Today, as promised, I’m sharing some newer Halloween books that we read over and over again this time of year. I tend to get the Halloween books out of storage around the first of October, and then I try to get them put away again very shortly after the 31st. I’ve found that if I don’t do that (and this goes equally for the classroom and at home), they lose a little bit of their magic. Also, you get a lot of cheers when you pull out favorite books that no one’s seen in a year, and who doesn’t like cheering?

First up is a book the likes of which I don’t normally recommend. It’s not that I philosophically oppose this style of illustration, it’s just not my personal preference. However, this version of Five Little Pumpkins came free with Bethany’s book order, and she loved it. Part of its appeal is its size; it’s smaller than your average book, and toddlers can hold it easily. The text is the traditional ‘Five Little Pumpkins’ poem, but the illustrations do make it a little more modern. It comes in a board book version, but we’ve only used the paperback. Dan Yaccarino – you hit a home run with this one.

One Spooky Night, by Kate Stone, combines some vintage illustration appeal with modern technology to make a gorgeous book. Each spread is divided by a translucent overlay with some laser-cut elements. It’s very different than most children’s books, and helps lend a spooky air to the experience of reading it. The story of a little trick-or-treater dressed as a monster is simple: he sees a lot of potentially scary things on his way to a Halloween party, but he knows these things aren’t real. I rather like the lesson, which is along the lines of “you know it’s pretend, so don’t be scared,” but it isn’t overbearing.

And now to the girls’ current favorite: Ghosts in the House!, by Kazuno Kohara. This book really appeals to my love of vintage Halloween everything. The colors you see on the cover are the only ones used in the entire book, and the sweet characters of the young witch, the cat, and the ghosts are not at all frightening. The witch moves into a new house, catches the ghosts, and uses them throughout her new home as curtains, blankets, and a tablecloth. The text is simple and memorable. This is definitely a book that Bethany “reads” to herself, because the story is straightforward and the language is accessible. If you’re looking for a selection to start a Halloween collection for your family, this would be my pick.

{Disclosure: Compensated affiliate links used for each book.}

Thanks so much for reading along with us this month! Click on the picture below to find more suggestions for great books.