These Kid-Favorite Halloween Stories are Just Scary Enough

12. The Perfect Balance of Scary & Spooky

What if kids could decide when a story gets too scary for them? In Tell Me Another Scary Story… but Not TOO Scary!  by Carl Reiner, kids can decide whether to move forward as the story gets scarier — or end it there. This sequel to Tell Me a Scary Story… But Not TOO Scary! comes with a CD to listen along as the author himself reads the story. Perfect for ages 9 and up; even adults will love the creative illustrations and Reiner’s wit.

13. Frankenstein Goes Gourmet

This fun book by Adam Rex is a fun collection of silly, scary poems perfect for the 6- to 9-year-old crowd. The illustrations in Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich are just as entertaining as the poems are. Favorite characters like Frankenstein, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Phantom of the Opera and Dracula all appear in this fun children’s book.

14. A Spooky Anthology for Children

Looking for spooky stories that are OK for the under-10-year-old crowd? Halloween Stories by Uncle Amon is just right for a little fright that won’t keep them up all night. Grab the Kindle edition for free, and you can start enjoying those hair-raising tales tonight. With stories like “The Haunting” and “The Shadowy Figure,” your kids are bound to find a favorite.

15. For Younger Kids

Perfect for kids ages 3 to 10, The Scare: A Halloween Story is a creative, fun way to share “spooks” with your kids. The illustrations are fun, and this tale of two best friends — a pig named Simon and a mouse named Jim — will be a favorite in your house. This book has a creative storyline and is a fun way for kids to enjoy a scary-ish story.

16. “The Green Ribbon”

There are various versions of this story floating around in which the color of the ribbon changes, but the chilling ending is the same in each of them. The story revolves around a girl who always wears a ribbon around her neck. When her husband finally removes it, he discovers the horrifying reason. This one’s a little on the scarier side. You can find this story, along with other classics, in In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories: Reillustrated Edition.

This story was originally published in October 2018. Updated in October 2020.