10 Diverse Halloween Picture Books
Ghouls! Monsters! Costumes! Cozy up with these spooky Halloween reads featuring diverse leads and/or authors.
Boo Stew
by Donna L. Washington, illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler
In this fractured fairy tale based on the classic tale ‘Goldilocks’, Curly Locks would love to share her culinary creations with the townspeople of Toadsuck Swamp, but they all steer clear of her ghoulish recipes. When some unexpected Scares come to town, the tenacious cook serves up her best fare and learns some valuable lessons along the way.
Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book
by Yuyi Morales
Rooted in Mexican culture tells of how Grandma Beetle outsmarts the skeleton man Mr. Calavera. This trickster tale counts down her party prep in English and Spanish, and we explore a vibrantly illustrated story of family, culture, and ingenuity.
Monster Trouble!
by Lane Fredrickson, illustrated by Michael Robertson
Winifred Schnitzel has an enormous monster problem! Many monsters would visit her at bedtime and keep Winifred from having a sound sleep. Dazed and sleepy, she has to find a solution! Will any of her attempts at getting rid of these troublesome creatures work? A fun Halloween rhyming tale perfect for preschoolers.
Pick a Pumpkin
by Patricia Toht, illustrated by Jarvis
In this wonderful ode to the spooky season, a group of children begins their Halloween celebration by picking and prepping their favorite pumpkins, getting costumes ready, and going on a trick o treating adventure. A bright and warm illustration palette accompanies the text.
Ghosts for Breakfast
by Stanley Todd Terasaki, illustrated by Shelly Shinjo
Oh Me! Oh My! Oh No! This hilarious ghost story will have you in stitches! Triplets come to the door and say they see ghosts in Mr. Tanaka’s field. Papa and son lead an investigation and find a surprising conclusion to this spooky mystery!
Poesy the Monster Slayer
by Corey Doctorow, illustrated by Matt Rockefeller
Poesy relishes the end of her bedtime story so she can conquer all of the monsters that come alive in her room at night. Vivid illustrations and spooky monsters abound, the perfect Halloween read for little ones who love to stay up at night.
My Baby Loves Halloween
by Jabari Asim, illustrated by Tara Nicole Whitaker
This adorable book introduces babies to all things Halloween. Cool Autumn breezes, pumpkins, costumes, and candy await in this sweet rhyming tale.
The Rumble Hunters
by Courtney Dunlap, illustrated by Nazar Horokhivskyi
James takes off on a daring adventure to find the source of a mysterious rumbling sound. An entertaining tale filled with discoveries at every turn and anchored by incredibly expressive illustrations.
Looking for a Jumbie
by Tracey Baptiste, illustrated by Amber Ren
In this Caribbean folklore-inspired tale, Naya ventures under a full moon searching for a Jumbie - varied scary creatures like Douen, Lagahoo, and Soucouyants roam in the dark. Will she find a scary one?
by Valdene Mark, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud
Jade shines in this whimsical and beautifully illustrated nighttime read as a little girl who uses her imagination to brave her nighttime fears.
