Spooky stories for Halloween
The days are getting shorter and the promise of dressing up and sweets is getting nearer! Whether your pupils are scaredy cats or big brave horror fans, our trainers have got it covered with their selection of suggested Halloween books. Which ones will your little monsters enjoy the most?
I’m not scared of monsters by Mike Byrne (Phoenix International Publications, 2023)
Suitable for EYFS
Ella is a feisty little girl who is not scared of monsters, even though three very large ones try their best to scare her! There is only one thing that scares Ella … and her dad is there to rescue her in case it comes her way. A brightly illustrated and really humorous book.
Owl Bat, Bat Owl by Marie Louise Fitzpatrick (Walker, 2016)
Suitable for EYFS
This wordless picture book will make little ones shriek with laughter as they follow the antics of the Owls and Bats. This has no supernatural elements, just slightly spooky characters. A fantastic book to get children talking and responding.
A Dark, Dark Tale by Ruth Brown (Anderson Press, 2012)
Suitable for EYFS
Ruth Brown’s book is a master of the gothic genre. The detailed and mysterious illustrations create an atmosphere that draws the reader in. The simple repetitive text creates suspense and will guarantee squeals at the end. Whether these are squeals of delight or horror you’ll have to find out …
How to make friends with a Ghost by Rebecca Green (Tundra, 2017)
Suitable for KS1
This book challenges stereotypes about ghosts! The guide, written by ghost expert, Dr. Phantoneous Spookel, starts off one kind little girl’s journey to befriending a ghost. There are lots of handy hints and tricks on what to do (and what not to do!) to make a ghost your friend. This book is a great read, helping children to understand that everyone needs a friend – even ghosts!
There’s a Ghost in this House by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins, 2021)
Suitable for KS1
This book is about a little girl who lives in a haunted house. But she has never seen a ghost. The book uses black-and-white images and a transparent overlay page to show the readers where the ghosts are hiding. The reader is taken on a lovely hunt through the house looking for ghosts and finds them in the most unusual of places!
Haunted House by Jan Pienkowski (Walker Books, 2005)
Suitable for LKS2
This book is over 40 years old, but still retains its power to scare, amuse and fascinate children big and small. Follow a doctor as he visits a patient in a very spooky house, where monsters lurk in the oven, behind curtains, even in the toilet! A very special pop-up book that your pupils will queue up to pore over.
Vlad the World’s Worst Vampire by Anna Wilson (Stripes Publishing, 2017)
Suitable for LKS2
Vlad is the youngest member of the Impaler family. He is the bravest vampire that ever lived! But all Vlad wants is some friends and he thinks he knows just where to find them … Human school! Join Vlad as he tries to keep his true identity secret from his new friends and as he keeps his new friends hidden from his family!
Into the Dark by CJ Loughty (Independently published, 2020)
Suitable for UKS2
Ella Tickles is certain that the new house she and her family are about to move into is haunted. Her parents and brother try to convince her that she’s just being silly. But when the black mould on the walls and ceilings begins to move like it is alive, Ella knows something must be done. She learns from a neighbour that the previous owner, a witch called Maud Bellingham, has cursed the house. No matter what anyone does to get rid of the mould, it keeps coming back – with a vengeance. Whilst visiting a magic shop, Ella learns of a way to lift the curse. And she also learns something else: that she is a witch, too …
The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson (Usborne, 2018)
Suitable for KS2
Based on the Slavic folk character Baba Yaga, this coming-of-age novel has wonderfully evocative descriptions of both settings and characters. Sophie Anderson weaves together magic, myth and adventure into an epic tale that is just perfect at this time of year.
