Kids love fall. It’s fun to read about the changing season, watch the leaves turning colors, go on hayrides, and hunt for the perfect pumpkin while sipping hot apple cider. Most kids also enjoy getting ready for Halloween by reading scary stories.
Will they find inspiration in a favorite book to create the perfect Halloween costume? Maybe it’s scary character, a fairytale princess, or historical figure. Books offer them additional choices.
For families who do not participate in Halloween festivities, books about fall along with kid-friendly cookbooks can be fun substitutes.
There are many fall romances or horror stories to appeal to YA readers. We’ve selected ten books to help your kids and teens enjoy October.
Five Little Pumpkins by Tiger Tales – a fun rhyming book about Halloween sure to delight babies and toddlers. For ages 1-3
In The Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak – Little bakers working in the night to prepare morning cakes have an exciting adventure when Mickey falls into the batter and ends up in the oven. How will he escape? Will the morning cake be ruined? For ages 1-4
The Little Ghost Who was a Quilt by Riel Nason – Ghosts are supposed to be as light as sheets, so they can fly through the air. The little ghost’s parents are sheets, but he’s a quilt. He’s too heavy to twirl around and he overheats whenever he tries to fly. He feels sad and left out when his friends twirl and zoom around, but one magical Halloween everything changes and he learns that quilts can be excellent ghosts, too. For ages 3 and up
Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell – Tim carves his first pumpkin into a scary jack-o-lantern and names it Jack. But after Halloween, Jack begins to rot. While he would have liked to keep his beloved pumpkin forever, Tim has to set it outside in the garden. In the spring, pumpkin vines begin growing from Jack’s seeds and Tim’s rewarded with a new pumpkin for Halloween. For ages 3-6
The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry – All the animals know to stay away from Scarecrow, but when a tiny crow falls from the sky, Scarecrow does the unthinkable. He rescues and cares for the helpless bird until it becomes an adult. Can they remain friends in the tempting field of corn Scarecrow has sworn to protect? For ages 3-7
Hansel and Gretel by Stephen King – King reimagines the tale of two children lost in a dark and dangerous forest and their encounter with a witch with illustrations by Maurice Sendak. For age 7 and up
October, October by Katya Balen – October lives with her dad in the woods. They live in harmony with nature, untamed by society. After her eleventh birthday, everything changes after she rescues a baby owl. Her father falls out of a tree, and her mother returns. Can October accept the changes coming her way? For ages 9-12
The October Girl by Matthew Dow Smith – Autumn Ackerman grew up believing in magic, fairies, and brave princesses who save kingdoms. When she turns eighteen, she’s expected to give up such childish fantasies to work behind the counter of the neighborhood coffee shop. Autumn does her best, but her imaginary friend, Barnaby, has other ideas. He introduces her to the Night Folk and life as she knows it changes forever. For ages 12 and up
Spooktacular Recipes: Party Food for Kids and Families by Publications International, LTD – Fun Halloween favorites kids will love helping to prepare. For all ages.
Fall Cooking With Family and Friends by Gooseberry Patch – Easy to prepare recipes for fall. For all ages