If you’re looking to engage your upper students with the best Halloween read aloud books, you’ve come to the right place. I have searched high and low for some fun, some spooky, and some informative picture books that are sure to have our students laughing, chanting, or sitting on the edge of their seats this Halloween season.
(This blog contains Amazon Affiliate links, which means that Amazon throws a few pennies my way if you purchase something through that link at no additional cost to you.)
You can click on any of the images below to find the book mentioned on Amazon.
1. Bone Soup
This book is a Halloween edition of Stone Soup. In this story, Finnigan, who is always ready for a meal, comes into a new town on Halloween. He hopes to join a great feast, but not a body or soul is willing to share with him. As Finnigan begins to stir his cauldron which includes a secret ingredient, everyone becomes curious.
Great Standards to Cover:
- Determine a theme of a story
- Use context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase
- Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text
2. By the Light of the Halloween Moon
This book is a fun, cumulative tale, about a girl who is sitting on a ledge that reminds me of the “There was an Old Lady Who” series. As the girl taps her toe, different creatures come out trying to touch it. As one comes up, another comes behind it. It is fun, rhythmic and repetitive. It contains plenty of vivid adjectives and vivid verbs as well as some alliterations.
3. Hallowilloween
This poetry book focuses on different characters associated with Halloween including Frankenstein, mummies, witches, and more. The poems are mostly funny and rhythmic.
Some poems are written as first person and others as third person.
Great Standard(s) to Cover:
- Compare and contrast the point of view from which different stories are narrated, including the difference between first- and third-person narrations.
4. The Pomegranate Witch
In The Pomegranate Witch, a group of neighborhood children attempt to steal a pomegranate from a tree that is protected by a witch. Every time the kids come up with a new plan, the witch is able to deter them. The story ends with a twist, somewhat similar to Miss Nelson is Missing.
Great Standard(s) to Cover:
- Drawing inferences from the text
- Summarize the text
5. She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein
This nonfictional book tells the story of how Mary Shelley came up with the idea of Frankenstein. This story gives insight into the tale behind one of the world’s most famous novels.
Great Standard(s) to Cover:
- Determine the main idea and supporting details
- Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly
- Describe the overall structure
6. Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich (and Other Stories You’re Sure to Like Because They’re all About Monsters and Some of Them are Also About Food)
This is another fun poem book that focuses on different characters associated with Halloween such as Frankenstein, Bigfoot, Godzilla, and the Creature from the Blue Lagoon. This book is definitely a little more gruesome than the previously recommended poem book.
7. Dia de Los Muertos
This book is beautifully illustrated and goes through the traditions associated with “Dia de Los Muertos,” The Day of the Dead. It’s a great way to expose students to different cultures.
Great Standard(s) to Cover:
- Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details
- Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly
- Use context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase
8. The Spider and the Fly
The Spider and the Fly is a “cautionary” tale. The spider continuously tries to persuade the fly to come on in.
Great Standard(s) to Cover:
- Determine a theme of a story
- Plot
- Story elements
9. The Widow’s Broom
After a witch drops her broom in Minna Shaw’s yard, Minna realizes the broom has powers. She enjoys teaching the broom new tasks, but her neighbors do not like the way in which the broom is acting. This book has quite a twist at the end which students are sure to love and have you rereading.
This book lends itself to discussing Minna’s character traits and comparing them to the neighbor’s traits.
Great Standard(s) to Cover:
- Drawing inferences from the text
- Compare and contrast two or more characters
10. Creepy Carrots
This book lends itself perfectly to teaching about theme. As the rabbit tries to take carrots from the field, he is haunted by creepy carrots wherever he looks.
Great Standard(s) to Cover:
- Drawing inferences from the text
- Theme
As most of these stories have a plot, having students fill out a plot map is a great way to integrate reading standards through fun and engaging Halloween read alouds. If you’d like a FREE plot map to use with your students, just click on the image below.
I hope this list of the best Halloween read aloud books gives you some great suggestions to share with your students. Make sure to check out these great Halloween activities that you can implement in your classroom.
