Megan Mabee has been filling notebooks with her story ideas and favorite book quotes since she first began reading. She enjoys board gaming, rewatching Miyazaki movies, and building Legos with her preschooler. Megan holds a Master of Library and Information Studies degree from UNC Greensboro and a Public Librarian Certification. Megan has worked in a college bookstore and high school library, and she now loves talking books in the public library where she works and as a Bibliologist at TBR: Tailored Book Recommendations.
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been the type to get easily scared. Maybe it’s because I’m prone to nightmares, or I have an overactive imagination. Or possibly my tendency to catastrophize started at an early age. In any case, I have often steered clear of the horror genre. While I did go through a brief, rebellious period in my teens where I watched some scary films, for the most part, I’ve remained one of those people who close their eyes and cover their ears during horror movies. When it comes to Halloween, though, I do love this season of scares. The fall decor and treats, the movie marathons on TV, and the prospect of taking my kiddo trick-or-treating make it a holiday I look forward to every year. Of the Halloween books I read with my son, I’ve found the cute and silly ones to be the ones we like best. We want the Halloween aesthetic minus the scares!
With this in mind, I’ve gathered together a list of cute and silly Halloween books for kids. These books focus on themes of shyness, bravery, belonging, and connection. They will make you laugh, squeeze your heart, and get you excited for the Halloween season ahead! What’s your favorite Halloween book to read with kids?
7 Cute and Silly Halloween Reads for Kids
Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago
This sweet Halloween read for kids is one of my favorites. Gustavo is just about the cutest ghost of all time, and his shyness makes him an endearing character. Written and illustrated by Mexican artist Flavia Z. Drago, the story follows Gustavo as he struggles to make friends. As the Day of the Dead arrives, Gustavo decides to invite new friends to his violin concert. Themes of loneliness, feeling left out, and connecting with others make this a heartwarming and relatable read. After this one, check out Drago’s other delightful books from the world of Gustavo, including Leila, the Perfect Witch and Vlad, the Fabulous Vampire!
Ghost Afraid of the Dark by Sara Conway, Illustrated by Alex Willmore
Speaking of cute ghosts, this sweet story by Sara Conway stars a little ghost named Boo. While Boo discovers he’s afraid of many things (same, Boo), he’ll try to be brave so he can celebrate his first Halloween with his monster friends! With a glow-in-the-dark cover, this Halloween book for kids makes for a great bedtime story, too!
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Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, Pictures by Peter Brown
My son and I find the Creepy Carrots series by Aaron Reynolds so funny! The whole series, including this one, Creepy Pair of Underwear, and Creepy Crayon, are go-to reads for us every Halloween. It’s the perfect blend of light horror and silly humor that allows kids to enjoy the fun of being scared without feeling too scared and softened with a nice buffer of comic relief. Jasper Rabbit loves eating carrots, especially the ones from Crackenhopper Field. That is, until the day he starts to wonder if some creepy carrots may be following him!
Skeletina and the In-Between World by Susie Jaramillo
Written and illustrated by award-winning Venezuelan-American author Susie Jaramillo, this gorgeous picture book aims to help kids feel less afraid of scary dreams. As someone who often gets nightmares, this is exactly the kind of book I needed as a kid. The story follows courageous and fun Skeletina, who leads kids through a dreamland called the in-between world, where the living and the dead intermingle. Skeleton teaches kids how to use their imagination to turn scary dreams into fun adventures instead!
The Scariest Book Ever by Bob Shea
When it comes to funny kids’ books, you can’t go wrong with books by Bob Shea. My son and I have a particular soft spot for Chez Bob, too. This silly Halloween book for kids boasts that it’s the scariest book ever, but as you progress through the pages, you’ll be accompanied by a nervous ghost narrator and come across jump scares that turn out to be pretty cute creatures instead. That’s my kind of scary read!
So Not Ghoul by Karen Yin, Illustrated by Bonnie Lui
This heartfelt, supernatural tale by Karen Yin finds Mimi haunting a new school and wearing a Chinese gown inherited from one of her ancestors. Mimi feels pressured by her family about what to wear and decides to design a new look for herself. This sweet story celebrates bicultural pride, and the ghostly characters make it a great Halloween read, too.
Fitz and Cleo by Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox
Ghost siblings Fitz and Cleo have the most charming dynamic, with Cleo as the fun, high-energy one, and Fitz as the moody, science-minded one, who often gets coaxed into Cleo’s silly schemes. Things get even cuter and funnier when the two decide to adopt a cat. This ghost graphic novel series definitely makes for my kind of ghost story on Halloween.
One Final Treat…
Looking for more cute and silly Halloween books for kids? Try these Children’s Books That Will Keep the Halloween Spirit Alive All Year Long! Happy Halloween, readers!
English (US) · 