Monsters, Vampires, Haunted Houses, and Other Creepy Things: 17 Slightly Scary Halloween Picture Books for Kids

Dracula, Pennywise, The Terrible Trivium … Pig the Monster? Aaron Blabey’s Pig the Pug is back and, this time, the gluttonous goblin is on the trick-or-treat trail. This hilarious Halloween story has Blabey’s signature rhyming text, identifiable illustrations, and the re-readability that he’s known for. A perfect gift for anyone who likes to chuckle and a theme that fits seamlessly with the other Pig the Pug stories. 

A ragtag collection of monsters compete to scare Ethan back into bed in Amanda Noll’s How I Met My Monster, the hilarious prequel to I Need My Monster and Hey, That’s MY Monster. Only Gabe, the little green monster, has what it takes (meaning, the proper drooling and snorting ratio) to gently frighten Ethan into dreamland. 

Another addition to the I Need My Monster series, Hey, That’s MY MonsterI is the delightful monster-under-the-bed story that is both cute and creepy all at the same time! When Ethan’s monster leaves him with a note saying that someone else needs him more, Ethan’s dismayed to find out that his monster left him for HIS SISTER! That simply won’t do. So, Ethan tries to find his sister her own monster, and just as he starts to lose hope, a frighteningly fun tutu-wearing monster shows up! 

The How to Catch series is a huge success, and this addition is no exception! Laughter-inducing and inventive, this book about the monster in the closet will remind readers that not everything is as scary as they seem. But get ready! This book is certain to inspire your young readers to build innovative traps on their own. 

Be careful, your little ones might get some ideas for your next zoo visit after reading this one! The story of baby Dracula at the zoo with his family where he slips out of his stroller to spend the day hanging out with the penguin and trades places (unnoticed by his parents) with a baby penguin, this book is full of the shenanigans that happen behind the backs of caretakers.  

Wiggly teeth ain’t got nothin’ on this vampire. The story of a Young Dracula with a loose (then lost!) tooth, this endearing spin on the classic tale will be the laugh out loud Halloween read of kids’ dreams! I mean, can a vampire only have ONE fang? Young Dracula isn’t sure and tries everything, and his antics are sure to bring out some giggles.  

House just wants to be a home … the problem? She just might be a tiny bit haunted. With spooky vibes, cobwebs, creaky hinges, scritchy windows on windy days, and clanging pipes, it’s hard to imagine a family who isn’t afraid of her. She’ll do her best to be as still as possible to attract a new family. Will House be able to find a family who doesn’t mind being haunted? Read to find out! 

Equal parts spooky and charming, Oliver Jeffers once again puts his brilliance on display in this uniquely creative and ghostly tale that breaks the fourth wall. A natural, yet distinct complement to What We’ll Build and Here We Are, There’s a Ghost in This House is an enchanting twist that everyone should experience. 

A story of friendship, courage, and the most endearing ghost you’ll ever meet. Follow Gustavo’s journey from shy spirit to friendly phantom, all while admiring the original vibrant illustrations. Flavia Z. Drago’s debut is a treat for the eyes and heart leaving you in love with Gustavo all year round. 

This is a story about the not-so-spooky little ghost. Ghosts are usually imagined to be sheets, but this little guy is a quilt. The little ghost feels disappointed that his friends and family zoom around and his quilt is too heavy to keep up. This book is funny and just the cutest addition to our Halloween collection. Will the little ghost have fun this Halloween? 

From Flavia Z. Drago’s ever-expanding, bewitching world of Gustavo comes Leila, The Perfect Witch. With a pinch of perfection, a splash of superbness and a big heap of humility, Leila, The Perfect Witch is a masterful brew of storytelling. Leila’s quest to win the Magnificent Witchy Cake-off is an excellent complement to Gustavo, the Shy Ghost. 

What’s been prepared for you today is … a cauldron full of laugh-out-loud creepiness and seriously spooky storytelling. Casey Lyall and Vera Brosgol concocted a Halloween treat with a shelf life that never expires and will toad-ally satisfy the most discerning palettes. Told through the lens of a television cooking show, a witch tries to incorporate a frog in her recipe, but things don’t go as planned. A Spoonful of Frogs can be paired nicely with the Pig the Pug series, Room on the Broom and Gustavo, the Shy Ghost. 

There’s nothing creepy about carrots… Or is there? Jasper Rabbit helps himself to carrots from Crackenhopper Field morning, noon, and night. But when he starts seeing eerie carrots everywhere, his favorite snack becomes his biggest threat. Is he imagining things? Or are these vexing vegetables really following him? Inspired by the Twilight Zone, Creepy Carrots’ black, white, and orange illustrations are clever, campy, and entirely entertaining. 

Who knew underwear could be creepy? The incredible talent of writer Aaron Reynolds and illustrator Peter Brown come together in this silly picture book. Fans of Creepy Carrots! will love this addition to the series, and children will be waiting on the edge of their seats to see if Jasper Rabbit will overcome his fear of underwear. 

Just when Jasper Rabbit thought all his underwear and carrot conundrums were resolved, misfortune creeps back into his life. Struggling with schoolwork is something that’s very normal — but what would happen if a crayon appeared that magically did the work for you? Surely nothing bad could happen … Creepy Crayon! is the latest installment in Aaron Reynolds’ and Peter Brown’s bestselling Creepy series and the B&N Exclusive Edition features a poster bringing together the Creepy Carrot, Creepy Underwear and the Creepy Crayon! 

Have you ever seen a square pumpkin? Me either. Well, until I picked up The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin. In a pumpkin patch full of square pumpkins, in came Spookley who proves that despite the teasing of all the pumpkins, sometimes being different can save the day. Essentially, Spookley is the Rudolph of Halloween. No tricks here! Just treats! 

Jim Panzee is back and facing his most difficult conundrum yet … what do you do at a sleepover? A perfect addition to the Grumpy Monkey saga, Grumpy Monkey Up All Night is full of hilarious and relatable antics and sure to become a Storytime favorite. And don’t worry — you can read this one before bedtime because everyone will eventually fall asleep.