In anticipation of the upcoming holiday, my toddler daughter and I have been busy reading all the Halloween books on which we can get our hands at the local library. Here are some of our favorite, and recommended, board books for Halloween for toddlers, all available on Amazon via my affiliate links.
Ollie’s Halloween (2013)
Ollie’s Halloween (2013) by Olivier Dunrea is the Halloween-themed book in the Gossie & Friends series. While Gossie, Gertie, Peedie, and BooBoo are tricking and treating, Ollie thinks about how sharing is better than scaring, making this holiday board book (also available in hardback) perfect to share with the littlest trick-or-treaters this October.
Halloween 123s (2011)
Halloween 123s (2011) by Patricia Reeder Eubank is a fun Halloween-themed board book that focuses on the numbers one through ten. Recommended for children between the ages of 2 and 5, this book teaches young readers about counting while telling a fun Halloween tale present in rhymed verse.
Happy Halloween (2001)
Happy Halloween (2001) written by Michelle Knudsen with illustrations by Rusty Fletcher is a Halloween-themed title in the Sparkle ‘n’ Shimmer Book series. Recommended for readers between the ages of 2 and 5, this spooky book tells a Halloween tale through rhymed verse and features shimmery, textured illustrations on each page.
Halloween Faces (2010)
Halloween Faces (2010) written and illustrated by Nancy Davis features fun die-cut pages that make for an interaction experience for young readers. Recommended for children between the ages of 1 and 3, this un-spooky holiday book introduces the youngest readers to some of the most common symbols and activities of Halloween.
It’s Pumpkin Day, Mouse! (2012)
It’s Pumpkin Day, Mouse! (2012) written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond features the lovable character Mouse from the If You Give… series of books. Young readers will delight in reading about Mouse as he decorates seven pumpkins for Pumpkin Day.
Trick or Treat, Calico! (2009)
Trick or Treat, Calico! (2009) written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Buket Erdogan is a Halloween lift-the-flap book recommended for children between the ages of 1 and 4. Little readers will enjoy looking for Calico the kitten as all the animals dress up for trick or treating.
Mouse’s First Halloween (2000)
Mouse’s First Halloween (2000) written by Lauren Thompson and illustrated by Buket Erdogan is a sweet, non-scary Halloween book for young readers. As Mouse discovers his first Halloween, younger readers will also discover some commons sights and sounds of the holiday including bats, cats, scarecrows, leaves, and Jack o’ lanterns.
Five Little Pumpkins (1998)
Five Little Pumpkins (1998) illustrated by Dan Yaccarino offers a new imagining of the classic Halloween nursery rhyme. Toddlers and preschoolers will delight in reading about the five little pumpkins sitting on a gate on Halloween night.
Where Is Baby’s Pumpkin? (2006)
Where Is Baby’s Pumpkin? (2006) written and illustrated by Karen Katz is an adorable Halloween lift-the-flap book recommended for readers age 1 and older that also includes textures fun for little fingers to touch. Young readers will delight in helping Baby find her Halloween pumpkin while learning about some other common sights of the holiday.
Five Little Pumpkins (2009)
Five Little Pumpkins (2009) illustrated by Ben Mantle is another version of the classic Halloween nursery rhyme. Recommended for readers ages 2 and older, this book offers younger readers a chance to practice counting from one to five within a backdrop of Halloween.
Here Comes Halloween! (2009)
Here Comes Halloween! (2009) written by Becki Ward and illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church is a touch-and-feel book in which a little boy explores the possibilities of his Halloween costume. Readers from age 1 and older will delight in the simple but fun Halloween tale.
Spot’s Halloween (2003)
Spot’s Halloween (2003) written and illustrated by Eric Hill features the beloved canine character Spot. Readers between the ages of 1 and 4 will enjoy watching as Spot chooses a Halloween costume to go out trick or treating with his friends.
Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch (2004)
Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch (2004) written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and illustrated by Pat Schories features the beloved yellow puppy Biscuit. What will Biscuit find when he visits the pumpkin patch? Younger readers will delight in this Halloween canine tale.
10 Trick-or-Treaters (2005)
10 Trick-or-Treaters (2005) written by Janet Schulman and illustrated by Linda Davick is a Halloween counting book that allows young readers to count down from ten to zero on Halloween night. Perfect for preschoolers and kindergarteners, the rhymed text of the book will also engage younger readers including toddlers.
Five Pesky Pumpkins (2008)
Five Pesky Pumpkins (2008) written by Marcia Vaughan and illustrated by Viviana Garofoli is an interactive counting book with flaps and pop-ups. Younger readers between the ages of 3 and 5 will delight in counting down from five to one while five pesky pumpkins make mischief on Halloween night.
Llama Llama Trick or Treat (2014)
Llama Llama Trick or Treat (2014) written by Anna Dewdney introduces younger readers to the Llama Llama series with short and simple rhyming text. Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers will enjoy reading about Llama Llama as he finds the perfect costume, picks out a pumpkin, and goes trick-or-treating with his mama and friends!
I’m a Little Vampire (2014)
I’m a Little Vampire (2014) written by Sonali Fry and illustrated by Sanja Rescek offers a clever Halloween twist on a favorite nursery rhyme. Young readers between the ages of 2 and 4 will enjoy hearing the fang-tastically fun spin on the classic “I’m a Little Teapot” staring mischievous vampire with a monstrous sweet tooth.
The Itsy Bitsy Pumpkin (2014)
The Itsy Bitsy Pumpkin (2014) written by Sonali Fry and illustrated by Sanja Rescek makes another favorite nursery rhyme perfect for Halloween. Children between the ages of 2 and 4 will enjoy reading about a little pumpkin who is trying to find his way back home for Halloween.
What is your favorite Halloween board book for toddlers?
Image Credits
Cover of Ollie’s Halloween by Olivier Dunrea © 2013 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Ollie’s Halloween by Olivier Dunrea © 2013 Heather Johnson
Cover of Halloween 123s © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Halloween 123s © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Happy Halloween © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Happy Halloween © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Halloween Faces © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Halloween Faces © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of It’s Pumpkin Day, Mouse! © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of It’s Pumpkin Day, Mouse! © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Trick or Treat, Calico! © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Trick or Treat, Calico! © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Mouse’s First Halloween © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Mouse’s First Halloween © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Five Little Pumpkins 1 © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Five Little Pumpkins 1 © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Where Is Baby’s Pumpkin? © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Where Is Baby’s Pumpkin? © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Five Little Pumpkins 2 © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Five Little Pumpkins 2 © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Here Comes Halloween! © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Here Comes Halloween! © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Spot’s Halloween © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Spot’s Halloween © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of 10 Trick-or-Treaters © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of 10 Trick-or-Treaters © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Five Pesky Pumpkins © 2014 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Five Pesky Pumpkins © 2014 Heather Johnson
Cover of Llama Llama Trick or Treat © 2015 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of Llama Llama Trick or Treat © 2015 Heather Johnson
Cover of I’m a Little Vampire © 2015 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of I’m a Little Vampire © 2015 Heather Johnson
Cover of The Itsy Bitsy Pumpkin © 2015 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of The Itsy Bitsy Pumpkin © 2015 Heather Johnson