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Children’s Book Blog: October 2026

Spooky Season!

October is here, which means it’s time for pumpkin carving, costume wearing, trick-or-treating…and some spooky reading! 👻📚

If your little reader likes their Halloween with more giggles than goosebumps (I know, I do!), we have plenty of books that fit the bill. From skeletons and werewolves to friendly ghosts and a very unusual kitty, these stories are the perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit.

 

School Spirits by Charlotte Gunnufson & Rebecca Crane 

School Spirits may have been better suited for a ‘back to school’ list but we’re only a month into the school year so I think it’s still timely enough!  

This playful, gently spooky picture book handles the very scary subject of going back to school. Despite first day jitters, classmates learn to be brave together and come to understand that every school needs a little spirit! 

The Skeleton and the Cat by Brandon James Scott 

Published this July, 2026, The Skeleton and The Cat is bound to be a book reached for every October. Told in five short stories, we watch the skeleton and the cat’s friendship bloom. 

I can’t stop swooning over the illistrations in The Skeleton and The Cat – radiant colors with so much detail.  Surprinsing for a “Halloween” book, the pages are bursting with joy.  

In the story titled “The Sandwich”, pay close attention to the paintings on the wall. 

The Underwearwolf by Gideon Sterer and Charles Santoso 

Another new book (published May, 2026) sure to be a new favorite!  

As evident by the title, The Underwear Wolf is a silly take on a classic Halloween monster. It produced a lot of giggles in our household. 

An underwear-loving boy puts on a special furry pair of underwear sent by his Uncle Larry turning him into an Underwearwolf. May we all have an Uncle Larry in our lives – gifting us wild adventures in the form of underwear.  😂

 

Frankenkitty by Maudie Powell-Tuck & Mini Grey

Joanna is a big fan of cats so I knew this one would be a hit.  Another silly take on a classic Halloween monster. 

Meet Frankenkitty—a stitched-together kitten who may be the cause of strange occurences. Everyone is afraid of Frankenkitty until the inventor’s brave daughter sees the sweet side of this feline. May we all have an Olive in our corner – loving us despite our faults. 

 

Where’s Waldo? Spooky Spot The Difference by Martin Handford

One of the scariest times as a parent? When the house goes silent. We all know silence with kids means mischief! 

But not when you check out Where’s Waldo: Spooky Spot the Difference from the Library! Silence is welcome when searching for Waldo and the gang AND completing spot the difference puzzles along the way.  

 

A note on this blog: Michelle Milford is the Office & Marketing Manager at Town Hall Library.  She has two children – Joanna (8) and Connor (6).  All three have a deep love of books and voracious appetites for reading.  Here they’ll share their monthly book recommendations