Oops I Just Ate You by Aevar Por Benediktsson and Joaquin Camp - OPTIONAL

Oops I Just Ate You by Aevar Por Benediktsson and Joaquin Camp. PICTURE BOOK. Barefoot Book, 2026. $18. 9798888596654

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

A zombie wants to make friends, but he keeps eating them instead. 

Definitely will elicit some “Oooh, gross!” reactions from listeners and readers, especially with the 4th wall twist at the end. The zombie does a lot of eating, which seems to be the purpose of the story right up to the end. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Something in the Darkness by John Dougherty and Matt Schu. - OPTIONAL

Something in the Darkness by John Dougherty and Matt Schu. PICTURE BOOK. Post Wave, 2026. $19. 9798895090947

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

A young girl is out at night (presumably Halloween) and around each corner she feels as if something is stalking her. 

The author is trying to tell us that sometimes we’re scared by things that aren’t scary at all when viewed in the light.  However, there are no clues (footprints, realistic shadows) to clue the reader into what is coming.  Instead the whole book feels like a commercial for a horror movie - until the final couple of pages.  Try A Not-So-Scary Story by Barney Saltzberg (https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/2026/10/a-not-so-scary-story-by-barney.html) instead.

The little girl is white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Haunted Playground by R.J. Palacio and Brett Helquist. - ADVISABLE

The Haunted Playground by R.J. Palacio and Brett Helquist. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2026. $20. 9798217029280

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

At midnight on Halloween the ghosts come out to the playground. Rex Magnificus, the king of ghosts, invites all the ghosts to come for a party. No humans allowed! But this year, the noise has woken up two neighbor children who have come to join the fun. Rex is furious and attempts to scare them away.

“The Haunted Playground" is a long poem written in rhyming stanzas making it a delightful read aloud. The full page pictures are detailed and interesting with a hand-drawn look that feels nostalgic. This is a sweet little introduction for children to the world of ghost stories. 

Janae S., Reading Teacher

Spooky Scouts by Kimberly Shrack - ADVISABLE

Spooky Scouts by Kimberly Shrack. PICTURE BOOK. McElderry (Simon), 2026. $20. 9798347101184

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Luna, a wolf and the other Spooky Scouts are ready for their big campout. But tonight is a full moon and Luna is worried that her embarrassing secret will be exposed. 

Okay, I really did love the book a lot.  The other Spooky Scouts are great about accepting Luna and sharing their own secrets. BUT if Luna is a werewolf, shouldn’t she be human most of the time and then turn into a wolf during the full moon?  I don’t see that being wolfish most of the time would make you a good candidate for the Spooky Scouts. But I can accept the logical fallacy and enjoy the book for what it is. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Scritch! Scratch! by Teri Sloat and Zuzana Cupova - ADVISABLE

Scritch! Scratch! by Teri Sloat, illustrated by Zuzana Cupova. PICTURE BOOK Random House, 2026 $15 9798217031146 

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Scritch! Scratch! There is a witch in the pumpkin patch! Three children are trying to fool a witch. 

The book is done in gray tones and a splash or orange, which is just right for a children's fright level. Rhyming makes the text pop, and it's just the right amount of scary fun for Halloween. The children are drawn white. 

Michelle in the Middle 

FrankenKitty by Maudie Powell-Tuck and Mini Grey - ADVISABLE

FrankenKitty by Maudie Powell-Tuck and Mini Grey. PICTURE BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2026. $19. 9781664300972

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The inventor has created a FrankenKitty and now he is blaming every spooky happening and every slimy thing on the kitty - unfair! 

Check out the gorgeous endpapers. And a neat little twist right at the end. Whether you want to blame Kitty or defend him, you will have lots of Halloween creepy things to gaze at on every page.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Here a Creak, There a Shriek! by Kelly Conroy and Nikolas Ilic. - ESSENTIAL

Here a Creak, There a Shriek! by Kelly Conroy and Nikolas Ilic. PICTURE BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2026. $19. 9781664300965

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

The children are headed to the barn on Old MacSpooky’s Farm.  Before they can celebrate, they have several obstacles to bypass.

So much fun!  The author took care to match the words and rhymes to the original song  I will have to work on a spookier voice, however, when I read this one aloud.  My absolute new favorite Halloween remake!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Spooky Pookie by Sandra Boynton. - ADVISABLE

Spooky Pookie by Sandra Boynton. LARGE-SIZED BOARD BOOK. Boynton Bookworks (Simon and Schuster), 2026. $13. 9798347115785

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Pookie is trying to choose a costume to wear for Halloween.

My one year old granddaughter loves her Spooky Pookie board book - I know she’s going to love the bigger size for this 11th anniversary. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Have You Ever Seen a Ghost? by Daniel Kwan & Julia Pott and Sean Lewis - OPTIONAL

Have You Ever Seen a Ghost? by Daniel Kwan & Julia Pott, illustrated by Sean Lewis. PICTURE BOOK Atheneum (Simon and Schuster), 2026. $20. 9781665956925 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

There's a ghost in the house and they need your help. They are going to a party and want your advice about a lot of different things, maybe even about whether or not to go to the party. 

I feel like there were some great ideas for illustrations and for hiding a ghost in a picture, but then the authors had to figure out the text to accommodate. This story is way more complicated than I expected for a picture book, and it expects a lot of the reader's perception. Asking them if they can see a ghost and there's not really something to look for to actually find where in the picture the ghost might be, can be frustrating. (The cover picture is not typical of where to find the ghost) It was a lot - that said, the illustrations are clever and fun, but it just wasn't for me. 

