The Best Halloween Books: Gifts for Your Grandchildren
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There are dozens of children’s books for every subject and occasion, but many of them are created with little regard to whether they have any value to the reader.
Good board books for babies and toddlers engage them with captivating images and rhythmic language.
Quality picture books for the youngest readers expand their horizons with new concepts and rich vocabulary.
Unfortunately, publishers know parents and grandparents will buy books with familiar characters, so they churn out a Clifford or Pete the Cat book for every holiday, expecting (and getting) sales without having to provide a quality book.
It can be hard to sort through the mass of titles to find the few which stand out as Really Good Books. So we’ve done it for you!
First, here are six Halloween board books for babies and toddlers that will help your grandbaby learn, while providing a pleasant experience for the reader.
The Best Halloween Board Books for Babies and Toddlers
Eek! Halloween!
By Sandra Boynton
Sandra Boynton rarely disappoints, and Eek! Halloween! is not an exception. The bouncy rhythm of the text, the simple, animated drawings, and the silly story all add up to a delightful book for both reader and child. Your grandchild will love it.
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Baby Touch and Feel: Halloween
(DK)
Touch and feel books are always a hit! Simple images introduce Halloween elements with vocabulary building words and appealing textures. The soft fur of a black cat and the sticky goo in a cauldron are sure to captivate the youngest readers.
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Five Little Pumpkins
Illustrated by Lucy Barnard
This colorful retelling of a favorite preschool poem is a perfect one to share with your toddler grandchild. Lucy Barnard’s illustrations are cheerful and full of movement, and the well-made book will stand up to repeated readings.
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Babies Love Halloween: A Lift-a-Flap Board Book for Babies and Toddlers
By Scarlett Wing
The chunky pages of the lift-a-flap books by Cottage Door Press are designed to hold up to the most enthusiastic of flap-lifters. This volume, dedicated to the fall holiday, is a fun way to introduce your grandbaby to the sights and sounds of the Halloween season.
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Duck & Goose Find a Pumpkin
By Tad Hills
Fans of Duck & Goose, a pair of friends who enjoy simple adventures together, will love this fall escapade. The back-and-forth dialog will encourage little ones to chime in with a “No!” as the pair search high and low for a pumpkin.
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Spooky Pookie
by Sandra Boynton
This one is perfect for any child who will be dressing up for the first time. Pookie needs to choose a Halloween costume, and goes through several options before deciding what to wear. Boynton’s Pookie is a character that every parent and child will recognize!
The Best Halloween Picture Books
Here are some of the best Halloween picture books for ages 2-7. These Halloween picture books are a perfect gift for your grandchild, or a great addition to your library.
Is your favorite Halloween book on our list?
Pumpkin Soup
by Helen Cooper
This makes a great Halloween book for those looking for something that doesn’t involve witches, monsters or ghosts. Your grandchildren will love this story about friendship, disagreements, and cooperation. The engaging pictures bring the characters to life, and the story brings them all together. The bonus pumpkin soup recipe at the end of the book is a great way to continue the fun when the story is over.
The Little Kitten
by Nicola Killen
This darling Halloween story will delight the youngest grandchildren, especially if there is a cat lover amount them! The simple, sweet illustrations bring to life the story of Ollie and her cat, Pumpkin as they help a lost cat find its way home. Though there is a moment of uncertainty, there is nothing scary in the story, and it has a nice Halloween twist at the end. Highly recommended by the three-year-old!
Samurai Scarecrow
by Rubin Pingk
No cat lovers among your grandchildren? How about ninjas? This ninja tale covers the familiar Halloween rites of choosing a costume and trick-or-treating, but also enduring themes like wanting to copy your older sibling. There’s a little scariness, but not enough to alarm most children, and the story has a delightful ending. The anime-style illustrations are perfect for the story.
If Your Babysitter Is a Bruja
by Ana Siqueira, illustrated by Irena Freitas
We loved this story because it contains plenty of Halloween imagery, but none of the scariness. The idea that your babysitter might be a bruja (“witch” in Spanish) is just a little spooky, but the pictures and story line keep it light enough to make it fine to read at bedtime. Peppered with plenty of Spanish words and phrases, it’s fun to read and talk about different languages.This one got repeated requests for reading!
The Pumpkin Smasher
by Anita Benarde
Adults who grew up in the 1970s rejoiced when The Pumpkin Smasher was reprinted in 2013. This story about how a town fights back against the Pumpkin Smasher is part mystery, part adventure, and 100% Halloween fun. Your grandchildren will love it as much as much as my little brother did. Get a copy of it now, before it falls out of print again!
Room on the Broom
by Julia Donaldson
This is our favorite one to read out loud, and the kids love it as much as the adults. The bright, colorful pictures accompany a hilarious story told in rhyme, making it easy to read on repeat—which you will likely have to do! Not too scary, even for the youngest readers. A Halloween classic!
