What are the Best Books for Halloween?

The tradition of reading children's Halloween books actually started with my mom and me when I was a kid. Halloween has been my favorite day of the year ever since I can remember. Some folks may find this holiday creepy and unsettling, and even discourage others from taking part in it because they think it's evil, but I see it as a time of pure old-fashioned fun.

I absolutely loved it when my mom read Halloween books to me. In early October we would go to our favorite bookstore and my mother would let me choose a few scary books from the children's section for her to read to me throughout the month right before bedtime. I just loved to be a little scared especially when it was dark and rainy outside. The occasional lightning and thunder or the sound of an owl outside my bedroom window provided the special effects. Occasionally I would find it hard to sleep after reading a pretty scary book but then my mom would give me a big warm hug and wish me a sweet dream, and I would immediately fall asleep knowing that whe was always there to protect me.

Now that I have a kid of my own I continue the tradition of reading Halloween books with her. I have read most of the books my mom read to me to my daughter, and she has also chosen some new children Halloween books herself. I cherish every moment of reading them with my daughter the same way I did with my mother. On occasion we would even scream together, hug each other tight, and then laugh at ourselves for being so silly.

Watching scary movies around Halloween can be fun too but there's something about reading books that you just can't experience by watching movies or TV where everything is plainly presented to you on a screen. Somehow with books you are allowed a lot more freedom to use your imagination and let it lead you into a different world, and in the case of Halloween books, one filled with mystery and scary creatures like ghosts, goblins, and vampires.

My little girl loves to tell me what the wicked witch in a Halloween book looks like and what kind of robe she wears while she brews her magic potion with a black cat sitting next to her in a house full of cobwebs. Using their imagination allows kids to form their own impressions of different things and develop their creativity.

These Halloween books for kids can make quite an impression. The tales are scary enough yet not too terrifying for children under 12. I know they're worth getting when my little girl prefers hearing a scary story too watching a cartoon.