The Best Halloween Books for Preschoolers
I was never a huge Halloween person. But now that I’m a mom- getting out our huge stack of Hallween books every year might be one of my favorite moments of the year! These are some of my favorite books that I’ve EVER read to my daughters- Halloween themed or not. So here’s our pirck of the absolute best Halloween books for preschoolers- ones that I look forward all year to reading again and again.
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Rhyming Halloween Books
EEK! Halloween! by Sandra Boynton
Yes- I’m starting off with a board book geared towards babies and toddlers. And yes, I initially bought it when by girls were babies and toddlers. BUT it is so beloved by my preschooler AND they’re so great for working on preschool reading skills that I included it here.
Eek! Halloween! is the first book my daughter had completely memorized and that she could fully recite. It’s an easy rhythm to pick up and is great for helping preschoolers identify basic rhyming sounds.
It’s also great for introducing double letter sounds such as “oo” and “ee” to preschoolers (which I include in my Halloween preschool activities here).
But most importantly, in true Sandra Boynton fashion, it’s hilarious. I never get tired of reading it- they never get tired of listening to it. It’s a must have.
It’s available on Amazon here.
Room on the Broom
If you love The Gruffalo, you’ll like Room on the Broom. The ryhming scheme of this book makes it a great one to read aloud.
A witch is trying to fit all sorts of different friends on her broom as she flies. It’s just a touch spooky but mostly funny.
This is also a little bit of a longer read, but the cadence keeps the book clipping along. This can be great if you’re trying to build up attention spans with slightly longer books.
(Do I think The Grufflao is better? Yes. But this is still a great rhyming Halloween book.)
It’s available on Amazon here.
Picture Halloween Books for Preschoolers
Duck and Goose Honk! Quack! Boo!
We love the Duck and Goose books, but of all of them, this is our ABSOLUTE FAVORITE. It is absolutely perfect. Duck and Goose prepare to go trick or treating. Goose is characterstically nervous about Halloween being too spooky while Duck is happily oblivious to Goose’s anxieties.
This illustrations are beautiful and cozy; the story is funny and sweet. This is one that I catch myself lookng through even when my kids aren’t around! 10/10.
It’s available on Amazon here.
The Crayons Trick or Treat
If you’re familiar with The Day the Crayons Quit, then you have a good idea of what to expect from this one! The crayons are trying to figure out how to go trick or treating and can’t get it quite right. I don’t want to spoil it- but the first time I read this aloud I couldn’t get through it because I was laughing so hard.
It’s available on Amazon here.
Corduroy’s Halloween
If you miss the nostalgic feel of a 90s Halloween, grab this book. It is so incredibly sweet. Each page is filled with illustrations that take me right back to what a 90s Hallween felt like. Corduroy is getting ready for all of his Halloween festivities with his friends and my daughter loves looking at the different scenes of him decorating. We also love looking for the black cat on each page. A classic.
It’s available on Amazon here.
The Halloween Tree
Think The Giving Tree but less depressing. This gnarly stump at a Christmas tree farm becomes bitter because he’s never chosen to be a Christmas tree. However, he eventually becomes beloved by a group of children and he realizes he might not be such a grump after all. (Ok so maybe add in a bit of Scrooge there too, but make it Halloween themed.)
It’s endearing and heartwarming.
It’s available on Amazon here.
Ten Timid Ghosts
Another INCREDIBLY CUTE one- a witch tries to drive ten very timid ghosts out of their haunted house. They have to figure out how to muster the courage to take it back. Again- it’s sweet, it’s hilarious, and it’s one my daughter has me read constantly during spooky season.
It’s available on Amazon here.
I’m Not Scary
A sweet little bat is insistent that he’s not scary at all.
A little bear is in a forest gathering berries and trying to avoid the scary monster he’s been warned so much about. And a little bat just desperately wantes visitors and friends.
This book is just so incredibly cozy. The illustrations are warm and inviting.
It’s also a great transition book from the Halloween season to the Thanksgiving season.
It’s available on Amazon here.
Interactive Halloween Books For Preschoolers
These books are other ones we’ve had since the girls were little, but they’ve held up SO WELL and my preschooler still loves looking at them every year. Plus, you can never have too many pop-up books to keep kids engaged, right? Great for quiet reading time and encouraging kids to explore books independently, these can be great for preschoolers.
These are also just really cute without being too spooky, which is great for more sensitive preschoolers.
Pop-Up Peekabook Pumpkin! by DK Publishing
In this book different characters is searching for different Halloween themed objects. Preschoolers can lift flaps and the images pop out.
Like many other DK books, the pictures are a blend of illustrations and real photos. For whatever reason, that combination keeps my daughter so engaged.
It’s available here.
Trick or Treat! by Louise Anglicas
Another great, sturdy, pop-up book that has held up to so many little hands. This one has no plot, no learning activities that go along great with it, and no easily memorable rhyming scheme. But it’s fun, the different scenes on each page are engaging, and my girls love it.
Related Posts
If you’re looking for a hands-on preschool unit theme for spooky season, be sure to check out that post here.
If you’re looking for some fall books for babies and toddlers, including Halloween themed ones, be sure to check out that post here.