Lisa Librarian  

To Knit a Ghost by Z.B. Asterplume and Heather Brockman Lee - ADVISABLE

To Knit a Ghost by Z.B. Asterplume and Heather Brockman Lee. PICTURE BOOK Random House, 2026. $19. 9798217025671 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

There is so much for the little witch to do before she can knit a ghost. First, her supplies and a cup of tea, a comfy chair, and some stretching - be sure to feed the cat and feed herself. At last, she can knit a ghost! But are the real ghosts helping or hindering? 

I loved this! Illustrator Brockman Lee has incorporated photographs of yarn and knitting, and everything is accurate. The details in the illustrations are clever and worth looking for - her knitting instruction book says it includes a potion for getting cat hair out - I need that! 10yo AJ read it too and was thoroughly delighted; the cat added to the funny illustrations. Includes basic instructions on how to cast on and how to knit. When I finish this review, I'm grabbing my needles and finding some yarn and knitting a ghost for myself. 

Lisa Librarian 

Giggling Ghosts by Fiz Osborne and Tim Budgen - OPTIONAL

Giggling Ghosts by Fiz Osborne and Tim Budgen. PICTURE BOOK. Simon and Schuster, 2026. $13. 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The little ghosts are rested and ready to head out for a night of haunting. They can’t help giggling every time they scare something. 

A little annoying, but also the ghosts are so dang cute, I couldn’t help liking it.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

School Spirits by Charlotte Gunnufson and Rebecca Crane - NO

School Spirits by Charlotte Gunnufson and Rebecca Crane. PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum (Simon), 2026. $20. 9781665964517

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED

On the first day of school you worry about a lot of things, but not that school is haunted.  When you find proof what should you do?  Gather your friends and train the ghosts to be respectful and helpful.

I just don’t understand this book at all. Someone please explain. I don't know why you would worry that your school is haunted on a perfectly ordinary day, nor do I then understand how you and your friends are going to train the ghosts to keep things clean and play with all of the kids.  The rhyming text, trying to make everything feel light and cherry doesn’t help either.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Could That Be a Witch? by Hannah Eliot and Saoirse Lou - OPTIONAL

Could That Be a Witch? by Hannah Eliot and Saoirse Lou. BOARD BOOK. Simon and Schuster, 2026. $9. 9798347106868

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The children are getting ready for Halloween and looking for a witch. Each time tey think they’ve spotted her, it turns out to be something else.

If you want a light Halloween peek-thru book for little ones, here is a simple one.  The witch is not supposed to be scary. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Skeleton and the Cat by Brandon James Scott - OPTIONAL

The Skeleton and the Cat by Brandon James Scott. PICTURE BOOK. Harper, 2026. $20. 9780063455887

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The Skeleton is happy with its solitary life, so when the cat wants to be friends, Skeleton is reluctant.

The tale unfolds in five mini stories, so it doesn’t flow. The illustrations are so beautiful; I’m disappointed that the story is so disjointed.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

The Ghost Who Saved Halloween by Jen Anyong and Kaly Quarles - OPTIONAL

The Ghost Who Saved Halloween by Jen Anyong and Kaly Quarles. PICTURE BOOK. Harper, 2026. $13. 9780063478008

Content: G (one kid scared down to his underwear)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The ghost is surprised to see that Halloween has co
me around again. As he pulls out his best scary tricks, he is unpleasantly surprised that none of them seem to be working.

The text is written in the form of Poe’s The Raven poem - making it sing-songy and, by the end, wearying. I love the illustrations, but need a rewrite of the text, please.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

How to Scare a Mouse and a Bear by Ross Collins - OPTIONAL

How to Scare a Mouse and a Bear by Ross Collins. PICTURE BOOK. Nosy Crow, 2026. $19. 9798887771731

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Mouse and Bear are trying to scare each other for Halloween. 

This time I didn’t find the rhyming really helping the scary factor of the book.  It was too sing-songy and cheerful. The illustrations are still spot on.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Please Don’t Scare the Ghost by Carrie Williford and Allysa Adams - OPTIONAL

Please Don’t Scare the Ghost by Carrie Williford and Allysa Adams. PICTURE BOOK. Flamingo (Penguin), JULY 2026. $14. 9780593693650

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

While out trick-or-treating with a ghost, be forewarned.  Every unfamiliar creature, every unfamiliar sound or movement, will scare your ghost. So be very careful.

Williford’s story felt passive - a whole lot of telling instead of showing and a long list of cautions without a great payoff of fun or excitement. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Halloween Trampoline by Scott Rothman and Rob Justus - OPTIONAL

Halloween Trampoline by Scott Rothman and Rob Justus. PICTURE BOOK. Viking (Penguin), JULY 2026. 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The creatures are jumping on their trampoline like they do every Halloween.

Rothman’s work will appeal for its sheer silliness and inanity. He comes up with many words that rhyme (usually) with Halloween. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

I Love You, Boo! by J.D. Forester and Charlotte Love - OPTIONAL

I Love You, Boo! by J.D. Forester and Charlotte Love. BOARD BOOK. Penguin, JULY 2026. $10. 9798217141050

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Forester supplies the puns and Love gives us the googly-eyed treats in photo form to enjoy a line-up of Halloween candy possibilities. The pair give us a little bit of a love litany along with the puns.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

 

Beep, Beep, Beep, Trunk-or-Treat! by Tracie Schneider and Sarah Rebar - OPTIONAL

Beep, Beep, Beep, Trunk-or-Treat! by Tracie Schneider and Sarah Rebar. INTERACTIVE BOARD BOOK. Penguin, AUGUST 2026. $10. 9798217140657

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

An ode to the new classic Trunk-or-Treat.  Simple flaps are liftable to see the candy each trunk presents. Super simple in design and execution. You might have to worry about your little ones getting their candy wishlists ready!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS