The Best Halloween Read-Alouds and Activities for Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade

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Looking for Halloween activities that actually keep kids engaged instead of adding more work to your already-full plate? These fun Halloween books and easy book activities make it simple to bring the spooky season to life while keeping kids learning and excited for more.

Looking for Halloween books for kids that are fun, not frightening? This guide sorts the best not-so-scary Halloween read-alouds by teaching purpose and pairs each one with activities K–2 students love.

October is one of the most exciting (and busiest!) months of the year. Between costume talk, pumpkin patches, and kids who can barely sit still, read-aloud time can easily turn into “whatever spooky book is on top of the pile.” Maybe you’re wondering which Halloween books are too scary for your 5-year-olds, how to keep the learning going when the excitement is high, or what to do after you close the book.

Think of this post as your complete Halloween read-aloud guide. You’ll find Halloween books for kids sorted by what you want to teach, grade-level picks for kindergarten, first, and second grade, five featured book companions, 15 ready-to-use activities, a simple week of read-alouds, and a quick chart to help you choose. Use one idea or all of them. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful!

How to Choose the Right Halloween Read-Aloud

The best Halloween read-aloud is the one that fits your students right now. Before you pick a book, consider two things: how much “spooky” your class can handle and what you want kids to take away.

• A good laugh: Funny Halloween books are perfect for the first read-aloud of the month, a Friday afternoon, or party day.
• Spooky (but not scary) fun: Gentle suspense builds prediction and inference skills. Preview the pictures first if you have little ones who scare easily.
• Pumpkins and fall: Choose pumpkin books for families that don’t celebrate Halloween; they keep the seasonal fun without the costumes and candy.
• Facts and traditions: Nonfiction books invite questions and connect to science and social studies.
• Feelings and friendship: Many Halloween stories are secretly about being brave, feeling shy, or not judging others by how they look.

Teacher tip: Read the same book twice. The first read is for enjoyment; the second is for teaching, such as predicting, retelling, or talking about a character’s choices.

Halloween Books for Kids by Teaching Purpose

Here are 20 of our favorite Halloween books for kids, sorted by teaching purpose so you can find the right book fast. Each one includes a grade-level suggestion, a teaching focus, and a quick discussion idea you can use the same day.

Funny Halloween Read-Alouds

Nothing gets a room of 6-year-olds giggling like a mummy with a very full tummy. These funny Halloween books for kids are perfect for predicting, retelling, and kicking off October with a laugh. They’re also a great choice for party day, when attention spans are short.

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

Best for: K–1 · Teaching focus: Retelling, rhyme

This witch loves to fly through the air on her broom, with her trusty cat beside her. One evening, she drops all of her belongings. Find out who will help find the items!

Featured below with a full book companion!

There Was an Old Mummy Who Swallowed a Spider by Jennifer Ward

Best for: K–1 · Teaching focus: Predicting, rhyme

A mummy swallows a series of Halloween-themed items in this silly, rhyming tale. It encourages kids to predict what might happen next and talk about their favorite funny moments.

Dragon’s Halloween by Dav Pilkey

Best for: K–1 · Teaching focus: Retelling (early reader with three short stories)

Dragon wants to enjoy Halloween, but his spooky attempts lead to funny mishaps. The story highlights the importance of creativity and friendship, encouraging kids to share their own experiences with trying new things and making mistakes.

Pig the Monster by Aaron Blabey

Best for: K–2 · Teaching focus: Character choices

Pig dresses up for Halloween and causes chaos wherever he goes. This story encourages children to reflect on silly or creative moments in their own lives and share laughs about the funny mistakes they’ve made.

The Hallo-Wiener by Dav Pilkey

Best for: K–2 · Teaching focus: Character traits, kindness

A brave dachshund wears a funny costume and saves the day on Halloween night. Kids can discuss times they felt brave or creative and how they helped someone else.

The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky by Jory John & Pete Oswald

Best for: 1—2 · Teaching focus: Character traits

Classic Halloween characters come to life in funny, engaging stories. Kids might share which characters they find most interesting or compare different spooky creatures and their traits.

Spooky (Not Scary) Stories

These not-so-scary Halloween books have just enough suspense to keep kids on the edge of their seats, without the nightmares. Many are secretly about big feelings like being shy, feeling left out, or judging someone too quickly, so they’re a natural fit for your social-emotional learning activities.

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago

Best for: K–2 · Teaching focus: Feelings, friendship

Gustavo is a shy ghost who learns to make friends and enjoy Halloween. Kids can relate to feelings of shyness and share ways they overcome nervousness in social situations.

