Sweet and Spooky Halloween Read-Alouds

Looking for a new Halloween read-aloud? These titles are classroom-tested in grades K-4 and even capture the attention of my moody middle schooler! Read on for the very best Halloween picture book and chapter book read alouds that include simple journal prompts to keep the discussion flowing!

October in Florida looks and feels like an extension of summer, so reading books about changing leaves, pumpkin farms, chilly wind gusts, cozy sweaters, and apple cider is a form of escapism for those of us suffocating under a wet blanket of humidity. I simply cannot wait to introduce these fabulous Halloween read-alouds!

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A Spoonful of Frogs By: Casey Lyall

Step into a witch’s kitchen to make Frog Soup! Toss in some common pantry ingredients, stir it up, and don’t forget the pièce de ré·sis·tance: a spoonful of frogs. But first you have to catch them! The main character reminds me of a cross between Nigella Lawson and Samantha from Bewitched, and watching her chase down her prime ingredient never ceases to be funny. 

Writing Prompt: Make up a recipe for a special witch’s brew. Include ingredients and directions for cooking.

Stumpkin By: Lucy Ruth Cummins

Stumpkin dreams of being carried off by a family and carved into a jack-o-lantern for Halloween, displayed prominently in the apartment window like all of his pumpkin friends. But he has one problem: no one wants to carve a pumpkin without a stem. Although simple in style, the illustrations pack a big punch. This is a sweet little story (dare I say a modern Halloween classic?) with a big opportunity for students to make connections.

Writing Prompt: Write the dialogue between Stumpkin and the shop owner.

Bonaparte Falls Apart By: Margery Cuyler

No bones about it, Bonaparte really needs to pull himself together. No matter what he does or where he goes he loses a limb, and it’s even worse when he can’t find them! And now he’s really starting to worry—what will happen when he goes to school?? Luckily he has a bone-ified trio of friends who work together to help Bonaparte stay in one piece. The humerus bone puns and clever resolution will warm you right down to the, er, bone.

Writing Prompt: How can you be a good friend to someone in need?

Hardly Haunted By: Jessie Sima

Days come and go but no one wants to buy the dusty old house. Her pipes rattle, her doors creak, and her floorboards groan. Could she—gasp—be haunted? One particularly blustery night the house discovers that she actually enjoys being noisy and maybe being haunted isn’t quite so bad. A not-so-spooky story with a sweet message about just being yourself.

Writing Prompt: Write a “For Sale” advertisement for the haunted house.

How Big Could Your Pumpkin Grow? By: Wendell Minor

Every year, giant pumpkin contests take home blue ribbons at fairs across the country–the 2023 record-holder weighed over 2,700 pounds! The latest craze is to carve the most enormous pumpkins into racing boats. But what’s next? Why not think really big? Although simple in text, you can see students’ imaginations whirring as they brainstorm the myriad of creative potential a giant pumpkin could offer.

Writing Prompt: Where do you imagine finding a giant pumpkin?

The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky By: Jory John and Pete Oswald

The Bad Seed is back and he’s in a baaaaad mood. The pressure of coming up with a “perfect, original, showstopping costume” is just too much and he can’t cope. In true Bad Seed fashion, he does something that he regrets and realizes that he has to make it right again. A life lesson embedded into a Halloween book? Sign me up.

Writing Prompt: What really matters when celebrating holidays?

The Scariest Story You’ve Ever Heard! By: Ron Keres

Talk about building anticipation! Two brothers are awakened at midnight by a crack of thunder and noises coming from the kitchen. Could it be monsters? An intruder? And why is it so angry?? What it lacks in illustrations it makes up for in suspense and onomatopoeic rhythm and rhyme. Reminiscent of B.J. Novak’s The Book With No Pictures, it’s great fun to read aloud and even more fun to reveal the surprise ending!   

Writing Prompt: Write your own version of The Scariest Story You’ve Ever Heard.

How to Make Friends with a Ghost By: Rebecca Green

I love this book so much. It’s adorable and cute and funny and I never get tired of reading it aloud. Even the end papers are delightfully charming!

What should one do if befriended by a ghost? This how-to guide is full of witty advice for your ghost’s well-being, quirky and sweet diagrams, and essential tips to nurture your friendship for an entire lifetime and beyond…

Writing Prompt: If you had a ghost as a friend, what would you enjoy doing with it?

The Witches By: Roald Dahl

If you have older students, I highly recommend procuring a copy of Roald Dahl’s The Witches (the older and more tattered the better) and reading “How to Recognise a Real Witch.”

Put on a witch’s hat while you read for a simple and spooky read-aloud your students will remember for years to come.

See this post for more inspiration and a graphic organizer freebie!

yours in (spooky) reading,
rawley