Halloween really kicks off the fun holiday season. There are so many wonderful books for kids about the Halloween season and lots of fun literacy activities to do. Here are some of our favorites!
Halloween Books for Children
Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate link.
Newish Halloween Books for Kids
First, let’s add some newish books to our read-aloud line-up.
Jessie Sima brings us Hardly Haunted. An empty house thinks that it might be haunted. And it doesn’t want to be haunted. Will any family want it? There’s lots of onomatopoeia included so the kids will enjoy repeating those words while listening aloud.
When I think of Halloween, I think of vampires. Now, imagine a vampire going to the zoo. And, keep that imagination going as you head to the penguin exhibit. Now, get ready for a switcheroo.
Vampenguin by Lucy Ruth Cummins is a super-fun read-aloud. I love picture books where the pictures play an equal role to the words and that is done successfully here.
Poultrygeist by Eric Geron is the story of the chicken who tried to cross the road and didn’t make it to the other side. Well, just didn’t make it to the intended “other side.” This is a perfect read-aloud for your older kiddos who will get all the play on words. And, the last page spread invites young writers to create their own stories.
Trick or Treat, Crankenstein by Samantha Berger has the coolest endpapers so make sure to give them a good study. Then, head to the candy store and see if you can find some matches.
Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago is the story of a shy ghost who struggles with finding the courage to make friends. But, he decides to share his passion with others and in turn, introduces himself to a whole new group of friends. The illustrations are spectacular! Don’t miss our Gustavo the Shy Ghost Book Activities too.
Get ready to make the slime recipes in the back of this book because you will be inspired. Grab a copy of
Frankenslime by Joy Keller celebrates all slime creations. But, then Franken creates a slime that comes alive. Run!
Books you can sing always make great hits at circle time especially on Halloween when energy levels are at an all-time high. Enjoy The Wheels on the Bus at Halloween by Sarah Kieley and sing your way to the end of the day. For more books you can sing, chant, and dance with, be sure to check out my list below.
What should you say when you knock on a door on Halloween night? That’s what the crayons need to figure out in The Crayons Trick or Treat by Drew Daywalt. A fun follow-up activity would be to have students design costumes for each crayon color.
More Children’s Halloween Books
Board books and short picture books are perfect for the toddler crowd.
Great read-aloud titles to enjoy with the 3 and 4 year-olds.
Books about monsters complete with a scary rating for each book.
Books to Get You Singing, Chanting and Dancing
These are our favorite titles that will get your little ones moving and shaking.
Practice counting with a Halloween theme.
Fun reads to educational reads about pumpkins.
Animal Books Perfect to Read During Halloween
It’s pretty common to want to read about bats, spiders, and everything creepy-crawly during Halloween. Enjoy these themed books too.
So, kick off the Halloween season early so you have time to read all of these best Halloween books for kids.
Halloween Activities
HALLOWEEN THEMED ACTIVITIES
Halloween ABC BingoPerfect for 1-20 players during a Halloween party or October activity.
Halloween Sight Word Activities
Try these festive low-prep activities to build sight word recognition.
Halloween Sensory Writing Tray
Practice sight word reading and writing with this sensory writing idea. Includes a free printable.
Start singing and learning with these circle time songs.
CANDY THEMED ACTIVITIES
An outdoor and indoor game inspired by candy corn.
PUMPKIN THEMED ACTIVITIES
Go deep inside the book, Stumpkin with our Book Dive.
Printable emergent reader to work on the letter P.
Let children’s books inspire your pumpkin art creations!
Five Little Pumpkins Playdough Storytelling
A fine motor activity using a great smelling pumpkin play dough to retell the classic Halloween story.
MORE Pumpkin Literacy Activities
Literacy activities related to children’s books.
MONSTER THEMED KIDS’ ACTIVITIES
A printable emergent reader to practice color words.
Go Away Big Green Monster Book Activities
Fun printable activities to do with the classic book.
Monsters Love Colors Book Activities
Have a little colorful fun with monsters with these early literacy activities.
I Need My Monster Book Activities
I can’t go to sleep until my monster arrives. A fun read-aloud to pair with some literacy activities.
SPIDER THEMED ACTIVITIES
A fun song to sing and rhyming spider web activity to build early literacy skills.
Build water spouts and then find the rhyming spiders to climb the structure.
Build phonemic awareness with this hands-on activity.
A great activity to do on the garage door or wall.
But wait, before you go… you don’t want to miss more great book recommendations and literacy ideas I share each week. I send out a weekly newsletter. Sign up to receive it for FREE each week.