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds

Best for: 1—2 · Teaching focus: Making inferences

Jasper Rabbit loves carrots until he notices they might be following him. Kids can share times when something seemed scary at first but turned out to be harmless, encouraging empathy and imagination.

Hardly Haunted by Jessie Sima

Best for: K–2 · Teaching focus: Self-acceptance, sensory words

A friendly ghost tries to scare visitors but keeps failing in hilarious ways. Kids can talk about times they tried something new that didn’t go as planned and what they learned.

That Monster on the Block by Sue Ganz-Schmitt

Best for: K–2 · Teaching focus: Compare and contrast, don’t judge by looks

A neighborhood monster seems scary at first, but the kids soon discover he is friendly. It can lead to conversations about judging by appearances and what makes someone a good friend.

The Witch’s Cat by Sonica Ellis

Best for: K–1 · Teaching focus: Problem and solution

Pepper, a black cat, is having trouble making friends. She can’t figure out why no one wants to be friends with her. Is it the “witch’s curse”? Join her on this journey of perseverance, self-confidence, and friendship.

The School is Alive by Jack Chabert

Best for: 2nd (read over several days) · Teaching focus: Visualizing

When the school magically comes to life at night, students encounter playful surprises. Kids can imagine what a classroom would do if it came alive, sparking conversations about creativity and teamwork.

Pumpkin & Fall Books

Pumpkin books are a gentle way to celebrate the season, and they work for every family, whether or not they celebrate Halloween. Pair them with these pumpkin activities for kids for math, science, and writing all month long.

Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell

Best for: K–2 · Teaching focus: Sequencing, pumpkin life cycle

A boy named Tim carves a pumpkin for Halloween, but instead of throwing it away, he puts it outside to see what happens. Over time, the pumpkin breaks down and becomes part of nature, teaching readers about the pumpkin life cycle.

The Pumpkin Thief by Alice Hemming

Best for: K–1 · Teaching focus: Retelling, rhyme

When pumpkins start disappearing mysteriously, the characters investigate to find out who is taking them. Along the way, they discover clues and learn about problem-solving, observation, and the surprises that can come with autumn.

Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht

Best for: K–1 · Teaching focus: Sequencing, sensory words

Children explore a pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin. The story invites kids to talk about traditions, favorite fall activities, and what makes Halloween special to them. It’s the perfect pairing for a pumpkin activity!

Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman

Best for: K–1 · Teaching focus: Retelling a cumulative story, teamwork

A kind witch struggles to lift a giant pumpkin, and with friends’ help, she succeeds. Children can reflect on teamwork by sharing stories about how working together helped them solve a problem.

The Pomegranate Witch by Denise Doyen

Best for: 1-2 · Teaching focus: Vocabulary, rhyme

A clever witch uses her wits and pomegranates to outsmart tricksters. Kids can discuss problem-solving strategies and share ideas for creative ways to face challenges.

Halloween Traditions & Nonfiction

Curious kids love real facts! These books explain where Halloween traditions come from and how people celebrate around the world. They’re perfect for building vocabulary and inviting students to share their own family traditions, whatever those look like.

Halloween Is Coming! by Cal Everett

Best for: K–1 · Teaching focus: Vocabulary, rhyme

Rhyming text and playful illustrations show kids all the fun parts of Halloween. It sparks ideas for kids to share their favorite costumes, candy, or Halloween experiences.

The Halloween Tree by Susan Montanari

Best for: K–2 · Teaching focus: Community kindness

Some saplings dream of becoming Christmas trees, but this Cranky tree didn’t get its chance. Watch as the tree realizes it has a second chance to bring excitement to yet another holiday.

Weird but True Halloween by National Geographic and Julie Beer

Best for: 1-2 · Teaching focus: Nonfiction text features, asking questions

This nonfiction book shares fascinating and quirky Halloween facts. Kids can share what surprises them most and ask questions about Halloween traditions worldwide.

Featured Halloween Book Companions

Want to go deeper with a favorite Halloween read-aloud? These five book companions by Proud to be Primary turn one great book into a complete lesson, with comprehension, writing, vocabulary, SEL, and craft activities ready to print.

Room on the Broom Book Companion

• Why teachers love this book: A kind witch keeps making room on her broom for new animal friends, and in the end, they save her. Julia Donaldson’s rhyme and repetition make it a read-aloud kids can join in on from the first page.
• Skills it builds: Literacy: retelling, sequencing, rhyme · SEL: inclusion, teamwork.
• How to use it in class: Whole group: retell the story in order using the characters who climb on the broom. Partners: talk about a time someone made room for you. Early finishers: Build-a-Broom craft with witch and animal character pieces for sequencing and retelling.

