25 Spooky and Scary Stories for Children
This collection of spooky children's books will excite those students of yours who love the anticipation and excitement of listening to scary stories.
Spooky Stories for Children Are Not Just for Halloween
I find many Halloween books are not that scary. Many children love listening to a spooky book where the anticipation and excitement build, and they don’t know what will happen next.
When I worked as a teacher-librarian, I kept a list of spooky children's books on hand, as students often asked me for the scariest book in the library!
Why do we like scary stories?
While children may like scary stories, they also like to feel safe. Spooky children’s books give them an opportunity to feel different emotions, but in an environment they know is safe. I will let Neil Gaiman explain further.
“Fear is a wonderful thing, in small doses. You ride the ghost train into the darkness, knowing that eventually the doors will open and you will step out into the daylight once again. It’s always reassuring to know that you’re still here, still safe. That nothing strange has happened, not really.”
Halloween Graphic Organisers FREE!!
Before you explore the costumes, I have made a pack of graphic organisers and activities to use on, before or after your school's book character day.
I have a freebie that is part of this larger resource so you can try it out before buying anything! Fill in the form below to get access.
Spooky Children’s Books
Please read any of the scary stories for children you are interested in before sharing them with your students. Scary stories aren’t everyone’s cup of tea and you know your children the best.
Depending on your tone and speed of reading, you can make a book less scary. Some books have illustrations that may upset some children and are probably best for older students.
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What Next?
These are a great collection of scary stories for children to have on hand all year round. They would also make great Halloween read-alouds and you can find more traditional suggestions at Best Halloween Books for Kids.
You can also check out some ideas for book character costumes for teachers and your students for the Halloween season.
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