Epic Educator Ambassadors share their top picks for Halloween and fall-themed books, perfect for read-alouds, bedtime and inclusive classrooms.
When October hits, classrooms come alive with spooky read-alouds, silly rhymes and not-so-scary monsters. But with so many Halloween books for kids out there, it’s hard to know which ones will actually land with your students (and kids!).
So we asked our Epic Educator Ambassadors to share their favorite scary stories for kids—and why their classes can’t get enough of them.
Whether you’re hunting for a cozy fall read aloud, a not-too-creepy ghost stories book or just a funny monster tale to break up the day, this list has something for every kind of reader. Some titles are on Epic, and some you’ll want to track down at your school or local library!
Favorite Halloween Kids’ Books on Epic
1. Ghoulia: Making New Friends Can Be Scary
By Barbara Cantini
Shared by: Allison Pernas, 1st Grade Teacher
A not-so-scary zombie girl wins hearts and teaches kids that being yourself is the best kind of brave.
“I love Ghoulia: Making New Friends Can Be Scary because it combines a fun spooky theme with a meaningful message about friendship and acceptance. It’s a story my students can relate to, and I enjoy seeing them connect with Ghoulia while also getting excited about reading.”
And there’s more in the Ghoulia series!
2. I Need My Monster
By Amanda Noll
Shared by: Whitney Ramirez, 1st Grade Teacher
Spooky with a silly twist, this bedtime monster tale helps kids talk about fear in a fun way.
“I love reading this book in the month of October! It is a fun way for students to get in the spooky spirit and learn how to be brave just in case they ever run into their own monster!”
A great way to mix fun and emotional learning.
3. Goosebumps Series
By R.L Stine
Shared by: Myesha Colbert-Helm, 3rd Grade ELA Teacher
Classic creepy audiobooks with twists, suspense and just the right amount of chill for older readers.
“I love Goosebumps because I am an 80s baby and I grew up reading these as a child. I love the creepy characters and the plots in the story.”
And we’ve got tons of titles in the series!
4. The Runaway Pumpkin
By Kevin Lewis
Shared by: Hoda Karazi, Kindergarten Teacher
This adventurous pumpkin tale captures young imaginations with its playful pace and vibrant art.
“I love The Runaway Pumpkin because it is a fun and engaging story that captures children’s imagination with its adventurous pumpkin and playful illustrations. The book also encourages curiosity and problem-solving as readers follow the pumpkin’s journey, making it both entertaining and educational.”
A great pick for younger grades!
5. The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
By Linda Williams
Shared by: Kimberly Harden, 4th Grade Teacher
An interactive read-aloud that brings spooky sounds and strong storytelling to life.
“It has good use of language and character traits and other teachable things that align with our 4th grade standards. It is fun for kids to participate while reading. It’s engaging for kids of all ages.”
This classroom favorite is available as an audiobook on Epic, complete with fun narration, music and sound effects!
6. Gustavo, the Shy Ghost
By Flavia Z. Drago
Shared by: Zabrina Hice, 2nd Grade Teacher
A gentle children’s Halloween story with a big heart—and beautiful artwork.
“I love this book because it is a cute picture book by Mexican illustrator Flavia Z. Drago that explores the bravery needed to forge friendships and is ideal for Halloween or any time of year. Its captivating story and artwork make it a delightful read for children.”
Available on Epic as an animated storybook! Add it to your ghost stories book lineup today.
Favorite Halloween Children’s Books You Can Find Online or at Your Local Library
7. Pete the Cat: Falling For Autumn
By James Dean
Shared by: Angela Arnold, 1st/2nd Grade Special Education Teacher
Not every scary story for kids has to be spooky. This cozy tale is perfect for all learners!
“Mostly all of my students are neurodivergent. I also have some students that do not celebrate Halloween for religious reasons. Pete the Cat delivers everytime. The story paints the gentle colors of Autumn, has repetitive rhythms and embraces all the change of a new season.”
While Falling for Autumn isn’t on Epic, Pete the Cat: A Pet for Pete is—and it’s a classroom favorite for feel-good, inclusive storytelling that every kid can enjoy.
8. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat!
By Lucille Colandro
Shared by: Taylor Rimer, Kindergarten–2nd Grade Teacher
This Halloween spin on a beloved rhyme gets big laughs every time.
“My students love this book because it’s funny and repetitive! They’re also familiar with the series. They like the rhymes also!”
9. Creepy Pair of Underwear!
By Aaron Reynolds
Shared by: Caroline Adam, 3rd Grade Teacher & Instructional Technology Coach
Underwear + a spooky glow-in-the-dark story = instant classroom favorite.
“This book is hilarious! Students love that it focuses on underwear, so it’s very engaging even for my multi-lingual learners. This book can also align to several learning standards. It’s a great book to discuss character’s feelings and how characters change from the beginning to the end of the story. It has a very clear problem and solution and the illustrations really add to the mood.”
Not on Epic, but definitely worth adding to your classroom library!
10. Room on the Broom
By Julia Donaldson
Shared by: Veronica Brandau, 1st Grade Teacher
A rhyming, rhythmic ride that kids love to chant along with.
“I love this story because of the rhyming and repetitiveness of the text which is super important at an early childhood age. My students love to follow along and ‘read’ the text with me. It is also such a super fun, cute book!”
Want more children’s Halloween story ideas or fall read-alouds? Browse Epic’s Halloween Collection for even more titles to delight your students (and make your October read-alouds unforgettable). If you’re looking for Halloween activities for your classroom or at home, be sure to check out our blog post highlighting suggestions from Educator Ambassadors—plus some fun downloadables and activity books on Epic.
Happy haunting and happy reading!
Frequently Asked Questions
▶ What are the best Halloween books for kids ages 6-8?
Kids in this age range are just getting into the spooky side of Halloween. We have so many popular books for them, like Ghoulia, Scooby Doo: A Haunted Halloween and Danger Guys. Share these books with your 6-8 year old kid to get them in the Halloween spirit.
▶ What are the best Halloween books for kids ages 9-12?
Many 9-12 year old kids are ready for scarier Halloween books—and we’ve got tons of titles for them to explore. Halloween classic Goosebumps is available as an audiobook complete with spooky sound effects. We also just added The Graveyard Book, an award-winning chapter book by Neil Gaiman. An Unofficial Minecraft Graphic Novel: Into the Mansion: A Spooky Adventure and Wrapped Up: Halloween Comic Fest are also popular.
▶ What are the best Halloween books for kids 5 and under?
For the littlest readers, we want to keep things silly and fun—not spooky or scary. That’s why we’ve curated Halloween books specifically for this age range. Kids 5 and under love My First Dino-Halloween, It’s Halloween What Will We Be and The Pumpkin Book. All three of these books come in Read-To-Me formats, so kids of any age and reading level can enjoy them.
▶ Does Epic have online Halloween activity books?
Yes! Epic has tons of Halloween activity books for kids of all ages. You’ll find everything from crafts and recipes to games and decorations. One of our absolute favorites is the Halloween Boredom Busters book, which features popular Epic Originals characters. Other special mentions go to I Can Make Costumes, Witch Craft and Gruesome Grub.
