Scary, Creepy, and All-Around Spooky Books for Kids

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There’s something about October that makes me crave a good scary story. With Halloween just around the corner and the seasons slowly shifting, there’s nothing better than diving into a good ghost story. Whether you’re tickled by the terrifyingly true or a classic fictional tale, here’s a list to satisfy that craving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ready for more? Check out the extensive list below, which includes recommended ages by interest level.

Nonfiction

  • Aliens are Coming! The True Account of the 1938 War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast by Meghan McCarthy, 8-11; J 791.4472 MCC
  • Giant Squid by Candace Fleming, 6-10; J 594.58 FLE
  • Haunted Histories: Creepy Castles, Dark Dungeons, and Powerful Palaces by J.H. Everett and Marilyn Scott-Waters, 9-12; J 133.122 EVE

Fiction

  • The Night Gardener: A Scary Story by Jonathan Auxier, 10+;  J AUX
  • The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste, 9-12; J BAP
  • Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty, 8+; J BEA
  • Doll Bones by Holly Black, 10+; J BLA
  • Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac, 9-12; J BRU
  • The Inn Between by Marina Cohen, 8-12; J COH
  • Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee, 9-11; J FOX
  • A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz, 10+; J GID
  • All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn, 7-10; J HAH
  • Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn, 9-10; J HAH
  • Wait till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn, 10-12; J HAH
  • The Ghost’s Grave by Peg Kehret, 9-12; J KEH
  • The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire LeGrand, 10+; J LEG
  • The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural by Pat McKissack 8-12; J MCK
  • The Nest by Kenneth Oppel, 10-12; J OPP
  • Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz, 8-13; J SCH
  • Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz, 10-14; J SCH
  • Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith, 10+; J SMI
  • The Riverman by Aaron Starmer, 8-13; J STA
  • The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud, 11+; J STR
  • Thickety: A Path Begins by J.A. White, 10+; J WHI
  • Coraline by Neil Gaimain, 10+; TEEN GAI
  • The Graveyard Book, 9-12; TEEN GAI

Graphic Novel

  • Nightlights by Lorena Alvarez, 9-12; JGRAPHIC ALV
  • Coraline by Nail Gaiman, 9-12; JGRAPHIC GAI
  • The Graveyard Book V1, 10+; JGRAPHIC GAI
  • Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett Krosoczka, 7-10; JGRAPHIC KRO
  • Baba Yaga’s Assistant by Marika McCoola; 10+; JGRAHPIC  MCC
  • SnowWhite by Matt Phelan, 9-12; N JGRAPHIC PHE
  • Ghosts by Rain Telgemeier, 9+; N JGRAPHIC TEL
  • The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo by Drew Weing, 8-11; JGRAPHIC WEI
  • Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol, 12+; GRAPHIC BRO

Early Chapter

  • Notebook of Doom (series) by Troy Cummings, 6-8; JEC CUM
  • Home Sweet Horror by James Preller, 7-10; JEC PRE
  • The Haunted Library (series) by Dori Hillestad Butler, 6-8; JEC BUT

Picture Book

  • What If…? By Anthony Browne, 4-7; JPIC BRO
  • It’s Raining Bats and Frogs by Rebecca Colby, 4-7; JPIC COL
  • Go Away, Big Green Monster! By Ed Emberley, 6-8; JPIC EMB
  • Some Things Are Scary by Florence Heide, 4-7; JPIC HEI
  • Even Monsters Need Haircuts by Matthew McElligott, 6-8; JPIC MCE
  • The Too-Scary Story by Bethania Murguia
  • Goodnight Goon: A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex, 4-8; JPIC REX
  • Creepy Carrots! By Aaron Reynolds, 4-7; JPIC REY
  • The Dark by Lemony Snicket, 4-8; JPIC SNI
  • Little Shop of Monsters by R.L. Stine, 4-7; JPIC STI
  • The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson, 3-6; JPIC SWA
  • Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins by James Dean, 4-8; H JPIC DEAN
  • Ethan Long Presents: Fright Club by Ethan Long, 4-7; H JPIC LON
  • The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams, 4-6; H JPIC WIL

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