Our Halloween book basket is out, and it's one of my favourite things about fall!

Every year I pull out our seasonal favourites, add a few new library finds, and set them out where little hands can reach them.

For young toddlers, board books are hard to beat. They hold up to chewing, dropping, and very enthusiastic page-turning! The pages are simple, the words are short, and most of them are finished before a toddler's attention wanders.

Lift-the-flaps, touch-and-feel patches, and peekaboo pages are especially popular in my dayhome. They give little ones opportunities to explore, participate, and interact with the books.

I've grown our collection slowly over the years, but I also love using our public library to discover new titles before purchasing them.

Here are some of the Halloween books we're reading this fall!

Our Favourite Halloween Books From Our Shelf

These are the books that come out of our Halloween bin every single year. They've survived a lot of little readers, and they're still favourites!

Spooky Pookie — Sandra Boynton

Pookie the pig is trying to choose a Halloween costume. Short, silly rhymes that toddlers ask for again and again.

Stumpkin — Lucy Ruth Cummins

A pumpkin without a stem who just wants to become a jack-o'-lantern. Sweet, gentle, and a lovely conversation starter about feelings.

BOO! from The Very Hungry Caterpillar — World of Eric Carle

Bright, familiar Eric Carle illustrations in a simple Halloween board book. Perfect for the youngest readers.

Trick or Treat on My Street

A cheerful trick-or-treating book that helps little ones know what to expect on Halloween night.

ABCs of Kindness at Halloween — Hegarty and Macon

An alphabet book with tabbed pages, all about being kind on Halloween. Great for little hands that love turning pages independently.

Five Little Pumpkins — Illustrated by Ben Mantle

The classic rhyme in board book form. We count on our fingers and act it out every time!

Room on the Broom — Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

A witch, her cat, and a broom that keeps getting more crowded. Technically a picture book rather than a board book, but it's too good to leave out!

Halloween Books We Found at the Library

The library is my secret weapon for keeping our book basket fresh!

We can try a stack of new titles for free, discover which ones the children actually love, and only purchase the true favourites.

It's also a great way to introduce different types of books without having to build a huge collection at home.

Here are some of our library finds this year.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Peekaboo Halloween

Chunky, pumpkin-shaped pages with peekaboo surprises. Easy for small hands to grab and turn.

That's Not My Witch — Usborne Touchy-Feely

Touch-and-feel patches on every page. A favourite for babies and young toddlers who love exploring with their hands.

We're Going on a Pumpkin Hunt — Goldie Hawk and Angie Rozelaar

A Halloween spin on the classic going-on-a-hunt chant. Fun to read with actions and sound effects.

Don't Tickle the Skeleton! — Usborne

A touchy-feely sound book. Toddlers love pressing the patches to hear what happens!

Trick or Treat

A friendly monster with layered, rainbow cut-out eyes that toddlers love to poke their fingers through.

Skeleton Bones & Goblin Groans — Illustrated by Karen Dismukes

A spooky-but-not-scary picture book for slightly older toddlers and preschoolers.

Monster Mix & Match — Edward Miller

Split pages let you mix up monster heads, bodies, and legs. Vinny the Vampire in a pretty tutu got lots of giggles here!

Zip! Zoom! On a Broom — Teri Sloat and Rosalinde Bonnet

A bouncy, rhyming broomstick ride that's fun to read aloud.

Vegetables in Halloween Costumes — Jared Chapman

Silly vegetables dressed up for Halloween. A fun way to sneak in some vegetable talk before snack time!

Spooky, Scary Skeletons — Andrew Gold, Illustrated by Polona Lovšin

The catchy song as a picture book. Be warned: you'll be singing it all week!

My First 200 Halloween Words

A big word book that's perfect for pointing, naming, and building vocabulary.

Tips for Reading Halloween Books with Toddlers

One thing I've learned after years of working with young children is that reading together doesn't need to look a certain way.

Sometimes we read the entire book. Sometimes we only make it through three pages. And sometimes we spend five minutes talking about one picture!

Here are a few simple ways to make reading more engaging for young children.

• Keep it short. It's okay to read three pages and stop. Toddlers will come back to a book they enjoy.

• Let them hold the book. Turning pages, lifting flaps, and touching textures help develop fine motor skills while encouraging independence.

• Add actions and sounds. Creak like a door, cackle like a witch, and count pumpkins on your fingers. Movement makes stories more interactive.

• Point and name. Ask questions like "Where's the bat?" or "What colour is the pumpkin?" These little conversations support language development.

• Keep it friendly. Choose silly-spooky over scary, especially for younger toddlers.

• Make books accessible. A low basket or forward-facing bookshelf invites children to choose books independently.

And remember, you don't need to turn every book into a planned activity. Sometimes simply sitting together and enjoying a story is enough.

Shop Our Favourite Halloween Books

Want to add a few Halloween books to your own collection?

I've gathered many of our favourites in my Amazon storefront so you can easily find them all in one place.

Shop Our Halloween Book List on Amazon

And don't forget your local library! It's one of my favourite ways to discover new books without purchasing them all.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Capable Learners!

Looking for More Halloween Activities for Kids?

If you're looking for more simple ways to bring a little Halloween magic into your home or childcare program, I've got you covered!

Free Halloween Scavenger Hunt — A simple, playful way to explore Halloween together.

Free Ghost Mud Recipe — A fun sensory play experience for the Halloween season.

Spooky Season Play Ideas — More inspiration for Halloween play.

Easy Halloween Activities for Kids — Simple activities, sensory play, art invitations, and Halloween fun.

I've also been sharing 30 Days of Halloween Activities over on Instagram, with easy ideas you can recreate at home or in your childcare program.

Come follow along at @capablelearnersdayhome!

What Halloween books are your little ones loving this year? I'm always looking for new favourites to add to our basket!