My Kids’ Top Halloween Book Picks for 2015

I have three children, a son, Kile, age nine, a second son, Daniel, age seven, and a daughter, Penelope, who recently turned five.  Between the three of them, they love a variety of different types of books.  Fortunately, like their mother, they love to decorate for the seasons and also change books for the holiday at hand.  I brought out the Halloween books at the start of the October and it was very exciting to have new books.  Here are what they tell me are their favorites for this year.

Penelope (5 years old)

Miss Penelope is in 4K preschool and is just starting to learn words and begin to read.  She doesn’t read entire books for herself quite yet so these books are what she told me where her favorites that my husband and I read to her at night.

Fancy Nancy’s Fabulous Fall Storybook Collection by Jane O’Conner

Penelope LOVES Fancy Nancy.  She loves the Halloween part in this collection and especially the costumes.  She also really loved the family being together in the Thanksgiving story.

Sofia the First:  The Halloween Ball by Lisa Mangoli

Another favorite character for Penelope is Sofia the First from the Disney channel.  She also loves dances and balls so this is a good story for her.

Mickey’s Halloween Treat by Thea Feldman

This is actually an old favorite of the boys’ as well, Daniel was just reading it last night.  Penelope loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and likes the different costumes in this book and how Pete is trying to trick the friends.

The Magic School Bus:  The Wild Leaf Ride by Judith Stamper and The Magic School Bus:  In the Bat Cave by Jeannette Lane

 Penelope really enjoys The Magic School House books.  She loves the adventures and checking out what dress the teacher has on.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat by Lucille Colandra

The kids all love the “There Was an Old Lady” series and having me read them the different versions.  I will say that this mother loves the original the best.  I’m kind of grossed out how the old lady basically throws everything up at the end, but Penelope thinks it is hilarious.

Pinkalicious Pink or Treat:  By Victoria Kann

Pinkalicious is another favorite series of Penelope and she loves this holiday chapter.

Happy Halloween, Little Critter by Mercer Mayer

All of the kids have loved the Little Critter stories over the year.  They love this book as it has hidden items you reveal by moving the page.  They also love the costumes and Halloween party storyline.

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams

This is also another family favorite.  My kids definitely do not like to be afraid, so they love this book and how the little old lady faces her fears head on.  It’s also fun to read with all of the sounds that are made through the story.

Daniel (7 years old)

Daniel is into reading chapter books, but that doesn’t stop him from loving T.Rex Trick or Treats by Lois Grambling.  Other favorites included:

Trick or Treat from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler

Daniel said that he likes how one of the characters decided to be a clown because it’s funny, but he might not get any candy because he isn’t scary (not getting candy is Daniel’s worst fear).  He liked Count Dracula and how they acted like real characters.  He also enjoyed how they leave you hanging at the end so you want to read the next book, “which some authors do to make more money.”  I laughed when he said that.

Horrible Harry at Halloween by Suzy Kline

Daniel liked the surprise ending although he says he was not surprised because he’s read a lot of Horrible Harry books.  He liked Horrible Harry’s costume (a police detective), but he didn’t like that Sidney was the criminal again.

The Magic School Bus Chapter Book #1:  The Truth About Bats by Eva Moore

We’ve just started this book, but Daniel loves Magic School Bus books.  He really loves science and loves the adventures that the class goes on with their teacher.

Kile (9 years old)

Kile refused to read any of the Halloween books and said they are all too scary.  He decided instead to read more adventurous books. After reading Great Illustrated Classics:  20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne last year, Kile wanted to read more Jules Verne.  The Great Illustrated Classics are a great way to introduce kids to classic stories.

 

Great Illustrated Classics:  A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

Kile liked it and the adventure.  The pictures were enjoyable and it was a nice quick read.  I enjoyed it as a parent reading it with him as well.  I’ve never actually read the adult version of this novel.

Great Illustrated Classics:  Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

Kile also enjoyed reading this adventure as well, although he was dismayed that there was a bit of romance at the end of the story.  We were both amazed to find out that there actually isn’t any travel around the world in a balloon as we had both thought there was.

Kile rated 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea as the best followed by Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Around the World in 80 Days.

What are your favorite Halloween books for kids?