Diverse Halloween picture books bring a vibrant and inclusive twist to the spooky season, celebrating traditions, characters, and cultures from all around the world. These stories invite readers to explore the magic of Halloween through different lenses, where witches, ghosts, and monsters come in all shapes and backgrounds. With rich illustrations and unique perspectives, diverse Halloween books weave together themes of friendship, bravery, and community, making the holiday more meaningful and enchanting for every reader.
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Halloween/ Spooky Books
I Got the Spooky Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison, illustrated by Frank Morrison, 2024
(Ages 3 and up)
With its lively rhythmic text brimming with onomatopoeia and lush illustrations, this entertaining story following a young girl preparing for Halloween night is an excellent read aloud choice.
Leila The Perfect Witch by Flavia Z. Drago, 2022
(Ages 4 and up)
Not only is this an adorable Halloween story, it is also a great lesson in perseverance, teamwork, and perfectionism. Leila the witch is used to excelling in all that she does, so when she fails at making a cake for the Magnificent Witchy Cake-Off, she is devastated. With the help of her sisters and lots of determination, she creates a spooktacularly sweet sensation. Although she loses the competition, she realizes that as long as she is having fun, she feels like a winner. There is so much to love about this spellbinding story! It is the perfect follow up to the lovable Gustavo.
Frankenslime by Joy Keller; illustrated by Ashley Belote, 2021
(Ages 4 and up)
Victoria Franken is a scientist and after mastering simple slime recipes, she and her dog Igor set their sights even higher. After persevering through several failed experiments, they discover some truly remarkable gooey inventions. When her slime comes alive, however, she fears she has created a monster!
The attention-grabbing illustrations mixed with an exciting storyline make this one a ton of fun to read aloud. Complete with three slime recipes, this engaging STEM story is perfect for budding scientists!
Looking for a Jumbie by Tracey Baptiste; illustrated by Amber Ren, 2021
(Ages 5 and up)
This enchanting play on Going on a Bear Hunt skillfully incorporates Caribbean folklore. Flowing rhymes follow a young girl searching for Jumbies, which are types of creepy creatures. As she finds each one, she discovers they are more friendly and helpful than scary. Her hunt not only turns up a number of Jumbies, but also some new friends.
My children love learning about mythical creatures and adore this lively story. The rhythmic text and mysterious characters make this a good choice for a read aloud for Halloween and all year long!
Samurai Scarecrow: A Very Ninja Halloween by Rubin Pingk, 2018
(Ages 4 and up)
This adorable ninja themed tale winds in spooky elements, but at its heart, it is a sweet story about sibling rivalry.
Kashi adores her older brother, Yukio, and emulates everything he does. When she wears the same Halloween costume, however, Yukio rejects her affection. Feeling remorseful, Yukio demonstrates a kind brotherly act while Kashi proves herself as a clever and brave ninja. 
With its attention-grabbing illustrations and mix of tender and creepy storyline, you won’t want to miss this unique Halloween tale.
Be sure to check companion book, Samurai Santa: A Very Ninja Christmas (2015)!
Trick-or-Treating In the City by Tiffany D. Jackson, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud, 2024
(Ages 4 and up)
This Halloween, with both her parents working, Janelle is torn between trick-or-treating with friends at an apartment building, a rec center, or a special part of town. After some thought, she creates her own new tradition that lets her see all her friends. It’s refreshing to see a Halloween that offers a fresh perspective beyond the usual suburban setting and focuses on celebrating trick-or-treating in the city instead.
Griselda Snook’s Spectacular Books by Barry Timms, illustrated by Laura Borio, 2024
(Ages 4 and up)
When a young boy named Henry meets the enchanting Griselda, she introduces him to the magical world of books where anything is possible. Readers will be captivated by the vibrant pops of neon throughout the illustrations, bringing to life the whimsical store and its unusual patrons.
Too Much Slime! by Frances Gilbert; illustrated by Vin Vogel, 2021
(Ages 4 and up)
With its ooey gooeyness and ability to get on EVERYTHING, slime is quite frightening! In this comical story, a giant blog of green slime invades the home of two children. They fretfully try to hide it until it oozes out of the house and takes over the town! With plenty of lively onomatopoeia and eye-catching illustrations, this one is pure fun!
So Not Ghoul by Karen Yin; illustrated by Bonnie Lui, 2022
(Ages 6 and up)
Mimi wants to dress like all the other ghouls in school, but her family insists she wear her traditional Chinese robes. Filled with ghostly puns, this unique tale follows Mimi as she overcomes the mean-spiritness of her classmates and learns to meld her Chinese culture with her American school.
Spooky Celebrations Around the World by Matt Ralphs, illustrated by Veronika Kotyk, 2024
(Ages 5 and up)
Expand children’s world view by teaching them about 21 different celebrations from around the globe that focus on various spirits. Brightly colored illustrations draw the reader in as the short, but informative text ignities children’s curiosities about the world around them.
Dia de los Muertos/ Day of the Dead Books
Dia de los Muertos picture books offer a colorful and heartwarming glimpse into the Mexican tradition of honoring loved ones who have passed. These stories, filled with vibrant illustrations and cultural richness, introduce young readers to the beauty of family, remembrance, and celebration. Through lively characters, sugar skulls, marigolds, and heartfelt altars, Dia de los Muertos books explore the significance of connecting with ancestors, teaching children about love, heritage, and the joyful spirit of this cherished holiday.
The Ofrenda That We Build by Jolene Gutiérrez and Shalan Gutérrez, illustrated by Gabby Zapata
(Ages 4 and up)
This vibrant, cheerful story follows a family lovingly preparing to celebrate Dia de los Muertos by participating in the cherished tradition of building an ofrenda together. With educational backmatter, this is a must for teaching children about this special holiday.
Gustavo The Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago, 2020
(Ages 4 and up)
This adorable ghost story could not be sweeter. Gustavo is a shy ghost and longs to become friends with his classmates. When he bravely shares his favorite hobby with the other creepy creatures, friendships are formed and Gustavo finally feels seen by the others despite his transparency.
Flavia Drago effortlessly integrates aspects of her Mexican culture in the vibrant illustrations creating a beautiful story that will leave readers cheering for the lovable Gustavo!
We also love the other books in this series Vlad, the Fabulous Vampire and Leila The Perfect Witch .
Vamos! Let’s Celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos by Raúl the Third, illustrated by Elaine Bay, 2024
(Ages 4 and up)
Using his signature artwork, Raúl the Third expertly bridges two favorite fall holidays: Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. After dressing up and trick-or-treating with friends, Little Lobo helps his neighbors prepare for Día de los Muertos. I just love how the community comes together to honor their loved ones with so many cherished traditions. Sprinkled with Spanish vocabulary, the cheerful text and detailed illustrations capture the joy found in both holidays. The book is further enhanced with a glossary and Dia de los Muertos activity.
Remembering by Xelena González, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia, 2023
(Ages 4 and up)
A little girl honors her beloved dog by sharing memories of him, bringing out his favorite toys, and creating an ofrenda for Dia de los Muertos. The thoughtful text recounts the significance of each item she brings to the altar while the spectacular illustrations highlight how the girl’s memories keep the spirit of the dog alive.
Click HERE for my favorite books celebrating Dia De Los Muertos Day of the Dead Celebration.
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