKY SPIRIT
Written by Connie Schofield-Morrison and Illustrated by Frank Morrison
Published by Bloomsbury Children's Books
FRANKENSLIME
A young slime scientist is surprised when her latest creation comes to life in Frankenslime, a funny and clever picture book twist on Frankenstein.
Victoria Franken is a slime scientist.
Her experiments lead to amazing slimes. Until, one dark and stormy night, her latest experiment goes awry and her newest creation COMES TO LIFE!
Joy Keller’s clever text and Ashley Belote’s humor-filled art combine to create a fun picture book twist on horror movies like Frankenstein and The Blob, that also explores the scientific method and the importance of recording observations and results. The author has also included a couple of Victoria’s best slime recipes, although you'll notice the secret formula that brought her slime to life is missing.
FRANKENSLIME
Written by Joy Keller and Illustrated by Ashley Belote
Published by Feiwel & Friends
SPOOKYTALE
Discover sweet spook-tacular surprises in SpookyTale, an interactive board book adventure with die-cut pages to peek through and gatefolds to open.
In this Halloween story, follow two children on their way to a haunted house as they travel through the woods, across a swamp, and past creaking gates.
Young readers will delight in the clever die-cut surprises on nearly every spread and the dramatic quadruple gatefold at the end that folds out into a special Halloween surprise.
From Christopher Franceschelli, creator of the Abrams Block Book series, the Abrams Trail Tale series takes readers on unforgettable holiday-themed adventures, with illustrations by Allison Black.
SPOOKYTALE
Written by Christopher Franceschelli and Illustrated by Allison Black
Published by Abrams Books
A UNICORN NAMED SPARKLE AND THE PUMPKIN MONSTER
Lucy and our favorite unicorn are back in Sparkle the Unicorn and the Pumpkin Monster. Lucy and Sparkle love Halloween, especially at Frank's Pumpkin Farm. They get to run through corn mazes, play games, decorate pumpkins, and most importantly: eat a lot of cider donuts.
But Lucy and Sparkle discover one big difference between them — Lucy loves to be scared every once in awhile. Sparkle? Not so much.
When Lucy takes the scary part of Halloween one step too far for Sparkle, she must comfort her frightened unicorn pal — and win back his trust.
A UNICORN NAMED SPARKLE AND THE PUMPKIN MONSTER
Written and Illustrated by Amy Fang
Published by MacMillan Books
THE BOO CREW AND THE PUMPKIN PATCH RESCUE
Fall is here! A fest is planned at Ruby's farm and pumpkin stand.
Guess who's come to lend a hand? It's the Boo Crew!
In this delightful interactive picture book story, kids can save the day at a pumpkin patch! It's the first day of a fall festival at Ruby's farm, but she and her friends aren't ready yet! Luckily the spooky-cute crew of Luna, Bones, and Fang are nearby to help, and so are this book's readers! Following action prompts throughout the story, kids can press apples on the page to make cider, tilt the book to clear autumn leaves, and do so much more! This seasonal read-aloud is perfect for young ones who want to get in on the fall fun!
There's a Halloween book too! Don't miss The Boo Crew Needs YOU!
THE BOO CREW AND THE PUMPKIN PATCH RESCUE
Written by Vicky Fang and Illustrated by Saoirse Lou
Published by Source Books Jabberwocky
KEYANA LOVES HALLOWEEN
It's time to trick-or-treat! Join Keyana and the people she loves as they work to make Halloween a day they'll never forget!
It's Halloween, and Keyana can't wait to have some fun! She's got a great costume–and she plans to show it off, too. But when an eager pup makes a mess of her brother's outfit, Keyana will need a BIG idea–and some help from the people she loves–to save the day and have a truly magical Halloween!
Bestselling author Natasha Anastasia Tarpley's fabulously creative character, Keyana, celebrates the power of creative problem-solving and the joy of working together in this spectacular book.Don't miss the other books in the series!:
Keyana Loves Her Family
Keyana Loves Her Friend
Keyana Loves School
KEYANA LOVES HALLOWEEN
Written by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley and Illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Published by Little Brown Books for Young Readers
LITTLE GHOST MAKES A FRIEND
A shy ghost learns the secret to making friends is being his spooky, sparkly self in this charming debut picture book that’s perfect for fans of Stumpkin.
Little Ghost and his mom have been happily haunting their creaky old house for years, just the two of them. When a new girl moves in next door, Little Ghost wants to introduce himself. But making friends can be scary…until he comes up with the perfect plan: he’s going to invite her over for a Halloween party! But what costume will make her want to be friends with him?
LITTLE GHOST MAKES A FRIEND
Written and Illustrated by Maggie Edkins Willis
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
WHEN PUMPKINS FLY
The air is cold, the nights are long, and Halloween is just around the corner. This is the time of year when pumpkins fly!
