Spooktacular October: 10 New and Timeless Books for Kids to Read this Halloween

Let’s face it, Halloween can be a great holiday for kids. Dressing up in costumes, telling terrifying stories, carving jack-o’-lanterns, street parties and trick-or-treating. Or perhaps this is the perfect time to pick a scary book and stay in to read it!

Here we’ve come up with a list of 10 new and timeless books for kids of all ages to read in the spooky month of October.

Rules for Vampires by Alex Foulkes, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie

A monstrously funny and devilishly dark new adventure from debut talent Alex Foulkes, illustrated throughout by the award-winning Sara Ogilvie, Rules for Vampires is the series that fans of Lemony Snickett and Skulduggery Pleasant will devour for breakfast.

Ages 9+

Buy a copy of Rules for Vampires here.

There’s a Ghost in this House by Oliver Jeffers

A young girl lives in a haunted house, but has never seen a ghost. Are they white with holes for eyes? Are they hard to see? She’d love to know! Step inside and turn the transparent pages to help her on an entertaining ghost hunt, from behind the sofa, right up to the attic. With lots of friendly ghost surprises and incredible mixed-media illustrations, this unique and funny book will entertain young readers over and over again!

Ages 3+

Buy a copy of There’s a Ghost in this House here.

How to Make a Pet Monster #2: Flummox by Lili Wilkinson, illustrated by Dustin Spence

Willow wants to make a best friend, but she’s worried. Now that she knows monsters are REAL, what if this new one is REALLY dangerous? Doesn’t everyone want their very own pet monster? Flummox is the second book in a fantastically readable, gloriously funny and collectable new junior fiction series.

Ages 7+

Buy a copy of Flummox here.

Horror Heights: The Slime by Bec Hill

Welcome to Horror Heights: can the children who live here conceal the strange goings-on behind closed doors? GOOSEBUMPS for a new generation, by award-winning comedian and CITV presenter Bec Hill.

Ages 8+

Buy a copy of The Slime here.

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Alex Scheffler

A very funny story of quick wits and friendship, Room on the Broom is another smash hit from the unparalleled picture-book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo. Room on the Broom placed #8 on Better Reading’s 2021 Top 50 Kids’ Books.

Ages 2+

Buy a copy of Room on the Broom here.

Serpent and Dove #3: Gods & Monsters by Shelby Mahurin

Lou has spent her whole life running. Now, after a crushing blow from Morgane, the time has come to go home—and claim what is rightfully hers. Gods & Monsters is the electrifying conclusion to the New York Times and Indiebound bestselling Serpent & Dove trilogy is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Kendare Blake.

YA readers

Buy a copy of Gods & Monsters here.

School of Monsters: Bat-Boy Tim Says BOO! by Sally Rippin

Welcome to the School of Monsters:the funniest, silliest and most accessible series for first readers! With tumbling rhymes and an infectious sense of humour, the weird and wonderful students at the School of Monsters are guaranteed to spark a love of reading!

Ages 4+

Buy a copy of Bat-Boy Tim Says BOO! here.

There’s a Monster in Your Book by Tom Fletcher

Shake, wiggle, spin and tickle the mischievous monster out of this book – an interactive read-aloud treat with a wonderful bedtime wind-down from McFly-star and bestselling children’s book author Tom Fletcher!

Ages 0+

Buy a copy of There’s a Monster in Your Book here.

Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories by Jeff Kinney

Scare yourself silly with Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories by Jeff Kinney, the #1 international bestselling author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid! Grab a flashlight, crawl under the covers, and dive into the twisted, unexpectedly hilarious world of Rowley Jefferson’s imagination.

Ages 7+

Buy a copy of Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories here.

A Series of Unfortunate Events #1: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snickett

In the tradition of great storytellers, from Dickens to Dahl, comes an exquisitely dark comedy that is both literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted. Never before has a tale of three likeable and unfortunate children been quite so enchanting, or quite so uproariously unhappy.

Ages 6+

Buy a copy of The Bad Beginning here.