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost Book Companion

• Why teachers love this book: Gustavo can do all sorts of spooky things, but he’s too shy to make friends. Kids who feel nervous in new situations see themselves in him and cheer when he finds the courage to reach out.
• Skills it builds: Literacy: character feelings, problem and solution · SEL: shyness, courage, friendship.
• How to use it in class: Whole group: track how Gustavo’s feelings change from beginning to end. Partners: share one brave way to make a new friend. Pairs with the Brave or Scared? Feelings Check-In.

Creepy Carrots! Book Companion

• Why teachers love this book: Jasper Rabbit is sure the carrots are following him, and kids love deciding whether he’s right. This Caldecott Honor book is just spooky enough to build suspense, with a twist ending that always gets a laugh.
• Skills it builds: Literacy: making inferences, predicting, using picture clues · SEL: handling worries.
• How to use it in class: Whole group: stop at key pages and ask, “Are the carrots really following him? How do you know?” Writing: Writing prompts and templates, including If Creepy Carrots Followed Me…, Dear Jasper, Please Stop Eating Us Because…, and My Own Creepy Vegetable!.

Pumpkin Jack Book Companion

• Why teachers love this book: A boy’s jack-o’-lantern slowly decays in the garden, and its seeds grow into a brand-new pumpkin patch. It turns a Halloween favorite into a gentle science lesson about the pumpkin life cycle.
• Skills it builds: Literacy: sequencing · Science: pumpkin life cycle, observation.
• How to use it in class: Whole group: sequence the life cycle from seed to jack-o’-lantern and back again. Science center: observe a real pumpkin decompose over a few weeks. Link to fall science lessons.

The Pumpkin Thief Book Companion

• Why teachers love this book: This fun fall read-aloud turns a missing-pumpkin mystery into an opportunity for curiosity, discussion, and critical thinking. Students will love following Squirrel’s investigation, making predictions, and looking for clues while building reading comprehension skills
• Skills it builds: Reading comprehension, making predictions and inferences, sequencing, story retelling, vocabulary development, identifying story elements, character traits, problem and solution, and writing.
• How to use it in class: This The Pumpkin Thief book companion brings reading comprehension, prediction, evidence, flexible thinking, and hands-on mystery solving together in one easy-to-use fall resource. 

Activities to Pair with Halloween Books

After the last page, the learning keeps going. These 15 activities pair with the books above and cover reading, writing, math, science, STEM, SEL, and art. Many come from the Halloween Fun Pack, so you can see them in action before you decide what you need. Each one notes whether it works best whole group, in centers, or with a partner.

Character Costume Design

Pair with: The Hallo-Wiener, Pig the Monster, or The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky

After reading, students can design their own Halloween costume for a favorite character from the book. They can draw it, label it, and explain why their character would choose that costume. This sparks creativity and helps kids think about personality traits and character choices.

“Witches’ Brew” How-To Writing

Pair with: The Pomegranate Witch

Read this story about trying to get pomegranates from the witch’s yard and then discuss what a witch might do with the fruit. Model how to make a witch’s brew and let students create their own expository writing piece.

Prediction & Sequencing Activity

Pair with: Creepy Carrots or There Was an Old Mummy Who Swallowed a Spider

Before turning each page, kids can predict what might happen next. After reading, they can create a sequencing chart of events or a fun “story map” that shows the cause-and-effect relationships in the story. This strengthens comprehension and encourages attentive reading.

Frankenstein Writing Activity

Pair with: That Monster on the Block

Introduce kids to the idea of new kids on the block and how they can treat them. Discuss the similarities and differences between themselves, and then have them write about how they could treat a new friend. They can use a writing prompt and Halloween craft to share what they would do if they were Frankenstein.

“Halloween Traditions Around the World” Exploration

Pair with: Weird but True Halloween or The Halloween Tree

Children can research or share Halloween or fall traditions from different countries. They can compare them to their own experiences and create a mini-poster or digital slide highlighting similarities and differences. This promotes curiosity, discussion, and cultural awareness.

Haunted House Fill in the Blank

Pair with: Hardly Haunted

Read the story, then have students complete a creative writing task by filling in the blanks about a haunted house. Model a story, then send them on their way to write hilarious or spooky stories of their own.

Brave or Scared? Feelings Check-In

Pair with: Gustavo, the Shy Ghost, Creepy Carrots! · Works for: Whole group · Skill: SEL: identifying feelings

Sort pictures or sentences into “feels scary” and “feels brave,” then share one thing that helps them feel brave.