In the remote, fly-in community of Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, the last cargo flight of October brings some strange orange guests for the children. Seeing a pumpkin for the first time, the local kids eagerly carve and light their first jack-o-lantern. But when everyone adjourns to the community hall for the Halloween dance, the pumpkin is left alone outside. The land around Sanikiluaq is home to many spirits who love to cause mischief, especially this time of year. But what would a land spirit do with a pumpkin?
This adorable book gives young readers a window into how Halloween is celebrated in an Arctic Inuit community, incorporating contemporary celebrations and Inuit folklore.
WHEN PUMPKINS FLY
Written by Margaret Lawrence and Illustrated by Amiel Sandland
Published by Inhabit Media
IF YOUR BABYSITTER IS A BRUJA
This bouncy, bilingual picture book is an enchanting, rollicking read-aloud for small ones with big imaginations.
On the night before Halloween, a new babysitter might be more than she appears. If she wears a black sombrero and cackles like a crow, she might just be a bruja! One little girl is determined not to fall victim to an evil witch or her cats. She knows bath time is really the bruja's way of putting her in a boiling cauldron, and the only way to keep her at bay is with a magic potion–or is it?
With a boundless imagination and plenty of tricks up her sleeve, the young protagonist may just have the best night ever!
IF YOUR BABYSITTER IS A BRUJA
Written by Ana Siqueira and Illustrated by Irena Freitas
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Bonus: Halloween FUN!
Let’s make ZOMBIE EYEBALLS for HALLOWEEN!
Recipe inspired by IF YOUR BABYSITTER IS A BRUJA
HALLOWEEN IS COMING!
A fun, rhyming read-aloud Halloween picture book that starts a new holiday tradition. Perfect for kids 4-8 or any young child wanting to celebrate the spookiest season of the year!
Marching in the school parade
in frightening costumes that we've made;
Look around, the signs are clear,
Halloween is getting near!Halloween is Coming is a lyrical celebration of the building excitement that children–and adults!–feel as the magical and mysterious night of Halloween approaches.
HALLOWEEN IS COMING!
Written by Cal Everett and Illustrated by Lenny Wen
Published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
A COSTUME FOR CHARLY
Trick-or-treat! Non-binary Charly must think outside the box to create the perfect Halloween costume: one that represents both their feminine and masculine sides.
Halloween is always tricky for Charly, and this year they are determined to find a costume that showcases both the feminine and masculine halves of their identity. Digging through their costume box, they explore many fun costumes. Some are masc. Some are femme. Some are neither. But all are lacking. As trick-or-treating looms, they must think outside the box to find the perfect costume–something that will allow them to present as one hundred percent Charly.
A COSTUME FOR CHARLY
Written by C. K. Malone and Illustrated by Alejandra Barajas
Published by Beaming Books
ONE GOOD NIGHT ‘TIL HALLOWEEN
Celebrate Halloween in a special way with this bright, joyful board book.
The day is almost here! It's only “one more good night” until Halloween. As a child goes to sleep, they can't wait for all the fun that comes with celebrating their favorite holiday with their loved ones. They know the next day will be filled with the best Halloween decorations, treats, and costumes! Experience familial traditions in this sweet holiday primer.
ONE GOOD NIGHT ‘TIL HALLOWEEN
Written by Frank J. Berrios and Illustrated by Debby Rahmalia
Published by Hachette Kids
AMARA AND THE BATS
Environmental activism gets a nocturnal twist in this utterly charming picture book about a young girl and her mission to save the bats!
Amara loves bats! Her favorite thing to do is to collect bat facts and watch the amazing mammals fly at night by her house. But when Amara moves to a new town, she learns that her beloved bats no longer roost nearby because so many trees are being cut down.
Amara is upset. What can she do to help? She's just one person, and the problem feels so much bigger than her. But after doing some research, she discovers that there are many young people making big changes all around the world. Inspired to take action, Amara gathers her new friends to help save the bats. Together, she knows they can make a difference!
Emma Reynolds crafts an inspiring story about community action, perseverance, and what to do in the face of climate anxiety. At its heart, this is a story about hope and finding a place to call home.
AMARA AND THE BATS
Written and Illustrated by Emma Reynolds
Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Love this list and want more Halloween recommendations? Check out this resource:
5 Diverse Picture Books for Halloween
Diverse Books and Crafts for Halloween
KidLit Arts and Crafts for Halloween
Bethany Edwards is an elementary educator as well as a reading and literacy
specialist. On Biracial Bookworms, she focuses on multiracial and multicultural resources for teaching literacy skills using reading, travel, and learning multiple languages. Additionally, she offers online and self-paced courses for parents and caregivers on Biracial Bookworms Academy.
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