40+ Cute (Not Scary!) Halloween Picture Books

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
When I asked about favorite Halloween books this fall, this was possibly the most popular title. It’s a total Halloween classic and one you will enjoy every October! (And well past Halloween, too!).

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Oh, it’s good to be a witch, flying through the air on a broomstick with your cat in tow. But then her hat goes tumbling down to earth, followed by her bow and her wand. Who is going to help the witch find them? And what will they want in return?

5 Little Pumpkins by Tiger Tales, illustrated by Ben Mantle
For little ones, this is the quintessential Halloween rhyming book! It’s perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, and I might even still have this one memorized!

Little Blue Truck Halloween by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry
I’m not always a fan of Halloween versions of beloved books (they can feel like total sell-outs) but I love this one. It’s bigger than your average board book and my girls are obsessed with it, even the older ones!

There Was a Mummy Who Swallowed a Spider by Jennifer Ward, illustrated by Steve Gray
We’ve all heard of the old lady who swallowed a fly, but what could be spookier for Halloween than a mummy swallowing a spider? This playful twist on the classic rhyme is set to the same tune you know and love…just with a delightful Halloween twist!

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago
Gustavo is great at being a ghost – he glows in the dark and floats through walls and makes objects levitate. But the thing he loves most is making beautiful violin music and he wants to share that with the monsters around him. But when he’s invisible, that’s a tricky prospect. Is he destined to be lonely forever?

Leila, the Perfect Witch by Flavia D. Drago
The same author/illustrator as Gustavo, the Shy Ghost is back with a fun story of Leila Wayward, a little witch is who is excellent at…everything. That is, until she tries to enter a bake off and realizes she’s not so perfect in the kitchen. Fortunately, she has three magical sisters who are more than happy to help her with her recipe.

Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman
A ginormous pumpkin has sprouted in the garden and all of the Halloween characters have to work together to pull it off the vine in order to make pumpkin pie! Will they all be able to figure out how to get it off the vine?

Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White, illustrated by Megan Lloyd
Rebecca Estelle hates pumpkins. As as a child, her family was so poor that they ate nothing but pumpkin for a period of time, and so now, as an old woman, she’s determined never to even look at another pumpkin again. She busily tends her productive garden that has absolutely no pumpkins. Until a pumpkin truck rattles down the road by her house and a pumpkin falls out and smashes on her property. Of course, a pumpkin left to rot in the ground is going to be bringing some surprises come fall. And now Rebecca Estelle is going to have to figure out how to deal with dozens of pumpkins.

Herbert’s First Halloween by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Steven Henry
This was Star’s very favorite Halloween picture book a few years ago and we read it literally every day in October. Herbert is a little nervous about his first Halloween but his dad, who loves Halloween, gently talks him through it and helps him find just the right costume.

Halloween Hustle by Charlotte Gunnufson, illustrated by Kevan J. Atteberry
Skeleton is grooving his way to a Halloween party, but every funky dance move leaves him tripping, tumbling, and falling to pieces. Will he pull himself together in time for the big dance?

Ten Timid Ghost by Jennifer O’Connell
I love a good counting books, especially for preschoolers. Ten timid ghosts face a witch who’s trying to scare them out of their haunted house one by one. But when the spooked ghosts band together, they hatch a plan to turn the tables and win their home back just in time for Halloween night!

The Ghosts Went Floating by Kim Norman, illustrated by Jay Fleck
My friend Abby the Librarian recommended this Halloween book a couple of years ago and she wasn’t wrong. It is DARLING, going along to the song “The Ants Went Marching.” My little girls were absolutely delighted by the charming illustrations and the sing-along-ability (I just made that word up).

Curious George Goes to a Costume Party by Margaret and H.A. Reys
If you need some naughty little monkey antics in your life, this Halloween-themed costume party adventure is just what you need.

