It’s Time to Get Spooky: 10 Halloween Board Books for Babies and Toddlers

Halloween is such an amazing experience for children and my favorite holiday. But how to explain what in the world’s going on to toddlers? These Halloween board books can help. They’re also a lot of fun to read. While I was hoping my 22-month-old would be able to pick out her own costume this year, we’re not quite there, but she’s still enjoying reading all these books about Halloween. And she loves spooky things: skulls and skeletons and ghosts and witches. She’s delighted by all the Halloween decorations at stores right now! And wanting to read her Halloween books over and over and over again. Here are our favorite board books.

10 Halloween Board Books for Babies and Toddlers

If You’re Scary and You Know It! by Carole Gerber, Illustrated by Noel Ill

A new release, this board book takes a character children dress up as on Halloween, and then gives them lyrics to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” As you can imagine, this is a BIG hit with toddlers.

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, Illustrated by Axel Scheffler

Admission: we actually read the hardcover of this and not the board book. But it does come in the board book format, and it’s Marian’s favorite Halloween book. It’s such a fun read-aloud. Definitely on the long side, but the prose is so engaging my toddler at least doesn’t mind. It’s also a Netflix show that I hear is cute but I haven’t watched it yet. Tilly and Marian discussed the book together recently.

Día de los Muertos (Celebrate the World) by Hannah Eliot, Illustrated by Jorge Gutierrez

This board book celebrates the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos, which is a holiday that honors the dead and is celebrated at the end of October and early November. It lists some of the traditions of the holiday and also gives a little Spanish/English translations. It has lots of skeletons and skulls, so it’s a big hit for us. Marian enjoys it even more than she did last year.

Where’s the Witch? by Ingela P. Arrhenius

Nosy Crow publishes a whole series of board books with felt lift the flaps. That means they can’t be torn or eaten. That makes them essential for baby librarians! This one celebrates all things Halloween. It’s Marian’s favorite in the series. It taught her the words “vampire” and “coffin.” Ha!

Babies Love Halloween: Lift-a-Flap Board Book (Babies Love Chunky Lift-A-Flap Board Book) by Scarlett Wing, Illustrated by Stacy Peterson

This is another indestructible lift the flap. The flaps on this one are made of thick board book material. It’s also an entire series that Marian loves, though I admit as a parent to finding them annoying! Only because they’re so short and simple and have no plots. Mommy likes plot.

The ABCs of Halloween: An Alphabet Book by Lydia Nichols

For each letter of the alphabet, author/illustrator Lydia Nichols pairs a silly Halloween costume idea. “U is for Underwear,” for example. It’s a find and silly book, perfect for pointing and naming things. She’s also published Halloween Trick or Treat: A Colors Book, which we haven’t read yet.

Don’t Push the Button! A Halloween Treat by Bill Cotter

We all love the Don’t Push the Button! books, which is an entire series. It was such a thrilling moment when Marian went from watching and listening to me read the book to pushing the button herself, or in this case, ringing the doorbell. These are funny, interactive board books.

Llama Llama Trick or Treat by Anna Dewdney

Llama Llama is a favorite, and we’re slowly collecting them all. Marian’s favorite page in this one is a table full of autumn foods and a pumpkin pie. This girl loves pumpkin pie. Like all of the Llama Llama board books, this one is very short, perfect for little attention spans, but still keeps the rhyming prose of the longer books.

Boo! (Leslie Patricelli board books) by Leslie Patricelli

Leslie Patricelli’s illustrations are really cute, and this is a great introduction to Halloween. The best pages show the different faces a pumpkin can make.

Little Blue Truck’s Halloween by Alice Schertle, Illustrated by Jill McElmurry

Little Blue Truck is a favorite for many toddlers. This one is also a lift-the-flap book! Warning: these flaps can be torn. It has the trademark Little Blue Truck rhythm, and lots of animals toddlers will enjoy naming, and this time they’re dressed up for Halloween!

Looking for more Halloween reads? We’ve got them!

What are your favorite Halloween board books for babies and toddlers?