They’re just thirteen ordinary kids in thirteen ordinary towns. Or is there something more eerie going on? Debut author Josh Allen masterfully concocts horror in the most innocent of places. Everyday objects suddenly become menacing and familiar spaces turn sinister. You’ll sleep with one eye open . . . because if you don’t, you might not ever wake up again. A glow-in-the-dark cover and thirteen eerie full-page illustrations by award-winning artist Sarah J. Coleman accompany the tales in this frightful mashup that reads like a contemporary Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Boo! Kids of all ages love scary children’s books that explore the spooky side of life. Creepy stories for kids can help young ones learn new skills and cope with fear and anxiety. While supernatural tales help children expand their imagination, other stories about misfit monsters can help kids accept those who are “different.” In this list of 50 must-read scary children’s books for kids of all ages, you’ll find picture books, early readers and chapter books, and middle grade novels, poetry, and graphic novels to chill and thrill. Book descriptions generously supplied by publishers and condensed or edited when necessary.
For Kids Who Enjoy Picture Books
Babu and Bina at the Ghost Party by P. Tomar and Giulia Iacopini
“When these two curious elephant kids get themselves trapped in an isolated cavern, they stumble upon the ancient ghost of a great Maharaja, the king! Instead of being afraid of the ghost, Babu and Bina make a bargain – and that’s where the fun begins! This colorful, imaginative picture book, brings a fresh set of characters to life in a story that highlights Indian History with a ghostly adventure, combining the spirit of The Polar Express by Chris Van, Matilda by Roald Dahl and family fun of Robert Munsch books!” (Goodreads)
Dhegdheer, a Scary Somali Folktale by Marian A. Hassan and Betsey Brown
Ghosts in the House! By Kazuno Kohar
Go Away, Big Green Monster! By Ed Emberley
“Caldecott Award-winner Ed Emberley has created an ingenious way for children to overcome bedtime frights. As kids turn the die-cut pages of this vibrantly illustrated book, they’ll watch the Big Green Monster grow before their very eyes. Then, when they’re ready to show him who’s in charge, they’ll turn the remaining pages and watch him disappear!
Hershel and the Holiday Goblins by Eric Kimmel and Trina Schart Hyman
“On the first night of Hanukkah, a weary traveler named Hershel of Ostropol eagerly approaches a village, where plenty of latkes and merriment should warm him.
Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes and Yuyi Morales
“Under October’s luna, full and bright, the monsters are throwing a ball in the Haunted Hall. Las brujas come on their broomsticks. Los muertos rise from their coffins to join in the fun. Los esqueletos rattle their bones as they dance through the door. And the scariest creatures of all aren’t even there yet! This lively bilingual Halloween poem introduces young readers to a spooky array of Spanish words that will open their ojos to the chilling delights of the season.” (Goodreads)
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams and Megan Lloyd
“Once upon a time, there was a little old lady who was not afraid of anything! But one autumn night, while walking in the woods, the little old lady heard . . . clomp, clomp, shake, shake, clap, clap.
I Want to Be in a Scary Story by Sean Taylor and Jean Jullien
Quit Calling Me a Monster! by Jory John and Bob Shea
A Werewolf Named Oliver James by Nicholas John Frith
“On his way home one moonlit night, a strange thing happens to Oliver James — he unexpectedly turns into a werewolf! He can’t believe it, it’s so . . . AMAZING.
For Kids Who Enjoy Early Readers and Chapter Books
Have No Fear! Halloween Is Here! by Tish Rabe and Tom Brennan
In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz and Dirk Zimmer
“In a dark, dark room, in a soft, soft voice, tell a scary story! Newly reillustrated, this classic I Can Read full of spooky stories is perfect for beginning readers who love a bit of a scare.
Lulu Goes to Witch School by Jane O’Connor and Bella Sinclair
“Lulu the witch girl is a little nervous about her first day of school, but she heads off with her broom and Dracula lunch box. She immediately loves pretty new teacher, Miss Slime, especially her wart. Lulu’s first flying lesson around the cemetery goes great.
