The best rhyming Halloween books for children

You can not go wrong with Julia Donaldson – author of The Gruffalo (which, in my opinion, is one of the best children’s books of all time). Written in her trademark, hilarious, flawless rhyme, this book is an absolute joy. The story is about a witch and her cat flying on a broom, with three other animals asking if there is room on the broom for them. The witch obliges but the broom becomes overloaded and a bit of a catastrophe ensues. Readers will love the fun sounds and repetition, the wonderful, suspenseful plot, and the satisfying, rounded ending. Axel Scheffler’s bold and humorous art compliments the story perfectly. I highly recommend this book- and many others by this dynamic duo.

This book is laugh-out-loud funny and also sweet, featuring a cast of canines, which dog lovers will appreciate. Oscar is a Dachshund – “half-a-dog tall and one-and-a-half dogs long.” His last name is Myer, as shown on the mailbox in the illustrations. This is just one example of the humor and clever wordplay throughout the story. Poor Oscar is often ridiculed by his pals and classmates. That Halloween, he faces even more humiliation when his Mom surprises him with a comical costume. Oh, the indignity! But, not to worry – all is well in the end. The art matches the story perfectly. I especially love the character’s expressions. Great fun!

Judy Sierra, author of Wild About Books, is a brilliant rhymer. With a spot-on meter, witty wordplay, and humor, she creates enchanting poems. Monster Goose is a hilarious, slightly eerie but fun poetry collection featuring well-known nursery rhyme characters. The short verses, some of which are a bit gory, are sure to elicit some playful “yuks” and “eews.” Jack E. Davis’s illustrations are a  perfect match with their googly-eyed, silly characters. 

This Halloween rendition of the traditional Over in the Meadow counting rhyme is so well done. The finely crafted verses feature goblins, ghosts, skeletons, and other spooky creatures. Beautiful, colorful, atmospheric scenes by Jane Manning compliment the story inviting the reader to pause on each page to admire the art, count the characters, and smile. As an illustrator myself, I appreciate the wonderful design and compositions. Both the story and characters are sweet and hardly scary, so it’s a great pick for younger children, especially those who might be easily frightened.

This book features the cutest little ghost, who goes out to frighten someone with her Boo. But, unfortunately, she loses her Boo. Boohoo, what will she do? There are plenty of “oo” sounds in the verses, which could help early readers. The surprise ending engages the reader as well. It’s a very sweet story with lovely illustrations and is not at all scary, Little ones are sure to giggle and participate in making the numerous “oo” sounds.