Spooky Books for Halloween
This month, our children’s book expert Joy Court, shares her recommendations for spooky books to share this Halloween.
The month of Halloween can be such a creative inspiration for art, craft and writing as well as a lot of fun! So here are some favourites, old and new that I hope will find a place in your class collections, topic boxes or library
I Want to be in a Scary Story by Sean Taylor and Jean Jullien. Walker Books, 2018 pp48. £7.99 ISBN: 978-1406380002
I lost count of the number of times I had to read this book again and again to grandchildren. It is an absolute gift to read aloud if you like doing different voices, since the whole story is told as a dialogue between a little monster and the author – with different colour font making it very easy for new readers to follow. The monster wants to star in a scary story, but every option presented by the deliberately tricky author is just too scary, causing gloriously funny exclamations after the dramatic page turns. But there is an even funnier dénouement when the tables are turned- well he is a monster after all! Bold and zany illustrations in the classic Halloween livery of orange, purple and black just add to the perfection of a book which builds delicious tension while staying just the right side of scary for young audiences.
What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen? Nick Sharratt. Walker Books, 2018 (2009) pp24 £8.99. ISBN: 9781406384079
A welcome re-issue in very sturdy paperback format of another very clever bit of Halloween storytelling that celebrates the concept of trick or treat. As you turn each page you can choose to open the cupboard/ fridge/dresser etc either left or right or up or down, to find something nice or something nasty. Lovely repetition and clever rhyme and word play such as lollipops to rabbit plops, burnt ghosts to hot toast, strawberry tea to goblin pee etc, encourage lots of joining in and imaginative guessing. If the witch’s pyjamas are in the washing machine, will they predict that it might also contain man-eating piranhas? The pop-up surprise at the end of the book, as they open the door to escape the suspiciously empty kitchen, will cause squeals of delight.
Gustavo the Shy Ghost. Flavia Z Drago. Walker Books, 2020, pp40, £12.99 ISBN: 9781406398502
Winner of the 2021 Klaus Flugge Prize for debut picturebook illustration, this is a delightful story about a shy ghost who, despite all his best efforts, remains invisible to potential friends. But he plucks up his courage and makes the most of his talents and what he loves by inviting the neighbourhood to a violin concert to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Despite nobody showing up he carries on playing and the joy of music makes him glow and reveals his new friends listening enraptured. With beautifully detailed folk art imagery inspired by her native Mexico and providing opportunities to investigate the famous Mexican festival this is a brilliant new addition to your Halloween topic boxes.
Count Karlstein. Philip Pullman. Illustrated by Peter Bailey Puffin, 2018 (1982), pp266, £6.99. ISBN: 9780241362273
Another very welcome re-issue, this time of Pullman’s first novel for children- a deliciously terrifying spoof Gothic melodrama, told in a blend of text and comic strip with a host of interesting features such as maps, a cast of characters and contemporary ‘advertisements’ making it very appealing for reluctant readers too. The story revolves around wicked Count Karlstein, his two wards-the English orphans Lucy and Charlotte-and the nasty bargain Karlstein has struck with Zamiel, the Demon Huntsman, a supernatural being who annually haunts the local woods on All Souls' Eve. With a cast of brilliant characters including a long-lost heir, stalwart lads, capable women, a con man on the run, hilariously bumbling police officers and a gloomy Swiss Castle, this has all the ingredients for the perfect Halloween story.
Zombierella. Joseph Coehlo. Illustrated by Freya Hartus. Walker Books, 2020, pp192, £7.99. ISBN: 978-1406389661
The first of the Fairytales Gone Bad series of twisted tales from the award-winning poet. (Look out for Frankenstilskin coming on 7th October) Discovered by a librarian in a dusty corner, these traditional tales have gone ‘bad’. Beautifully written and illustrated, this deliciously dark version of Cinderella combines genres in an extraordinary fashion. Imagine if Cinderella were to slip at the top of the stairs and die? Brought back to life by the Shadow of Death for three days only, can she get her revenge upon her evil sisters and still go to the ball? With just the right mix of humour and horror this verse novel is a quality treat.
The Haunting of Aveline Jones. Phil Hickes. Illustrated by Keith Robinson. Usborne Books, 2020, pp224, £6.99. ISBN: 978-1474972147
With its arresting cover, its autumnal Halloween setting in a gloomy seaside town, and a spunky heroine who adores ghost stories and cheese sandwiches, we have the makings of the perfect read. It even has a quirky bookshop where Aveline comes across a book of ghost stories that used to belong to a girl who went missing over thirty years before. As Aveline investigates the mystery, Halloween draws ever closer and something dark begins to stir! Aveline is a great character, but it is also nice to see the adults in the story equally well-rounded. Wonderfully atmospheric writing, with the bonus of creepy illustrations and genuinely scary in places, this is another great read aloud and fans can snap up the just published Bewitching of Aveline Jones too.
The rest of Joy’s ha-ha-hauntingly good recommendations are available to download from our resources page. Simply click below to access for FREE.
And… if you liked this article. Why not click through to this one about Spooky Stories for Halloween which includes links to spooky resources you’ll find on the Primary English website.
