Monster-Approved: Halloween Books Every Toddler Will Love

“I love pumpkins!” my toddler shouted as he turned the last page.

I’d read it to him exactly three times, and he had memorized it.

Holiday books are a gripe of mine. They seem to be quickly thrown together as an easy way for publishers to sell a book. Fortunately, many Halloween-themed books don’t follow that trend.

I’ve found some great Halloween books that I’d like to share with you. These are my favorite Halloween books for toddlers of all different ages.

This list has been updated with new books for this spooky season in 2024.

The Best Halloween Books for Toddlers

1. Where’s the Pumpkin? Fhiona Galloway

This Halloween book follows a cat named Spook as he searches for a pumpkin (which he’s never seen before). He mistakes several different items for a pumpkin, with other characters filling in additional descriptive features as he continues to look. Finally, he finds all the pumpkins he could want at the pumpkin patch.

Where’s the Pumpkin? is such a basic book that I would have dismissed it as not interesting enough, but my toddlers love it. It taught them what a pumpkin is and made them excited about getting one. And both love to repeat the last line, “I love pumpkins!” It’s the perfect book for your toddler’s first Halloween.

2. Night Night Spooky Friends Danielle McLean

Turn the pages and lift the flaps in this Halloween bedtime book. The little monsters are all out on Halloween, but one by one, they each get sleepy and head off to bed.

Night Night Spooky Friends is the perfect bedtime book for little readers. You can even use it to practice counting.

3. Spooky Pookie Sandra Bonyton

Join Spooky Pookie as he chooses his Halloween costume. Will he be a dragon, a bear, or a ghost?

Spooky Pookie is a cute book to introduce your toddler to trick or treat. And to help him/her think about wearing a costume. All of Sandra Bonyton books are simple and rhyme in a way that sticks with you. Add this fun little book to your Halloween shelf.

4. Llama Llama Trick or Treat Anna Dewdney

This simple book rhymes along as Llama Llama gets ready for Halloween. Follow along as he chooses a costume, carves a pumpkin, and gets ready to trick or treat.

Llama Llama Trick or Treat has just the right cadence to keep even your youngest toddler’s attention. It’s a great Halloween book to introduce Halloween traditions to young children.

5. Find Spot at the Halloween Party Eric Hill

This Spot book starts with Spot getting ready for a Halloween party. But wait…where’d Spot go? Help the others find him before the party starts.

Find Spot at the Halloween Party is a fun, Halloween-themed lift-the-flap book that your toddler will ask to read again and again. Perfect for young toddlers.

6. Halloween Trick or Treat: A Colors Book Lydia Nichols

Halloween colors are not what you’d expect. Slightly creepy and always different. Follow along as this book introduces some interesting Halloween-themed colors.

I think the appeal of Halloween Trick or Treat: A Colors Book came with the reinforcement of colors for my barely 2-year-old. He’s started to be interested in what color everything is, so I loved that this book named each item by its color – Ex: “black vampire.” I could tell he was thinking as he processed these new-colored items. If your toddler is a similar age, you’ll love this too.

7. Eek! Halloween! Sandra Bonyton

Strange things are happening and the chickens are spooked. They’ve seen some unusual things. What could it mean? Don’t worry chickens, it’s just Halloween night.

Eek! Halloween! is another adorable book from Sandra Bonyton about Halloween. The idea behind this one is a little more complex than Spookie Pookie, so I recommend this for slightly older kids.

8. Five Little Pumpkins Cameron Bell

This cute Halloween book is written to the classic Halloween rhyme “Five Little Pumpkins.” This version includes squishy interactive pumpkins that glow in the dark and disappear as you turn the pages.

Five Little Pumpkins is a cute rhyme paired with a fun book, and it’s a great way to get your kids in the Halloween spirit. Your child is sure to love the colorful illustrations and interactive elements.

9. The Goodnight Train Halloween June Sobel

The goodnight train is coming and is going through some creepy places this Halloween. You’ll see pumpkins, spiders, and smiling ghosts as you ride along on this Halloween train.

The Goodnight Train Halloween has all the elements that make it a great book for toddlers. Lots of action, rhymes, and fun images. My only complaint is that it’s a little too busy for your youngest toddler. The pages are full of bright colors and so many images that it can be hard to know where to focus.

10. Little Blue Truck’s Halloween Alice Schertle

Little Blue Truck is back in Little Blue Truck’s Halloween. Come along as Blue picks up each of his animal friends for a costume party. Lift the flap to see which familiar character is under each of the fun costumes.

This is a beautifully illustrated and fun Halloween book. If you’re looking for something that isn’t spooky or scary, this is a great option. It will teach your toddler about Halloween and costumes without scaring little kids.

11. Don’t Push the Button!: A Halloween Treat Bill Cotter

Larry has one last house on his trick-or-treating route, but he’s too scared to go up to it. You just can’t resist pressing the doorbell button, though. And, of course, he can’t stop you. What will you find? Monsters? Or something else?

Don’t Push the Button!: A Halloween Treat is a cute story. Even though Larry is scared of the house (he’s heard there are monsters there), there’s nothing scary about what he finds. A funny interactive book for toddlers and preschoolers.

12. We’re Going on a Pumpkin Hunt Goldie Hawk

This twist on the classic Where Going on a Bear Hunt uses similar lines and a Halloween theme for a pumpkin hunt.

As the characters encounter different Halloween items — cats, cobwebs, and a friendly ghost — they eventually find their pumpkin. The nice thing about this one is that the kids are never scared. It makes it a good book to talk about Halloween in a fun way.

13. The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything Linda D. Williams

As this fearless old lady goes about her day, she runs into a few scary things. But not to fear, she is not afraid of anything and finds a logical solution to this frightening problem.

This is a great story about problem-solving and facing your fears. One of the things my son loves about The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything is the repeated phrases and sounds as the little old lady encounters each item. Soon you’ll both find yourself walking around repeating the whole book from memory.

This Halloween book is perfect for toddlers and those who don’t like Halloween’s darker sides.

14. Room on the Broom Julia Donaldson

This kind-hearted witch seems to constantly encounter helpful animals who only request a seat on her broom. There’s just one problem, a broom can only support so much weight.

Room on the Broom is a heart-warming Halloween book with a great message and sweet illustrations that are perfect for young readers. There is a little danger in this picture book, which is the only scary part (and makes it better for older children). The witch is also a witch who rides on a broom, casts spells, and does other witchy things. You may want to skip this one if you’d prefer not to introduce those topics to your child.

Related: The Best Christmas Books for Toddlers & The Best Books for 2-Year-Olds

There you have the best Halloween books for toddlers and preschoolers. Grab any of the books on this list of Halloween books as a great way to get your toddler in the Halloween spirit. And pretty soon they’ll be shouting “I love pumpkins!” too. Happy Halloween!

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