Halloween Books for K thru 2nd Graders

Wow, it's been way too long since I had time to sit and write a post. Full time teaching has me swamped (to put it mildly). The Lil Divas and I haven't had much time for cool crafts or extra activities but we always make time for books and reading. That's our sacred time around here and no matter how busy (or stressed out) this mama gets - I always make time for us to read together.

Being that it's October and the girls are in full Halloween prep mode, I thought I'd share some of our fave Halloween themed chapter books with you. If your kids (or students) are anything like mine Halloween frenzy is in full effect so instead of trying to fight, this mama rolls with it and uses it to gain their interest in books amidst all the excitement.

Today, I wanted to share 10 of our favorite Halloween themed books for readers in Kindergarten thru 2nd grade.

Picture Books 


Room on the Broom - This has been one of the Lil Divas favorite Halloween books for years. Repetitive rhymes make this a wonderful read-aloud and as always Julia Donaldson's illustrations are lovely and engaging. Children will enjoy coming along on the witch's adventure as she generously let's animals aboard her broom. When her broom breaks and a dragon tries to eat her, it's the animals turn to save her. Children will enjoy the not-so-spooky witch and her broom riding adventure.


Hallo-Weiner - An adorable book about a dachshund who gets made fun of for his size and shape by the mean dogs in his neighborhood. On Halloween his mom makes him a hotdog costume which means even more teasing than ever. All seems hopeless until he saves the other dogs from the lake, proving his bravery and finally gaining their acceptance. This is such a hilarious story.  Not only is Oscar a lovable hero but the illustrations will have kids laughing out loud. This is one story that is sure to be read over and over again.



The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything - I love reading this book aloud to kids. It's so fun to read and they always get into it and help "read" once it gets going. A fun book to act out and get kids moving a bit while you read. It's also a wonderful book to use when work on prediction skills and story sequencing.


Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise - Whether you have read these books before or never read any before, this Mercy Watson installment is sure to please. The Lil Divas found princess Mercy hilarious (what's not funny about a pig dressed in a pink princess dress). The illustrations really add to the text and these books are perfect for K-1 readers and as read-alouds for younger kids.

Early Readers and Chapter Books 


Happy Haunting, Amelia Bedelia - The Lil Divas are at an age (6 and 7) where they can really appreciate how funny the Amelia Bedelia books are with all of her hilarious "misunderstandings". This one has a Halloween theme and is great for those starting to read on their own. It isn't too hard and the illustrations showcase the "word play" adding to the overall comprehension and understanding. 


Nate the Great and the Halloween Hunt - Nate the Great books are great for readers beginning to tackle longer books who want to delve into first chapter books. The books aren't too long and make use of many illustrations. In this book Nate's friend Rosamond needs his help to find her lost cat. Of course Nate takes the case and off he goes with his faithful dog Sludge to find her. The Lil Divas always enjoy trying to figure out the case with the clues before Nate's big reveal and the "extras" provided at the back of the book provide some fun book extension activities for both home and school.


Heidi Heckelbeck in Disguise - This is a fun beginner chapter book series with illustrations throughout that help hold a new chapter readers attention. In this particular book Heidi who does not like scary costumes decides to dress up as one of her friends when she finds out she is going to be a witch. Is it funny or poking fun? Great conversation starter on how to treat others and keep people's feelings in mind.



Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve - Magic Tree House fans (we are!) will delight in this spooky adventure as Jack and Annie travel to a haunted castle to recover Merlin's stolen Stone of Destiny. This is mysterious, spooky fun which kids will enjoy as they try to figure out what is making the castle haunted and try to return it to normal. 


Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew: The Halloween Hoax - The Clue Crew series is a huge hit in our house. They are perfect to read together. In this book, Nancy, George and Bess are trying to uncover the mystery of a haunted studio set of their favorite show. Kids will have fun trying to piece it all together along with the Clue Crew.


Junie B., First Grader: Boo....and I Mean It! - My 1st grader gets such a kick out of Junie B. In this Halloween themed book one of Junie's classmates tells her some scary "truths" about Halloween that leave her too scared to enjoy trick-or-treating. She's on a quest to find a scary costume to scare the monsters that are out on Halloween night. Unfortunately, her clown costume doesn't scare anyone. Junie B. is left scared and unhappy until her Dad returns home from a business trip and receives a huge fright when he peeks in at her sleeping.