Character Traits Chart

Pair with: The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky or Pig the Monster · Works for: Whole group, then partners · Skill: Comprehension, character traits

Draw the character, then list 3 traits with a picture clue from the book for each.

Halloween Vocabulary Word Wall

Pair with: Halloween Is Coming! · Works for: Centers · Skill: Vocabulary

Add picture vocabulary cards to a pocket chart; students use two words in a sentence.

Would You Rather? Partner Talk

Pair with: Any book · Works for: Partners, morning meeting · Skill: Speaking and listening

Partners answer Halloween Would You Rather cards and give a reason with “because.”

Jack-o’-Lantern Directed Drawing

Pair with: Pick a Pumpkin · Works for: Whole group · Skill: Art, following directions

Draw a jack-o’-lantern step by step, then write one sentence about it

Candy Corn Measurement

Pair with: Halloween Is Coming! · Works for: Centers · Skill: Math, nonstandard measurement

Measure Halloween pictures with candy corn and compare longer and shorter.

Dissolving Pumpkins Science Experiment

Pair with: Big Pumpkin · Works for: Small groups · Skill: Science, predicting and observing

Predict which liquid dissolves candy pumpkins fastest, test it, and record results. Fall science has never been more fun.

Candy Corn Catapult STEM Challenge

Pair with: Big Pumpkin · Works for: Partners or small groups · Skill: STEM: problem solving, teamwork

Build a simple catapult to “move” a candy pumpkin, just like the friends in the story worked together.

“What I Love About Halloween” Crown

Pair with: Halloween Is Coming! or The Halloween Tree · Works for: Whole group · Skill: Writing, art

Write and draw favorite fall or Halloween traditions on a crown craft to wear and share.

A Week of Halloween Read-Alouds

Short on planning time? Here’s a simple Monday–Friday plan using books from this list. Swap in any title that fits your class, and drop in a book companion once you have one.

Day	Read-aloud	Literacy focus	Extension activity
Monday	Room on the Broom	Retelling and sequencing	Room on the Broom companion: retell in order
Tuesday	Gustavo, the Shy Ghost	Character feelings	Brave or Scared? Feelings Check-In (or the Gustavo companion)
Wednesday	Creepy Carrots!	Making inferences	Creepy Carrots! companion, or the Character Traits Chart
Thursday	Pumpkin Jack	Sequencing a life cycle	Pumpkin Jack companion life cycle page; start a pumpkin decomposition jar
Friday	The Pumpkin Thief	[from the companion]	The Pumpkin Thief companion activity

No companions? Try There Was an Old Mummy Who Swallowed a Spider, Gustavo, the Shy Ghost, Creepy Carrots!, Big Pumpkin, and Hardly Haunted with the activities above.”

Teaching kindergarten? Read Monday’s and Thursday’s books twice and keep extensions to 15 minutes. Second graders can add The School Is Alive! as a chapter-a-day read-aloud all week.”

Which Halloween Book Should You Read

If you want to teach…	Read	Pair it with
Predicting	There Was an Old Mummy Who Swallowed a Spider, Creepy Carrots!	Prediction & Sequencing Activity
Sequencing and retelling	Room on the Broom, Big Pumpkin	Room on the Broom companion
Life cycles and science	Pumpkin Jack	Pumpkin Jack companion
Character traits	The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky, The Hallo-Wiener	Character Traits Chart
Making inferences	Creepy Carrots!	Creepy Carrots! companion
Feelings, shyness, and bravery	Gustavo, the Shy Ghost, The Hallo-Wiener	Gustavo companion or Brave or Scared? Feelings Check-In
Inclusion and teamwork	Room on the Broom, Big Pumpkin	Candy Corn Catapult STEM Challenge
Don’t judge by appearances	That Monster on the Block, Hardly Haunted	Frankenstein Writing Activity
[Skill from companion]	The Pumpkin Thief	The Pumpkin Thief companion
How-to writing	The Pomegranate Witch	“Witches’ Brew” How-To Writing
Creative writing	Hardly Haunted	Haunted House Fill in the Blank
Vocabulary	Halloween Is Coming! The Pomegranate Witch	Halloween Vocabulary Word Wall
Nonfiction and asking questions	Weird but True! Halloween	Halloween Traditions Around the World

Troubleshooting

• What if a book is too scary for some students? Preview the pictures and read the first few pages yourself. Let worried kids sit close to you, and remind the class that the characters are always okay in the end. It’s completely normal for 5-year-olds to need a little reassurance in October!
• What if some families don’t celebrate Halloween? Lean on the Pumpkin & Fall books and focus on the season, harvest, and friendship. Offer a fall-themed version of any activity, like a pumpkin crown instead of a costume design so that every child can join in.
• What if my class is too wound up to listen? Choose a short, rhyming book like There Was an Old Mummy Who Swallowed a Spider, add a movement (shake like a skeleton on every rhyme), and save longer books for calmer mornings.
• What if I only have 10 minutes? Read the book and do one turn-and-talk question. A great conversation counts as a lesson.

