Our Favorite Kids’ Book Characters Scare up Some Halloween Fun

Llama Llama Trick or Treat, by Anna Dewdney
Everyone’s favorite little llama is getting super-excited for Halloween in his sixth board book. Kids will love following Llama Llama as he picks his costume—“What would Llama like to be?/ An astronaut? A bumblebee?”—carves pumpkins, and gets ready to go trick-or-treating with his friends, including another character kids will recognize, Nelly Gnu. The simple rhyming text and colorful images of Halloween fun will have the kiddos asking for this Llama Llama tale again and again.

Little Blue Truck’s Halloween, by Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry
Beep! Beep! Beep! Little Blue Truck is on his way to a Halloween party in this fun lift-the-flap book. And he’s picking up all of his costumed animal friends along the way. Young readers can guess right along with Little Blue Truck about who’s hiding underneath each of the masks. “Under the mask who do you see? ‘Moo!’ says the cow. ‘It’s me! It’s me!’” Little Blue Truck even has the chance to get dressed up in his own costume before the big party—can you guess what he’ll be?

Clifford’s Halloween, by Norman Bridwell
Clifford likes all of the holidays, but it’s finally Clifford’s favorite day of the year—Halloween! And this big red pup wants to get in on all of the fun Emily Elizabeth and her friends are having on the greatest night of the year. There’s Halloween parties, bobbing for apples, trick-or-treating, and, of course, the costumes! Last year, Clifford was a ghost, but he’s open to suggestions from his readers for this year’s costumes. Kids will love seeing Clifford in all of his silly disguises as they follow his and Emily Elizabeth’s Halloween adventures.

Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch, by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and Pat Schories
Halloween season means pumpkins! And sweet puppy Biscuit is all about helping his owner pick out the perfect pumpkin. Kids can woof right along with Biscuit as he runs, jumps, and digs his way through the pumpkin patch. And he even runs into some friends while he’s there like Puddles the puppy and a little white bunny. Young readers will enjoy frolicking through the pages of Biscuit’s awesome autumn outing.

Pete the Cat: Trick or Pete, by James Dean
Cool kitty Pete the Cat loves Halloween, but he really hopes nothing too spooky happens as he sets out to go trick-or-treating in his superhero costume. But thankfully Pete has his flashlight with him—and his dad—to shine some light on shadowy things on Halloween night in this colorful lift-the-flap book. Fans of Pete the Cat will like following him door-to-door as he learns that Halloween isn’t too scary after all.

Curious George Haunted Halloween, by H.A. Rey
George is excited for Halloween, but after he hears about the legend of No Noggin—a headless scarecrow that kicks people’s hats off on Halloween—he is spooked! George’s pal, the man in the yellow hat, assures George that it’s not true, but this curious little monkey is sure he has a mystery on his hands. Along with the help of his friends Allie and Bill, George is going to get to the bottom of this scary story. Hang onto your hats!

Pink or Treat!, by Victoria Kann
A storm has knocked out all the power in Pinkville, so the mayor is canceling Halloween! No parties, no trick-or-treating, no candy, no costumes?! This sounds like a job for a superhero, which is exactly what Pinkalicious was going to dress up as for Halloween. Superhero Pinkagirl may not be able to make the lights magically come back on, but she does have a plan to bring Halloween back. Pinkalicious fans won’t be disappointed by this pinktastic tale.

Duck & Goose, Honk! Quack! Boo!, by Tad Hills
Feathered friends Duck and Goose are ready for Halloween—Duck is dressing up as a ghost, Goose is a masked superhero, and their friend Thistle’s costume is a secret. They’re excited for Halloween treats in the forest, but what’s this they hear about a swamp monster? A friend dressed up as a daisy tells them the swamp monster is looking for them! Oh no! Before this story ends, though, Duck and Goose will be the ones delivering a little scare of their own.
What are your favorite Halloween-themed picture books?