The Best Halloween Picture Books of 2026
Happy October, friends! It’s been a while since we’ve had a good old-fashioned picture book list, but you know I can’t skip out on Halloween. I will continue to beat the drum and be the loudest advocate for spooky books for kids - and I’m happy to report that there are indeed a few legitimate spooky stories this year. Good work, publishers!
I find it endlessly fascinating that publishers tend to shy away from being spooky in picture books - because stories that scared me are far and away the best book memories of my childhood, and I know I can’t be the only one. And for that reason, as always, books that are legitimately a little scary tend to get a few bonus points on this list.
And, naturally, books that are actually literally about Halloween get a lot of bonus points too. That sounds like a strange thing to point out on a Halloween picture book list, but they don’t really all mention the holiday. Sometimes they qualify simply because there is a witch, or a ghost, or a lot of pumpkins. The only rule for qualification I have is that I know it when I see it.
This truly is my favorite list to put together every year. You get books that are the perfect amount of spooky and you get books that celebrate trick-or-treating and all of the magic of Halloween - what more could you ask for? This is what memories are made of.
But before we get to the top 13 countdown, here is a list of all the runners-up we were considering - in no particular order! It was a close one for several of these!
Pumpkin Smash!
To Knit a Ghost
School Spirits
Halloween Street
Monsters Play… Trick or Treat
Mysterious Mittens: A Moontime Cats Halloween Story
The Huntsman and the Witches
Vampurr
Maybe Monsters
The Skeleton and the Cat
The Pumpkin Thief
Lowly Worm Saves Halloween
The Ghost Who Saved Halloween
How to Scare a Mouse and Bear
The Haunted Playground
Frankenkitty
The Witch’s Cat and the Broomstick Blunder
Monsters are the Worst
How to Draw a Zombie
Little Ghost’s Summerween
Who Knows the Way to Mr. Grimly’s Classroom
And now, without further ado, let’s get to the spooky and Halloweeny hits of 2026!
13. Millie Fleur’s Pumpkin Problem
Written and Illustrated by Christy Mandin
I like Millie Fleur’s combination of spooky things, empathy, and a bit of education too. In fact, we have a Millie Fleur Halloween sticker on the front door of the bookshop right now. Mandin’s art is great at building a memorable atmosphere, and naturally fall time and pumpkin patches are the perfect match for the series.
It’s not really overtly Halloween, but I do spy a carved jack o’ lantern. And there’s very little better representation of the season than a pumpkin patch as far as I’m concerned. I particularly love the two-page spread of the pumpkin patch at dusk. And I’m a very big fan of the walking shed.
12. Have you Ever Seen a Ghost?
Written by Daniel Kwan & Julia Pott and Illustrated by Sean Lewis
Sean Lewis’ illustrations are really beautiful, and they really make this book stand out. I also like how you have to use your imagination for most of this book. I think that makes for a fun read aloud, because most of the time you can’t see the ghost at all. But there are plenty of clues along the way - including a very cute little hidden ghost in the title of the book itself.
But mostly I think this book is just very much my aesthetic. The art just looks really good. It’s not spooky at all - a feel good story through and through. Ghost is going to a party and they’re nervous about it because there’s a ghost named Martha there. I mean it’s cute, it’s beautifully illustrated, it’s got ghosts - what more do you want for an October book?
11. The House with Nobody In It
Written and Illustrated by Jon Klassen
In the press releases and early reviews, it’s been said that Jon Klassen is experimenting with what people thought board books were capable of. The House with Nobody In It does this by being simultaneously spooky, funny, and a bit sad if you think about it.
I guess it’s spooky in a sense simply because there is a ghost that is never mentioned. That has to be interesting for little ones immediately. What the heck is this ghost doing here so prominently and why aren’t we talking about it? That simple inclusion that is never mentioned is the heart of this very short story - and it’s enough to fire up the imagination of a little one and force them to make up their own story.
The only reason it’s not higher on this list is because even for a ghost book it doesn’t feel tremendously like a seasonal book by any means. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be one of my favorite books of the year.
10. The Cow in the Dark at Night
Written and Illustrated by Jess Hannigan
Jess Hannigan is awesome. The Cow in the Dark at Night is another book that obviously released about this time of year for a reason, but at the same time it isn’t completely obviously a Halloween book. But this cow goes on a slightly spooky nighttime adventure, and bumps into aliens and a vampire. And you know what they always say, if you draw a vampire in your book you got a Halloween book on your hands.
I adore Hannigan’s art style and her humor. She has quickly become an artist to look out for and I eagerly anticipate what she comes out with next because it’s always a very enjoyable and beautiful work of art. I’m glad she tackled my favorite time of year with something slightly on the eerie side here, but naturally still very lighthearted and fun.
9. Cat’s Halloween
Written and Illustrated by Alison Murray
Now this book is definitely about Halloween! Every single page captures the feelings of the season. The costumes, the trick-or-treating, the decorations, spooky trees, witches - it’s all wonderful. Maybe I’m just a sucker for cats, but I really enjoy this story. It’s cute and sweet, but it has an image or two that are legitimately spooky enough to fire up the imaginations of young ones.
I really like that cover with the grumpy cat in the pumpkin. We have a Halloween curmudgeon situation on our hands here, because Cat is not a big fan of Halloween. But is it possible he’ll find something to love about it?
8. C is for Chupacabra
Written by Lil’ Libros and Illustrated by Flavia Z. Drago
I love the art of Flavia Z. Drago, and she’s made something really incredible with this one. I kind of getting the feeling this one is flying under the radar. I don’t think the cover does the rest of the book justice. Just flip it open to any of the elaborately illustrated pages and you’ll see how special this book is.
