Children enjoy spooky and scary tales from time to time. Whether chapter books or a spooky story in the form of a picture book, there are several options for subject matter. Creepy illustrations help bring events and characters to life while adding a spooky and scary vibe to the reading. Look at the spooky, scary, horror books included in this list!
1. Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery
The authors bring characters to life in this scary children's book about a vampire bunny. This scary children's book introduces a pet dog and cat to a new pet, a bunny. The bunny seems a bit odd. He has fangs. Will he fit into the family?
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2. Goosebumps: The Night of the Living Dummy
Goosebumps is a popular series for chapter book readers. One of the creepiest in the series is Night of the Living Dummy, about a ventriloquist dummy who comes to life. With many options in this scary book series, students are sure to find a spooky one that they prefer!
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3. The Ghost Eye Tree
This scary story takes place outside in the dark of night. When a boy and girl must walk across town, they are spooked by the ghost-eye tree. This story comes from some of our favorite authors and can be read aloud or used as a reader's theater.
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4. The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon
Annabel is a ghost who haunts a town. She won't leave and she is not welcome. The town tries to get her to leave and in the process, they realize she is lonely and wants a friend. This kids' book is great for learning about compassion and acceptance but also includes a spooky vibe as well.
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5. Heckedy Peg
There are seven children in this spooky tale by Audrey Wood. When a witch places these kids under a spell, they all turn into different foods. Students will enjoy the haunting pictures and creepy storyline in this original book.
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6. Lon Po Po
A twist on Little Red Riding Hood, Lon Po Po is a Caldecott Award winner. This beautiful book boasts pictures full of watercolor and pastels, with bold colors and deep messages. This scary picture book is sure to add the fright factor into your read-aloud!
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7. The Tunnel
No kid wants to be left behind. In this story, two brothers find a tunnel and go in to explore. When their sister does not want to go, she is left behind, all alone. She tries to find bravery and courage within herself to go after her brothers.
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8. Took
Another fantastic ghost story from Mary Downing Hahn, Took tells about a boy who does not believe the woods near his home are haunted. He begins to change his mind when his little sister turns up missing. This is a great read for upper middle school students, but maybe not at bedtime!
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9. Slappy Birthday To You
Ian is turning twelve and for his birthday, he gets a creepy ventriloquist doll, Mr. Slappy. What he does not know is that Slappy is pure evil. Soon Slappy has everyone terrified by his scary stories and spooky tales. This is one of many in the Slappyworld series about this creepy ventriloquist.
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10. Infestation
When a boy is sent off to a special school to help him get straightened out, he soon realizes they must battle an infestation of giant killer ants. While he battles bullies and tries to find his way to fit in, he also tries to find a way to survive.
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11. Half-Minute Horrors
A wonderful collection of the shortest and scariest horror stories, this book has additions from all your famous scary story authors. These are intense and fast and have topics from ghosts to even everyday objects.
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12. Fear
This book is the stuff nightmares are made of! From thirteen well-known and loved scary story authors, these spooky spine tingles are sure to make you frightful. With topics from children who eat other people to werewolf boys, there is no limit to the spookiness that awaits you.
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13. A Sprinkle of Sorcery
Full of magic and sorcery, this book is about a terrible magic curse that haunts three sisters and their families. As the curse gets lifted, the sisters plan to leave this terrible place, but one of them gets kidnapped in the process.
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14. A Series of Unfortunate Events
While the three siblings in these tales are super smart, they are not very lucky. It seems they are always encountering things that they must face head-on and are not necessarily ready for. While they continue their journeys throughout this series, follow the spooky events that follow them.
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15. The Book that Eats People
There is a clear warning not to read this book. This book has been known to eat people. You shouldn't try to read it. What if you are next? It is scary and full of scary things, so whatever you do, don't read it. Save yourself!
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16. The Graveyard Book
When a young boy is raised alone in a graveyard, what would you expect to happen? He must steer clear of the evil Jack, who has already brought harm to his family. The graveyard is his home now. He doesn't plan to leave.
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17. Seaglass
When a young girl goes on an unwanted trip with her family, her world seems to be falling apart. Her sister isn't talking and her mom is sick. She never sees or talks to her best friend anymore. She is lonely and sad. She keeps seeing a girl in a green dress. Could this be a new friend or her worst nightmare?
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18. The Dollhouse Murders
A young girl begins to be scared of the attic when she hears strange sounds and does not remember leaving her dolls where she is finding them. She sees a glowing light in the dollhouse but she doesn't know why. Does this mystery have a connection with her great-grandparents and their murders?
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19. Bone Soup
Full of goblins, witches, and monsters, this spooky story is sure to engage young readers. Perfect for Halloween and how-to writing units, this story chronicles the adventure of trying to create bone soup and gathering the things they will need.
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20. The Last Chance Hotel
Seth is a young boy working in the kitchen at The Last Chance Hotel. He has no friends and becomes the main suspect when someone dies after eating his dessert. He is scared and doesn't know what to do, but he knows he is innocent. This murder mystery is a fun read!
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21. Arthur Blackwood's Scary Stories for Kids Who Like Scary Stories
This series is ideal for about third to fourth grade. These short scary stories are creepy and spooky enough to give you a fright but not so terrifying that you will lose sleep after reading them. There are several books in the series.
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22. Scary Stories
Perfect for the campfire or sleepover, this book has five short stories that are scary and spooky. Each story has matching illustrations and a twisted storyline to bring readers a good scare. Read if you dare!
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23. Scary Stories
One of many collections in this series, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a good book for bringing out the creepy vibes! Based on ghost stories and legends, these stories are eerie and will bring a good scare to the reader. This has recently been made into a movie as well.
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24. The Twits
The Twits is a perfect book for children with overactive imaginations. It is about a couple who hate everything and play mean jokes all the time. They are terrible to their pets and one day their pets decide they have had enough. They want to get revenge and get out of there! Roald Dahl brings us another classic with this book.
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25. In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories
Retold by Alvin Schwartz, this collection of seven scary stories is full of ghosts and creepiness. These books for kids would be ideal for Halloween or other spooky units. These stories are best enjoyed in a dark room before bedtime.
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26. The Witches
Another hit from Roald Dahl, The Witches is a story about a grandmother who tells her grandson stories about witches all the time. He knows that witches hate children and use black magic to cast spells on them. The boy doesn't know it, but she will come face to face with a real witch soon.
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27. Wait Till Helen Comes
This creepy chapter book ghost story is about a family who encounters a ghost named Helen. They had not believed the little sister until it was time for Helen to come. What will happen when she arrives?
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28. Poesy the Monster Slayer
Poesy is the opposite of most kids. She is not afraid of all of the monsters that come in after dark. As she prepares for bedtime, she faces all the creepy, scary monsters head-on. She is not afraid at all. This is a fun book about how to prevent bedtime frights.
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29. It's Halloween
A book of poems about Halloween, this is a fun book about spooky, frightful things. Silly and perfect for those with an overactive imagination, this cute little book of poems with leave you with an eerie feeling afterward.
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30. The Most Haunted Places in the United States
This book is filled with haunted stories from around the United States. There are many reportedly haunted places in the United States of America and you can read about some of them in this ghost story thriller.
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31. The Wolves in the Walls
Howling, scary wolves would terrify any child. Lucy is sure that there are wolves that live inside the walls of her family's home. In this frightening story, no one believes the young girl, until it is too late and the wolves actually come out of the walls.
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32. The Three Robbers
Three mean robbers terrorize a town under the cover of darkness. At night, they are mean and horrible to everyone in town. Then, they meet a little girl who is sad and sweet and she helps them find what is wrong with what they are doing. Will they give up their evil ways or bring her in to join them?
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33. The Dark
This creepy little picture book is an original book about being afraid of the dark. The young boy in the book is afraid of the dark and he stays far away from it. One night, he realizes that the dark found him. He must find the courage to overcome all the scariness that the darkness brings. Add this to the book list for scary read-aloud choices in your classroom.
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34. The Widow's Broom
When a widow finds a witch in her garden, she does not realize the witch also leaves behind her magical broom. Written by the famous Chris Van Allsburg, this creepy tale follows two mischievous kids and the lessons they learn from the broom.
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35. Outside Over There
Another Caldecott winner, this frightening story is about a girl who must rescue her sister from goblins. The goblins stole her and want to keep her, but Ida wants her baby sister back. The beautiful illustrations help bring this book to real life!
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36. Coraline
Bestselling author, Neil Gaiman brings us a super creepy storyline mixed with the perfect illustrations. This scary children's book is about a girl who finds a secret door. When she goes through it, she quickly realizes that the house she enters is much like her own, but the family who lives there does not want to let her leave.
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