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The excitement for trick or treating, costumes, tummy flipping scares, and the inevitable sugar rush has been building all month, and now is merely hours away. If your book loving child is like me, they are thriving during this season! If you are looking for a special treat to help them hold on to the season a little bit longer, these child friendly spooky reads are always favorites for the younger readers in our house!
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: Three Books to Chill Your Bones by Alvin Schwartz
Many of us remember Alvin Schwartz’s books, starting from early readers books of In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories. As a child the Scary Stories books were a staple to any spooky reading list.
This collection of stories are some of the most terrifying tales of horror, revenge, and supernatural events of all time, collected and retold by Alvin Schwartz and featuring the classic artwork by Stephen Gammell.
Now available in a hardcover edition includes the complete original books in the series in one volume: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones.
For older readers that are interested this book was also made into a movie adaption, although it may not be appropriate for younger ages.
Eddie and the Vegetarian Vampire by Dennis M. Desmond
An Amaryllis Collective Author!
Twelve-year-old Eddie, short, pudgy, hard-of-sight, his nose buried in a book, has no idea how he wound up in the Sisters of Mercy Orphanage as an infant or why he can’t be adopted. He gets the shock of his life one evening when the bat in the orphanage basement transforms into a vampire and introduces himself as Count Bloodless. The starving Count is also an orphan, rejected by his vampire family because he is vegetarian. An unexpected friendship blossoms as Eddie helps the Count find the food he desperately needs to survive, and the vampire helps Eddie unlock the secret of his past.
“Eddie and the Vegetarian Vampire” was named by Kirk’s Reviews Magazine as one the Best Books of 2023 and hailed by The Children’s Book Review as “sweet, funny, and thought-provoking,” Eddie and the Vegetarian Vampire shows how family and belonging can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.”
Charlotte’s Ghosts: The Mystery of the Vanishing Boy by L. P. Simone
An Amaryllis Collective Author!
Charlotte Cross didn’t believe in ghosts, until she met one whose heart was as broken as her own.
The spring before 7th Grade, tragedy strikes C. C. Cross. Dad won’t be coming home from Afghanistan. When her mother packs her up and moves her across the country to Manassas, Virginia, C.C. finds herself in a new neighborhood, a new school and a new life, one without her mighty, fearless, and beloved father. As C.C. struggles to build a new life, she meets a boy on the Civil War Battlefield near her home. Then he disappears right before her eyes. C.C. knows that somehow, she must uncover the truth about the disappearing boy, and why he haunts the Battlefield.
In the spring of 1861 Jeremy Turner wants nothing more than to join Lincoln’s army and shoot himself some Rebels, if only Ma would sign the enlistment papers. Not until he abandons his family farm and leaves behind everything he loves, will Jeremy find his way into the bloodiest war in American history.
Can these two broken hearts help one another find their way home?
Charlotte’s Ghosts: The Mystery of the Vanishing Boy has been awarded nine Indie Medals including Moonbeam Press, Literary Titans and Book Excellence Awards.
The Haunted Purse by Kimberly Baer
An Amaryllis Collective Author!
That old denim purse Libby Dawson bought at the thrift store is no ordinary teenage tote. It’s a bag of secrets, imbued with supernatural powers. Strange items keep turning up inside, clues to a decades-old mystery only Libby can solve.
Filled with apprehension and yet intrigued by the mounting pile of evidence, Libby digs for the truth. And eventually finds it. But the story of the purse is darker than she imagined-and its next horrific chapter is going to be all about her.
Filled with apprehension and yet intrigued by the mounting pile of evidence, Libby digs for the truth. And eventually finds it. But the story of the purse is darker than she imagined-and its next horrific chapter is going to be all about her.
Attack of the Jack-O’-Lanterns by R.L. Stine
For over 30 years the Goosebump books have been giving young readers a steady string of spooky page turners. Attack of the Jack-O’-Lanterns is one of the few Goosebumps reads that embraces the Halloween scare season.
Nothing beats Halloween. It’s Drew Brockman’s favorite holiday. And this year will be awesome. Much better than last year. Or the year Lee and Tabby played that joke. A nasty practical joke on Drew and her best friend, Walker.Yes, this year Drew and Walker have a plan. A plan for revenge. It involves two scary pumpkin heads.But something’s gone wrong. Way wrong. Because the pumpkin heads are a little too scary. A little too real. With strange hissing voices. And flames shooting out of their faces…
Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
No children’s Halloween list would be complete without a nod to the magical spellbound world of witches and wizards. As each of these books encompass a school year, Halloween festivities emerge different books, complete with mysterious voices and ghostly parties.
When Harry Potter is left on a doorstep as a baby, he has no idea he is the Boy Who Lived, or that he is famous throughout the wizarding world. Years later, he is astonished to receive an acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and he is soon whisked off on a magical adventure like no other. Join Harry and his fiercely loyal friends, Hermione and Ron, in this story about the power of truth, love and hope.
What are your kids favorite haunted reads or which ones do you remember from YOUR childhood?
If you enjoyed this Halloween Books for Adults list, check these out:
Find more ways to spoil your inner bookworm!
Check out the Amaryllis Co. Shop, fully stocked with custom designs perfect for every book loving Amaryllis Girl! From shirts, mugs, wine glasses, and more, I have curated a shop with all of my favorites! SHOP HERE! You can also find my collection of bookish merchandise on Etsy.