This is an alphabet book that is also one of my favorite genres of books - fictional atlases or encyclopedias. Each page is a monster or spooky mythical creature from Latin America. It’s truly educational because I’ve never heard of a lot of these creatures. And it feeds my love for scary and creepy things too. And holy smokes Drago’s art is so good.
7. Scritch! Scratch!: An Itchy Witchy Halloween Tale
Written by Teri Sloat and Illustrated by Zuzana Cupova
I know for a fact there are kids out there who want their Halloween picture books to actually be scary, because I was one of them. And Scritch! Scratch! is spooky folks. A witch is trying to break into the house and if that’s not already scary enough I don’t know what to tell you.
I’m tell you folks, the image of the witch sitting on the roof is an all-time creepy one. Even the ending is a scary twist. I know this type of book isn’t for everyone, because for some crazy reason I don’t understand some parents don’t like scaring their kids. But for those of you looking for a scary Halloween picture book this one is a can’t miss.
6. Cackle Crackle: Letters from the Witch
Written by Annie Atkins and Illustrated by Taryn Knight
Brought to you by the same creator as the beautiful Letters from the North Pole, this is another very special keepsake complete with letters and magic spells that you open up and take out of the book. I know there are folks out there with fond memories of things like the Jolly Postman, and there isn’t something truly memorable for kiddos about opening up physical letters like this. It really brings it to life.
The magic spells are definitely a nice touch too. The witch theming is great and I can picture imaginative little ones trying all the spells that are included. And Knight’s illustrations are the perfect compliment to the complete package. It’s obviously crafted from top to bottom to stand out as something special and something different - and that’s the kind of thing I believe kids remember when they grow up.
5. Mother Boo: Poems from Spookytown
Written by Vikki VanSickle and Illustrated by Jennica Lounsbury
One of my favorite Halloween books of all time is It’s Halloween by Jack Prelutsky. And the thing I like about it so much is that it has poems that capture the spirit of Halloween, and it’s also not afraid to be cute and silly at times and then suddenly scary. There are only a few images in the book that I think classify as something that might scare kids, but that’s enough for me! Honestly most of the book is very sweet and not-so-scary.
The poems are very fun and completely original - and the art really stands out as something special. I like this aesthetic a lot - and the two-page spread of October County is perhaps the best new piece of Halloween art we have gotten this year. So gorgeous! All the October feels.
4. The Night
Written and Illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio
This incredible wordless picture book was inspired by Hansel and Gretel - and gosh dangit it’s some of the spookiest illustrations I’ve seen in a picture book in years. The Night makes this year’s Halloween picture book list because it has a few legitimately terrifying pieces of imagery. NorthSouth Books deserves all the kudos in the world for publishing this book from the Mariachiara Di Giorgio, who is quickly becoming one of my very favorite artists - particularly when it comes to haunting, dreamlike, and spooky images.
I honestly don’t even know what to say about this book. You have to put the story together yourself since there are no words. The kids seem to have a babysitter that they’re scare of - like they think she’s a witch. And the long dark hallway and the images of her sleeping are just nightmare fuel. It’s amazing. It’s ambitious. It’s undeniably different. I’m just so happy art like this gets made.
3. A Witch Lives Here
Written by Kristen Dickson and Illustrated by Justine Gilbuena
This one took me by surprise because I did not anticipate how good of a story it would be or how much I would like the vibes. The colors and the art style remind me of watching Over the Garden Wall and definitely capture the right mood for the season. This is the type of art to make me pay attention and keep an eye out for what Dickson and Gilbuena work on next! Just a pleasure from beginning to end.
It’s simply a well-crafted book. I love the structure about looking for clues that a witch lives in this house. And I think it has a perfect full-circle and memorable ending. Truly great stuff. And the details in the art along the way just make it a very enjoyable trip you can really take your time on. And that frog riding on a broom and waving? Chef’s kiss.
2. Wonderful Halloween
Written and Illustrated by Emily Winfield Martin
I think Emily Winfield Martin has really created something special with this little Halloween board book. Holiday board books have a reputation of truly being throw away books cashing in on the holidays because publishers know they will sell well. But this spectacular little work of art is anything but by the numbers.
This is a beautiful little poem that so perfectly captures the magic of the season. Every single page - and I mean every single one - is a beautiful work of art that could be sold as an art print. It is truly an absolute delight, and I legitimately think it could be my new favorite Halloween board book. If someone is looking for a gift for baby’s first Halloween book or anything like that - this truly has to be the recommendation from now on. It would be an injustice for this not to become a classic.
1. Midnight Manor: A Backwards Bedtime Book
Written and Illustrated by Sid Sharp
The #1 picture book on our 2026 Halloween Picture Book list is the newest book from the inimitable Sid Sharp. Just try to imitate Sid. See, I told you. it can’t be done. You may remember their work from the very special Bog Myrtle - a former Dad Suggests Picture Book Awards winner.
What we’re doing here for much of the book is taking inventory like in Goodnight Moon. One by one we say hello to the creatures in the manor - with very cozy alliteration. And this taking of inventory allows Sid the perfect opportunity to show off their imagination and art. Page after page of hellos allows for so many fun new scenes. What else can we put into this zany spooky place?
I don’t know why, but one of my favorite parts of the book is how there are characters who look completely normal and out of place at first, but turn out to be spooky too - like Hector who randomly takes off his head and is later found eating a table.
And towards the end of the book we switch from an inventory of hellos to our list of goodbyes. We get a cute and overt tribute to Goodnight Moon, and it becomes obviously clear this really is a bedtime book for cool kids.
Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you have a very happy and spooky Halloween!
