Best Halloween Picture Books for Kids

What does a UK author know about the best Halloween picture books for kids? Especially one as long in the slightly rotting tooth as Jon Lymon?

After all, growing up in 1970s and 80s Britain, Halloween was a non-event. At best it was simply something that happened a few days before Bonfire Night. Now THAT was the big autumnal event back in the day, taking place in the cold of early November, the fireworks’ loud bangs and multi-coloured lights challenging ears and delighting eyes as Guys burned and fingers froze, looking forward to hugging mugs of soup on the return home.

Fast forward a generation and have the fifth's flames dimmed in intensity? It seems the Halloween frenzy imported from the other side of the Atlantic has stolen the show. Kids are taking to the dark but not quite so frosty streets of the UK in impressive costumes with buckets they hope to fill with treats.

Homeowners are joining in or zoning out, either topping up on sweets at the supermarket to deter these little ‘uns from playing a trick on them when they answer the door, or employing a ‘blackout, we’re out’ approach to deter them from knocking on the door in the first place.

Whatever parents of my age might think of the idea of their children effectively begging for unhealthy food from the neighbours, these days, Halloween is a bigger event than the UK exclusive November 5^th bangers, rockets, catherine wheels and sparklers.

But one good thing this brings is an array of great children’s books based on the October 31^st event. Royal purple, pumpkin orange, witch cloak black and cauldron content green are the new colours of the season, reflected on the covers of some of the best Halloween books for kids. I’ve only listed the ones I’ve read to my kids below. You know where to go for a more comprehensive list of Halloween picture book favourites.

Room on the Broom

Funny Bones

Meg and Mog

A blog would not be a blog without a reference at the end to some of the author of the post’s works. And it just so happens that Jon Lymon has written a Halloween picture book, called Is It Halloween Yet? It's the tale of Ghouella, a ghost who’s so scared of frightening people, she keeps herself hidden away until she thinks it’s October 31st. But she keeps popping out of her hiding place on the wrong day and frightening people.

In between preparing bowls for apple dunking and answering doors to talking skeletons and shy witches wanting sweets, if you have the time to take a look at a book you might want to read to your kids on the 31^st, one author will certainly see that as a treat.