My Monster Burrufu by Alberto Corral and Alessandra Surrentino
The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches by Alice Low and Jane Manning
For Kids Who Read Middle Grade
Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe
“BEWARE THE HARE! Is he or isn’t he a vampire? Before it’s too late, Harold the dog and Chester the cat must find out the truth about the newest pet in the Monroe household—a suspicious-looking bunny with unusual habits… and fangs! Could this innocent-seeming rabbit actually be a vampire?” (Goodreads)
The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand
“Victoria hates nonsense. There is no need for it when your life is perfect. The only smudge on her pristine life is her best friend Lawrence. He is a disaster—lazy and dreamy, shirt always untucked, obsessed with his silly piano. Victoria often wonders why she ever bothered being his friend. (Lawrence does too.) But then Lawrence goes missing. And he’s not the only one. Victoria soon discovers that The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls is not what it appears to be. Kids go in but come out . . . different. Or they don’t come out at all.
Charlie and the Grandmothers by Katy Towell
“Charlie and Georgie Oughtt have been sent to visit their Grandmother Pearl, and this troubles Charlie for three reasons. The first is that he’s an exceptionally nervous twelve-year-old boy, and he worries about everything. The second is that the other children in his neighborhood who pay visits to their grandmothers never seem to return. And the third is that Charlie and Georgie don’t have any grandmothers. Upon their arrival, all of Charlie’s concerns are confirmed, as “Grandmother Pearl” quickly reveals herself to be something much more gruesome than even Charlie’s most outlandish fears could have predicted. He and Georgie are thrust into a creepy underworld created from stolen nightmares, where monsters disguised as grandmothers serve an ancient, evil queen by holding children captive as they slowly sap each one of their memories and dreams.
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
“Ever since Cass almost drowned (okay, she did drown, but she doesn’t like to think about it), she can pull back the Veil that separates the living from the dead . . . and enter the world of spirits. Her best friend is even a ghost. So things are already pretty strange. But they’re about to get much stranger. When Cass’s parents start hosting a TV show about the world’s most haunted places, the family heads off to Edinburgh, Scotland. Here, graveyards, castles, and secret passageways teem with restless phantoms. And when Cass meets a girl who shares her “gift,” she realizes how much she still has to learn about the Veil — and herself.
Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys by Xavier Garza
The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural by Patricia McKissak
Doll Bones by Holly Black
“Zach, Poppy, and Alice have been friends forever. And for almost as long, they’ve been playing one continuous, ever-changing game of pirates and thieves, mermaids and warriors. Ruling over all is the Great Queen, a bone-china doll cursing those who displease her. But they are in middle school now. Zach’s father pushes him to give up make-believe, and Zach quits the game. Their friendship might be over, until Poppy declares she’s been having dreams about the Queen—and the ghost of a girl who will not rest until the bone-china doll is buried in her empty grave.
The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey
“The Gashlycrumb Tinies: or, After the Outing is an abecedarian book written by Edward Gorey that was first published in 1963. Gorey tells the tale of 26 children (each representing a letter of the alphabet) and their untimely deaths in rhyming dactylic couplets, accompanied by the author’s distinctive black and white illustrations. It is one of Edward Gorey’s best-known books, and is the most notorious amongst his roughly half-dozen mock alphabets.” (Goodreads)
Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith
“Twelve-year-old Hoodoo Hatcher was born into a family with a rich tradition of practicing folk magic: hoodoo, as most people call it. But even though his name is Hoodoo, he can’t seem to cast a simple spell.
The House in Poplar Wood by K.E. Orsmbee
The House With a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs
Jackaby by William Ritter
The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
The Nest by Kenneth Oppel
“For some kids summer is a sun-soaked season of fun. But for Steve, it’s just another season of worries. Worries about his sick newborn baby brother who is fighting to survive, worries about his parents who are struggling to cope, even worries about the wasp’s nest looming ominously from the eaves. So when a mysterious wasp queen invades his dreams, offering to ‘fix’ the baby, Steve thinks his prayers have been answered.
The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
“The Night Gardener follows two abandoned Irish siblings who travel to work as servants at a creepy, crumbling English manor house. But the house and its family are not quite what they seem. Soon the children are confronted by a mysterious spectre and an ancient curse that threatens their very lives. With Auxier’s exquisite command of language, The Night Gardener is a mesmerizing read and a classic in the making.” (Goodreads)
Night of the Living Dummy by R.L. Stine
“When twins Lindy and Kris find a ventriloquist’s dummy in a Dumpster, Lindy decides to “rescue” it, and she names it Slappy. But Kris is green with envy. It’s not fair. Why does Lindy get to have all the fun and all the attention? Kris decides to get a dummy of her own. She’ll show Lindy. Then weird things begin to happen. Nasty things. Evil things. It can’t be the dummy causing all the trouble, Can it?” (Goodreads)
Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep by Jack Prelutsky
“This book contains 12 frightening poems about creepy creatures that will haunt your sleep. Included are poems about haunted houses, bogeyman, vampires, werewolves, and skeletons.” (Scholastic)
A Properly Unhaunted Place by William Alexander
“Rosa Ramona Díaz has just moved to the small, un-haunted town of Ingot—the only ghost-free town in the world. She doesn’t want to be there. She doesn’t understand how her mother—a librarian who specializes in ghost-appeasement—could possibly want to live in a place with no ghosts. Frankly, she doesn’t understand why anyone would. Jasper Chevalier has always lived in Ingot. His father plays a knight at the local Renaissance Festival, and his mother plays the queen. Jasper has never seen a ghost, and can’t imagine his un-haunted town any other way. Then an apparition thunders into the festival grounds and turns the quiet town upside down.
Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker
“The haunted season has arrived in the Antler Wood. No fox kit is safe.
Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac
“Molly’s father, who grew up on the Mohawk Reserve of Akwesasne, always had the best scary stories. One of her favorites was the legend of Skeleton Man, a gruesome tale about a man with such insatiable hunger he ate his own flesh before devouring those around him.
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh
“A riveting ghost story and captivating adventure, this tale will have you guessing at every turn! Harper doesn’t trust her new home from the moment she steps inside, and the rumors are that the Raine family’s new house is haunted. Harper isn’t sure she believes those rumors, until her younger brother, Michael, starts acting strangely.
Thornhill by Pam Smy
“1982: Mary is a lonely orphan at the Thornhill Institute For Children at the very moment that it’s shutting its doors. When her few friends are all adopted or re-homed and she’s left to face a volatile bully alone, her revenge will have a lasting effect on the bully, on Mary, and on Thornhill itself. 2017: Ella has just moved to a new town where she knows no one. From her room on the top floor of her new home, she has a perfect view of the dilapidated, abandoned Thornhill Institute across the way, where she glimpses a girl in the window. Determined to befriend the girl and solidify the link between them, Ella resolves to unravel Thornhill’s shadowy past.
Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn
“Since its publication in 1986, the deliciously frightening novel Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story has not only haunted countless readers, but has also won eleven state book awards. The spine-chilling tale begins when twelve-year-old Molly and her ten-year-old brother, Michael, learn that they’ll be moving to a refurbished old church in rural Maryland with their mother’s new husband, Dave, and their younger stepsister, Heather. Heather is an insufferable brat, but that turns out to be the least of the family’s worries. When she strikes up a friendship with Helen, the malevolent ghost of a seven-year-old girl who died in a mysterious fire more than a hundred years ago, things really heat up . . . and Heather’s unsettling threat, “Wait till Helen comes,” becomes a grim reality.”
Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio
Whichwood by Tahereh Mafi
“Laylee can barely remember the happier times before her beloved mother died. Before her father, driven by grief, lost his wits (and his way) and she was left as the sole remaining mordeshoor in the village of Whichwood, destined to spend her days scrubbing the skins and souls of the dead in preparation for the afterlife. It’s become easy to forget and easier still to ignore not only her ever-increasing loneliness, but the way her overworked hands are stiffening and turning silver, just like her hair.
A Witch’s Kitchen by Dianna Sanchez
For Kids Who Read Middle Grade Graphic Novels
Coraline by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell
“When Coraline steps through a door to find another house strangely similar to her own (only better), things seem marvelous. But there’s another mother there, and another father, and they want her to stay and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go.
Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
Nightlights by Lorena Alvarez
“Every night, tiny stars appear out of the darkness in little Sandy’s bedroom. She catches them and creates wonderful creatures to play with until she falls asleep, and in the morning brings them back to life in the whimsical drawings that cover her room.
The Okay Witch by Emily Steinkellner
Suee and the Shadow by Ginger Ly and Molly Park
Sheets by Brenna Thummler
“Marjorie Glatt feels like a ghost. A practical thirteen-year-old in charge of the family laundry business, her daily routine features unforgiving customers, unbearable P.E. classes, and the fastidious Mr. Saubertuck who is committed to destroying everything she’s worked for. Wendell is a ghost. A boy who lost his life much too young, his daily routine features ineffective death therapy, a sheet-dependent identity, and a dangerous need to seek purpose in the forbidden human world.
The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi
For further coverage of scary children’s literature, check out:
“28 of the Spookiest Scary Books for Kids and Teens.” “26 of the Best Halloween Books for Kids (That Are Only Slightly Scary)” “How GOOSEBUMPS Influenced Children’s Horror”
