Welcome to the Read Aloud Classroom where we’re making picture books work for you even with a packed schedule. Hi, I’m Sarah, an educator who believes in the power of read alouds to transform your teaching without adding to our already full plates.
Happy October, everyone! Can you believe we’re already deep into spooky season? I don’t know about you, but Halloween always brings out this extra spark of excitement in my students—and honestly, in me too! There’s something magical about this time of year that makes even the most reluctant readers perk up when they see a good Halloween book.
So today, I’m sharing some fantastic Halloween picture books that’ll have your students completely captivated. Most of these are brand new releases from the past year or so, which means you might not have discovered them yet! And the best part? These aren’t just “cute Halloween books”—they’re stories that’ll give you rich discussion opportunities, perfect character connections, and those magical read aloud moments we all treasure.
Now, if you’re looking for even more Halloween and fall book suggestions, definitely check out episode 47 where I shared tons of seasonal favorites. That episode also includes specific lesson ideas to teach with each book, so it’s like getting a mini curriculum guide along with your book recommendations!
Before we dive in, remember that all these titles and links will be in the show notes, so you can just sit back, listen, and dream about which ones you want to add to your Halloween collection!
Let’s start with one that absolutely melted my heart—“Nightsong” by Ari Berk with gorgeous illustrations by Loren Long. Oh my goodness, this book! It follows little Chiro, a young bat, on his very first solo flight into the night. His mother sends him off with these beautiful words: “Sense is the song you sing out into the world, and the song the world sings back to you.”
I love this because it’s not your typical spooky Halloween story—it’s actually this tender coming-of-age tale about finding your way in the world and always being able to find your way home. The illustrations are absolutely stunning, and I can already picture the rich conversations you’ll have about courage, growing up, and family connections. Plus, it’s a perfect introduction to echolocation if you want to sneak in some science learning!
Next up is “The Ghost Who Was Afraid of Everything” by debut author Nadia Ahmed. Can we talk about how relatable this little ghost is? Poor Finn gets that swoopy stomach feeling we all know so well—he’s afraid of everything from the color orange to trees to even flying! But when he realizes he needs to overcome his fears to get his favorite Halloween candy, he starts taking small, brave steps.
This book is pure gold for those conversations about courage and facing our fears. I love how it shows Finn taking incremental steps rather than just magically becoming brave overnight. Your students who struggle with anxiety or new situations will see themselves in Finn, and it opens up such beautiful opportunities to discuss coping strategies.
If you’re looking for something with that classic Halloween countdown vibe, “10 Spooky Pumpkins” by Gris Grimly is absolutely perfect! Picture this: a little scarecrow exploring the countryside, discovering spooky pumpkins, black cats, screeching bats—you know, all the Halloween goodness our kids love. The rhymes are fantastic for fluency practice, and Grimly’s watercolor illustrations are just stunning.
What I adore about this one is how it builds to this joyful celebration under the harvest moon where all the creatures come together to dance. It’s got that perfect balance of slightly spooky but ultimately cozy and celebratory. Perfect for those students who like their Halloween with just a tiny bit of scary!
“I Got The Halloween Spirit” by Connie Schofield-Morrison with illustrations by Frank Morrison continues their delightful holiday series. This girl is dancing with ghouls and goblins, trading candy, and basically embodying everything we love about Halloween enthusiasm! The rhythm and movement in this book make it perfect for getting your wiggly students engaged.
The Morrisons always capture that pure joy of childhood celebrations, and this one’s no different. I can already picture students wanting to act out the monster mash dance moves! It’s also wonderful for discussing Halloween traditions and what makes holidays special to different families.
Here’s one that’ll have your students giggling: “Fright Club” by Ethan Long. The members of Fright Club—Vladimir the Vampire, Fran K. Stein, Sandy Witch, and Virginia Wolf—are all ready for Operation Kiddie Scare. But then some adorable little critters want to join their scary club!
This book is hilarious and perfect for those discussions about inclusion and what it really means to be scary or brave. Your students will love the clever character names, and it’s got great potential for creative writing extensions. Plus, who doesn’t love a good plot twist about what really makes someone scary?
“It’s Almost Time for… Halloween” by Maisha Oso captures that building excitement we all feel as Halloween approaches. The story follows various preparation activities—decorating, costume-making, pumpkin carving—but here’s the fun part: not everyone in the story recognizes that Halloween is coming!
This interactive element is perfect for developing those inference and prediction skills. Your students will be practically bouncing out of their seats, wanting to tell the characters what they’re missing! It’s like a literary scavenger hunt where kids get to be the detectives.
“Evelyn Witch Gets a Pet” by Beth Ferry is absolutely adorable and perfect for connecting to your research and problem-solving lessons. Poor Evelyn has everything a witch needs except a pet. When she can only afford a mystery egg, she has to be patient and wait for it to hatch. But when patience isn’t enough, she heads straight to the library!
I love, love, love that this witch solves her problems by going to the library to research solutions. It’s such a beautiful way to reinforce the value of books and research skills. Plus, the mystery element will keep your students completely engaged, wondering what’s going to hatch from that egg!
“Griselda Snooks Spectacular Books” by Barry Timms is like a love letter to bookstores and reading. Henry steps into this amazing Halloween-themed bookstore, convinced he won’t find the right book for him. But with help from the mysterious Magenta Screech, he might just discover something perfect.
This one practically begs for extension activities! You could create your own classroom bookstore, have students write reviews of their favorite spooky books, or even design covers for imaginary Halloween books. It’s celebration of finding the right book at the right time—something we as teachers know is pure magic.
“Boo the Library Ghost” by Becky Paige combines Halloween fun with a beautiful message about the joy of reading. Boo spends his time haunting the library, scaring everyone away with his shadow-casting and book-throwing antics. But brave Poppy refuses to leave—she just wants to read in peace! When she realizes Boo just wants to learn to read too, everything changes.
This book will resonate so deeply with your book-loving students, and it’s perfect for discussing how reading can transform us. Plus, libraries and ghosts? Your students will eat this up! It’s also wonderful for those conversations about looking beyond someone’s behavior to understand what they really need.
Finally, “Trick or Treating in the City” by Tiffany D. Jackson offers a fresh perspective on Halloween traditions. When Janelle can’t follow her usual trick-or-treating routine because both her parents have to work, she discovers new ways to celebrate Halloween right in her New York City neighborhood.
This book is so important for showing that there are many ways to celebrate traditions and that community comes in all forms. It’s perfect for discussions about adaptability, community support, and how we can create our own special traditions when circumstances change.
Wow, what a fantastic collection of Halloween books, right? From tender coming-of-age stories to laugh-out-loud adventures, there’s truly something here for every classroom mood and every type of reader.
What I love most about these books is that they’re not just fun Halloween reads—they’re rich with opportunities for meaningful discussions, character connections, and those beautiful teaching moments that happen naturally when we share great literature with our students.
I’d love to hear which ones you’re most excited to try! Drop me a message on Instagram @thecolorfulapple and let me know which Halloween books end up casting a spell on your classroom.
If you found today’s episode helpful, I’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe to the podcast and leave a positive review. This helps other teachers discover our little community here in the Read Aloud Classroom.
Next week, we’re diving into something I know so many of you have asked about—picture books that make math concepts come alive! I’ll be sharing some fantastic books that transform those tricky math lessons into engaging read aloud experiences. You definitely won’t want to miss it!
Thanks for joining me today in the Read Aloud Classroom. All the book links are waiting for you in the show notes at thecolorfulapple.com, and don’t forget to connect with me on Instagram @thecolorfulapple. Happy Halloween season, and I’ll see you next week!