FAQs

What are the best Halloween books for kindergarten? Short, rhyming, and predictable books work best for kindergarten. There Was an Old Mummy Who Swallowed a Spider, Halloween Is Coming!, and Big Pumpkin hold little attention spans and invite kids to join in. Follow up with a quick drawing or a turn-and-talk.

Are these Halloween books too scary for young kids? No! We chose every book on this list to be fun, not frightening. Stories like Gustavo, the Shy Ghost and Hardly Haunted have friendly “spooky” characters, and the suspense in Creepy Carrots! always ends with a laugh. If you have a sensitive reader, preview the pictures together first.

What are the best Halloween books for teaching writing? Hardly Haunted inspires descriptive haunted house stories, The Pomegranate Witch leads into how-to writing, and That Monster on the Block pairs with an “If I were Frankenstein” prompt. Funny books like The Hallo-Wiener also make great models for writing about being brave.

What are the best nonfiction Halloween books for kids? Weird but True! Halloween by National Geographic Kids is packed with surprising facts that spark questions. Pair it with a traditions-around-the-world discussion or a KWL chart so students can share what they know and what they wonder.

What can I read if some students don’t celebrate Halloween? Choose pumpkin and fall books like Pick a Pumpkin and Big Pumpkin. They celebrate the season, harvest, and teamwork without costumes or trick-or-treating, so every child can take part.

When should I start reading Halloween books? Most teachers start in early to mid-October and read two or three books a week until Halloween. Pumpkin and fall books work all month long, and even into November.

Halloween Read-Aloud Resources for K–2

Looking for a complete lesson for your favorite Halloween read-aloud? The Halloween book companions by Proud to be Primary give you comprehension questions, writing prompts, vocabulary, SEL discussion, and a craft for each book, so you can teach with confidence and skip the prep.

Make Halloween Fun with the Halloween Fun Pack!

Need more than read-aloud activities? The Halloween Fun Pack by Proud to be Primary gives you a full month of low-prep October activities across literacy, writing, math, science, STEM, games, and crafts, so Halloween planning is done.

What’s included in the Halloween Fun Pack:

15-page Halloween Packet Activity Book with Coloring Page, Word Search, and Color by Number

• Halloween Bulletin Board & Posters
• Halloween Vocabulary
• Halloween Writing Prompts, Paper, & Activities
• Halloween Poetry Activities
• Halloween Literacy Activities
• Reading Challenge & Bookmarks
• How to Catch a Witch Book Activities & Witches Brew Craft
• 10 Halloween Math Worksheets (addition, subtraction, numbers, graphing, patterning)
• Candy Corn Math Measurement Activity
• Halloween Science Experiment (Dissolving Pumpkins)
• Halloween STEM Activity (Candy Corn Catapult)
• Halloween Crown Hat Craft
• Frankenstein Craft
• 5 Halloween Party Games
• Pumpkin Halloween Directed Drawing

Everything you need to incorporate Halloween into your classroom for October is included! These activities are perfect for small groups, whole groups, centers, independent work, morning work, or even a classroom Halloween party.

Skill-based and low-prep, these activities fit seamlessly into your existing literacy, math, writing, and science routines, giving students engaging, thematic practice while saving you valuable planning time.

How the Book Companions and Fun Pack Work Together

Not sure which one you need? Here’s the simple difference:

• Book companions go deep with one picture book: comprehension, writing, vocabulary, and SEL tied to the story.
• The Halloween Fun Pack goes wide across the whole month: math, writing, science, STEM, games, and crafts.

Use a companion when you want a complete lesson around a favorite read-aloud. Use the Fun Pack when you need variety for centers, early finishers, and party day. Want a full Halloween unit? Use both together.

However you spend your October read-alouds, the goal is simple: a few great books, lots of giggles, and kids who learn a little more about themselves and each other along the way. Happy reading, and Happy Halloween!

Planning ahead for November? Don’t forget to take a look at the Thanksgiving read aloud ideas!

More Halloween and Fall Resources

Halloween Haunted House Writing

Halloween classroom activities

Frankenstein drawing for Halloween

PIN for Later