When I was a child, a big part of feeling festive around the holidays was to read holiday and seasonal books. My mom always had plenty of books that went back and forth between home and the school where she taught, and she still has a bookcase full of picture books even though we are grown and she is no longer teaching in the classroom. Here are some of our favorites from the shelf that are sure to get you and your kiddos into the fall spirit!
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
Kiddos can discover the town of Chewandswallow, a land where breakfast, lunch, and dinner come from the weather! What will happen when too much food falls from the sky?
Ages 4 to 8
Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar? by Bonnie Lass
Help the small critters find out who took the cookies. Was it Raven? Snake? Frog? Follow the cookie crumbs to solve the mystery and be delighted with the happy ending.
Ages 4 to 7
Beneath the Ghost Moon by Jane Yolen
The mice have prepared for their Ghost Dance Ball, but some creepy-crawlies destroy their work. Help the mice fight back and celebrate in the Halloween moon with a clever and catchy rhyme scheme.
Ages 5 and up
Where’s My Teddy? by Jez Alborough
Eddie finds his teddy in the woods, only to discover the teddy has grown. A real bear comes along with Eddie’s real-sized teddy, and they both get spooked.
Ages 3 to 7
Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet by Diane de Groat
Gilbert is in for a surprise when he accidentally takes his sister’s Halloween costume to school and not his. This story will teach the good and the bad about being different.
Ages 4 to 8
The House That Drac Built by Judy Sierra
Trick-or-treaters on Halloween resolve the chaotic events going on in the house that Drac built. Not for the faint of heart.
Ages 4 to 7
Mustard by Jessel Miller
Witness Mustard blossom into a happy, kind, and insightful woman. Thanks to her parents and angels, she grows up with soft love and strong values. Children will be drawn to the vivid and detailed illustrations.
All ages
The 13 Days of Halloween by Carol Greene
In this spooky spin-off of The 12 Days of Christmas, a ghoul proves his love to another with haunting gifts like hissing cats and flying brooms. Read to discover what frightening present he receives in return!
Ages 4 to 8
My sister and I listened to and read these stories countless times before bedtime. Luckily none of them are too scary for nightmares! Find some seasonal favorites of your own and your children will enjoy them for years to come.
