5 Creepy Gothic Books to Spook Kids of All Ages

Leo: A Ghost Story, by Mac Barnett and Christian Robinson
Leo is a ghost who lives alone in a deserted house… that is until a family moves in. Leo is excited to have guests, the family not so much. (His initial ghost offering of honey toast and tea is not taken as well as he expected.) Leo soon realizes the family isn’t psyched to have him there, so he packs up and takes off (even though he has been a house ghost his whole life). Eventually, Leo finally meets someone who can see him, a girl named Jane. But will Jane still want to be friends after she discovers Leo is a ghost? This picture book is just the right amount of spooky and sweet, and perfect for any children pondering an imaginary friend. (Ages 3-5)

Zombelina, by Kristyn Crow and Molly Idle
The Monster Mash should be playing in the background as you read this ghoulish picture book. Zombelina is a zombie girl who loves to dance, to “sway and sashay in a weird zombie trance.” But guess what, it turns out that even monsters share in that very common and very human fear—stage fright! What happens when Zombelina joins a local ballet troupe and performs at her very first dance recital? Well, most of the audience is too scared to stick around and watch her utterly haunting and unforgettable performance to find out, but I recommend making it to the final curtain call… (Ages 4-8)

Coraline, by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman’s name is probably one of the first to come to mind if you’re trying to think up a list of spooky reads. And there’s a reason he’s such a well-known master of this genre: he’s a genius at creating an alternate spooky universe; one you may want to visit, but also definitely want to leave. If you haven’t yet read any of his chilling masterpieces, I’d recommend starting with Coraline (and then check out the graphic novel version, and then go see the equally creepy stop-motion animated movie!). Coraline walks through a locked secret door and finds herself in another home, with other parents. They seem perfectly nice, and far more attentive even than her own parents, but they have black button eyes. Red flag, Coraline! At Coraline thinks this other home is everything she ever dreamed of, but before long she discovers that this other family is far more sinister and twisted than anything she could have ever imagined. Worst of all, they don’t want to let little Coraline go back home. (Be warned: This one may give you nightmares.) (Ages 8-12)

Ghostlight, by Sonia Gensler
This book combines a lot of elements that I would have loved as a middle grade reader: an abandoned haunted mansion, the South, spooky movies, and the cute filmmaker son of a famous country singer… Avery’s summer is off to a rough start when her brother immediately declares that he’s too busy to play “magical kingdoms,” their usual imaginary game. But luckily there’s a new playmate staying nearby in this small Tennessee town. Julian is an ambitious aspiring filmmaker determined to make a ghost movie while his dad writes his latest album, and he declares Avery his location scout. Julian becomes obsessed with filming at the Hilliard House, the local haunted mansion, aka the PERFECT location for a ghost movie, but if you know anything about haunted mansions, you know you probably don’t want to mess with them. A page turning, nail biter til the end thriller (but still appropriate for a middle grade reader). (Ages 8-12)

The Doll Bones, by Holly Black
As someone who played with her Barbies for far longer than was socially acceptable, I viscerally felt the anger/ shame spiral that our creative and sensitive protagonist Zach experienced when at this start of this spooky, coming of age novel his father tosses his dolls in the garbage because he’s “too old” to be playing make believe. Ugh! Throw in a creepy porcelain doll with a suspicious backstory and you’ve got the makings of an atypical ghost story by the prolific and fantastic Holly Black (of The Spiderwick Chronicles fame). (Ages 10-14)
What are your kid’s favorite creepy-crawly gothic tales?