The Five Little Monkeys Trick or Treat by Eileen Christelow
The five little monkeys are back! And this time they are dressed up for Halloween and ready for some trick-or-treating mischief with their babysitter, Lulu! This not-so-spooky tale is perfect for reading aloud.

I Want to Be in a Scary Story by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Jean Jullien
When an author sets out to write a funny tale, his stubborn main character, Monster, insists on starring in a truly terrifying story instead. With dark forests, creepy witches, and spooky houses proving a little too scary, Monster just might change his mind!

Grimelda The Very Messy Witch by Diana Murray, illustrated by Heather Ross
Grimelda doesn’t care about keeping her home tidy – she loves a nice mess! But then when she can’t find the ingredients for her favorite pickle pie, she decides that maybe being messy isn’t ALWAYS the best.

The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt by Riel Nason, illustrated by Byron Eggenschqiler
This Halloween book feels like it could be 50 years old instead of newly released! Most little ghosts are made from sheets – they can swoop around on every breeze. But our little ghost? He’s made from a quilt. Which isn’t ideal. Until one chilly Halloween night when a quilt ghost is exactly what one little girl needs.

The Bad Seed: The Good, the Bad and the Spooky by Jory John
You probably already know the Bad Seed from his previous literary appearances, but you can’t say no to a Halloween version. In this one, the Bad Seed is anxiously looking forward to Halloween, which is his favorite holiday. But finding the right costume is turning out to be very difficult. So no one is going to get to trick-or-treat until he finds just the perfect getup.

Eek! Halloween by Sandra Boynton
If I had to pick one Halloween board book as a favorite, it’s this one. I love all things Sandra Boynton, but this one is especially good about a flock of chickens that are nervous because strange things are happening – from giant mice to talking robots to pumpkins with faces, they have no idea what’s going on. (Spoiler: it’s Halloween!)

Skulls! by Blair Thornburgh, illustrated by Scott Campbell
I’ve loved this book from the moment it was released – it’s such a clever, upbeat look at how cool skulls are and how we all have one. Skulls aren’t scary; they’re AWESOME.

Christopher Pumpkin by Sue Hendra, illustrated by Paul Linnet
Christopher Pumpkin is a sweet and cute pumpkin, unlike his counterparts from the wicked old witch. Christopher tries suggesting friendly and happy decorations and games, when the creepy group of pumpkins start planning the scariest Halloween party ever, but is met with some serious pushback.

Miss Nelson is Missing by Gary G. Allard Jr., illustrated by James Marshall
I’ve professed my love for this book before (including a full-on double costume) and I don’t think I’ll ever outgrow it. It may not be your typical “Halloween” book, but it is so fun as a reader when you’re in on the secret that the book characters aren’t.

Llama Llama Trick or Treat by Anna Dewdney
Llama Llama books are so delightful to listen to aloud with their great rhyme scheme. You can’t go wrong with this familiar character as he sets out for trick-or-treating.

The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz
After being overlooked in the pumpkin patch, the lonely Ugly Pumpkin sets off to find where he belongs – and by Thanksgiving, he finally discovers the surprising truth about himself. This one is a wacky twist on The Ugly Duckling. It’s a fun pick for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Hardly Haunted by Jessie Sima
You may know Jessie Sima from her wildly popular title, Not Quite Narwhal, and it’s one of those that you could read all year long – it’s not OVERLY Halloween-y. House desperately wants to be a home for a family, but since she’s a little bit spooky, complete with banging pipes, creaky hinges, and scratchy branches, she’s pretty worried she’s actually a haunted house and no one will ever want to make her their home.

Spooky Pookie by Sandra Boynton
This is one of my all-time favorite Halloween board books. You just can’t go wrong with a Sandra Boynton book and this one is a perfect addition to a family collection!

The Halloween Kid by Rhode Montijo
Meet the Halloween Kid, a masked hero with his trusty steed who saves trick-or-treating from TP-tossing mummies and pumpkin-sucking vampires. I don’t think I have read any other cowboy-themed Halloween books!

Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins
Poor Stumpkin. He’s such a beautiful pumpkin, but his stem got snapped off and now no one wants him. As the other pumpkins get snatched up before Halloween, Stumpkin stays where he is, wishing that someone will take him home and make him into a beautiful jack-o-lantern.

Samurai Scarecrow by Rubin Pingk
Kids will love the graphic novel inspired illustrations in this one! Ninja-in-training Yukio can’t wait for Halloween, but his little sister Kashi insists on copying everything he does, from pumpkin carving to trick-or-treating. But when Yukio’s patience runs out, will he learn that Halloween is way more fun when shared with the person who adores him most?

The Countdown to Halloween by Greg Paprocki
A Halloween countdown book with hidden objects to hunt for? This book has surprises on every page! Plus, the illustrations are so much fun!

Travel Guide for Monsters by Lori Degman, illustrated by Dave Szalay
This is definitely not your average Halloween book, mainly because it is set during the summer on a coast-to-coast road trip across the U.S. But you can’t go wrong with monsters, and the unique setting makes it way less spooky!

Brunhilda’s Backwards Day by Shawna J.C. Tenney
When we pull this book out in October, we read it almost every single day. I’m pretty sure if my children had to choose a single favorite Halloween picture book, it would be this one, about Brunhilda who loves to stir up trouble until her cat makes a potion that makes all her spells do GOOD things instead of mean things. It’s always a hit in the classroom!

Corduroy’s Best Halloween Ever by Don Freeman, illustrated by Lisa McCue
Halloween has almost arrived, and beloved bear, Corduroy, is ready for a spooktacular party with pumpkin carving, bobbing for apples, and trick-or-treating. But first, he has a big decision…what costume will he choose?

Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano, illustrated by Susan Banta
Spookley isn’t your typical pumpkin, and the other pumpkins tease him for it – but when trouble strikes, his uniqueness turns out to be exactly what saves the day!

Ghosts in the House by Kazuno Kohara
This was the first book in my personal Halloween children’s book collection and I love pulling it out every year. When a little witch moves into an empty house she isn’t worried about all the ghosts there – she rounds them up, washes and irons them and turns them into curtains, tablecloths and blankets!

Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht, illustrated by Jarvis
Is there anything quite as Halloween-y as going to the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin? This book celebrates all the best parts of October – I love it so much!

Fright Night Flight by Laura Krauss Melmed
Vampires, werewolves, and a crew of ghouls pile onto a turbo-charged broomstick for a wild Halloween ride. Told in playful rhyme, this spooky adventure has the same charm as Room on the Broom, but with an extra dose of Halloween mischief!

Spoops: The Spirit of Halloween! by A.J. Locasio, illustrated by Laurie Conley
This might just be a new classic in the making. When a little girl who LOVES Halloween with her whole heart makes a wish upon a jack o’lantern on All Hallows Eve, the little spirits of Halloween arrive to make all of her wishes come true.

Witch and Wombat by Ashley Belote
Get ready for your kids to be begging you to buy them a wombat! Wilma the young witch can’t wait for her first cat, but when the pet store is all out of kittens, she brings home…a wombat! Nothing like a cat, the little critter tries on cat ears, but of course, everyone notices!

Froggy’s Halloween by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
Who doesn’t love all the misadventures of Froggy!? In this Halloween installment, Froggy is on a quest for the perfect Halloween costume, and even when trick-or-treating goes hilariously off course, he still makes the most of the night.

Gus Was a Friendly Ghost by Jane Thayer
When the Scott family leaves for the season, friendly ghost Gus finds himself with nothing to do, until he meets a cold, hungry mouse and invites it to stay for the winter. This classic was originally published in 1962, and still has the same charm and nostalgia.

Tiny T. Rex and the Tricks of Treating by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Jay Fleck
You can’t go wrong with this fun Halloween guide, where two adorable dinosaurs share six essential trick-or-treating tips. Perfect for little dinosaur fans!