Our Halloween reading recommendations for kids aged 5 to 14

Oct 30, 2018

The spookiest day of the year is almost upon us! While we do enjoy pumpkin carving, dressing up and trick or treating, this year we've also spent some time reading Halloween-related books with our children in the run up to the big day. It's been loads of fun reading them aloud at bedtime, so here are our top 6 Halloween recommendations to enjoy with your kids.

Halloween-related chapter books for younger readers:

Daisy and the Trouble with Vampires by Kes Gray

We're huge fans of this whole series, primarily because Daisy is a wonderfully entertaining, larger-than-life character. In this book Daisy's nemesis, Jack Beechwhistle, fills her head with tall tales about Halloween creatures, so when she goes trick or treating for the very first time plenty of spooky fun ensues.

The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy

A gentle classic about Mildred Hubble, the worst witch at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches. She can't fly her broomstick, she messes up her spells and her teachers despair. So when disaster strikes, will she be able to save the day?

Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: The Spooky School by Tracey Corderoy

This beautifully illustrated book features three short stories in which our favourite baking dogs solve Halloween mysteries. It makes for a hilariously spooky read!

Cover of The Monster Doctor by John Kelly

The Monster Doctor by John Kelly

This is the first in a hilarious series which sees Ozzie, a normal human, enlisted to help a monster doctor cure her weird and wonderful patients.

Longer chapter books that make a perfect Halloween read for kids aged 8 and over:

Cover of His Royal Hopeless by Chloe Perrin

His Royal Hopeless by Chloe Perrin

Robbie is due to follow in the footsteps of his evil mother and brother, and lead the Sinistevil dynasty. But there's a problem...he's just too nice! Our subscribers loved this heartwarming tale with a sinister twist and we have a few copies of the book and bespoke activity pack we created available to purchase here.

The Witches by Roald Dahl

This is one of our favourite books of all time and which felt truly terrifying the first time we read it. It taught us that real witches don’t look like witches - no broomsticks, black cloaks or pointy hats – so beware!

The Creakers by Tom Fletcher

In this recent bestseller, Lucy wakes one morning to discover that all the adults have disappeared. She sets out to get them back and discovers the monstrous, upside-down world that lurks under her bed.

Elise and the Second Hand Dog by Bjarne Reuter

We sent this beautiful book, translated from Danish, to our Cockatoo subscribers earlier in the year. Every year Elise's family attend a Halloween party in an old mill and they really go to town with trying to scare each other - which is lots of fun to read!

A selection of book covers from Halloween Collection