Does your little one like all things spooky even though Halloween was months ago? Do they like monsters? Or are you reading this post in October while looking for some kid friendly halloween bedtime choices? Well here is a list for you.
There are hundreds of creepy books for children but this list is just a few of my own personal favourites.
Some of these books might be a bit scary for more sensitive children but you know your child/small relative/kid you babysit, so use your best judgement and maybe flick through the book yourself before reading it to them or letting them read it themselves.
Children’s Novels
Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Goth Girl by Chris Riddell
Goosebumps by RL Stine
Roald Dahl Books
Horrible Histories by Terry Deary
The Great Ghost Rescue by Eva Ibbotson
The Saga of Darren Shan
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Picture Books
Bony-legs by Joanna Cole
Tailypo by Joanna Galdone (warning: might be scary for easily frightened children)
Hilaire Belloc’s Cautionary Verses for Children. This includes tales such as Matilda, Who Told Dreadful Lies and was Burned to Death, and Jim, Who Ran Away from his Nurse and was Eaten by a Lion
Funny Bones by Allan Ahlberg
Meg and Mog by Helen Nicoll
Not Now, Bernard by David McKee
Folklore and Mythology Books
You can get child friendly versions of folktales and mythology in picture book form. They can be educational, dark and have the same classic standing as fairy tales. They usually have beautiful illustrations too. I was raised on a diet on Anansi tales, Greek mythology and Irish folktales.
Original Fairy Tales
The Disney versions of fairy tales are very different from the originals. You don’t have to tell your kids the stories where Sleepy Beauty gives birth in her sleep because the prince more than kissed her, but endings like the evil queen from Snow White being punished with hot iron shoes or the prince in Rapunzel going temporarily blind are not too bad. Also find new fairy tales that haven’t been covered by Disney, like Puss in Boots, Billy Goats Gruff or The Little Match Girl (warning: Sad ending).
