For as long as I’ve been alive I’ve been a lover of books. The night before a book fair was the equivalent of the night before Christmas. So many of the books I couldn’t wait to get my hands on and coveted as a kid have come and gone but some remain. You see, I’ve always had a peculiar interest in the spooky. The book fairs leading up to Halloween were especially more exciting for me and I salivated over the catalogue. Some of these books were so special to me that 30 years later I still have them–envisioning then that my future children would love them as much as I do.
Back in 2020, for my son’s first Halloween, I dusted off my nearly 30 year old books and prepared for his wonder in the colorful pages of spooky pumpkins, witches and ghosts only to be disheartened by his lack of interest.
This wasn’t a new feeling I’d experienced from my son’s reaction to books–he was 1 after all, but I’d been attempting to get him excited about books from the time he could open his eyes. “He’s just a baby. Give him time”, my friends and family would say. I just assumed that my awe for these magic portals woven from ink and imagination would be as special to him as they were to me.
At a conference with his teacher last year she asked about our reading routine. I explained my failed attempts to keep him interested in the books we read at night (including those he picked out). She’d been experiencing the same. He likes the idea of books–the colors and the images, but not so much for sitting through the story. Desperate to make books a vital part of his life, I asked for her advice. How can I make him more interested in the stories? Her advice–themes.
My son is now 5 years old (soon to be 6) and is incredibly excited about Halloween. As we decorate our house with spooky scary skeletons and picture perfect pumpkins we are also reading on theme. Back out of the closet are my childhood treasures–the same stories that once kept me up reading under the covers with a flashlight. But now, instead of reading them alone, I’m sharing them beside a wide-eyed little boy who’s finally leaning in. This magic didn’t come all at once, but it has come — wrapped in cobwebs and candlelight, pumpkins and playful frights. Turns out, all we needed was a reason to read.
If you struggle with a child who also is not fond of sitting through a story, try embracing a theme. Lean into their current curiosities, whether it’s Halloween, dinosaurs, superheroes, or snow days. Let the books mirror their world and interests. Reading doesn’t have to be a quiet, structured moment—it can be part of the magic of a season, the spark in a bedtime routine, or the backdrop to a month of play. The goal isn’t to force a love of reading, but to invite it in, one themed adventure at a time.
Ages 0–3: Board Books & First Stories
- “Boo!” by Leslie Patricelli
A playful, simple board book about Halloween excitement. Great for babies and toddlers.
(Ages 0–3) - “Where’s My Mummy?” by Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by John Manders
A not-too-spooky story about a baby mummy’s nighttime adventure.
(Ages 2–4)
Ages 4–6: Picture Books with Halloween Flair
- “Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
A rhyming tale of a kind witch and her new friends. Fun, not scary.
(Ages 3–7) - “Little Boo” by Stephen Wunderli, illustrated by Tim Zeltner
A gentle story about patience and becoming who you’re meant to be—told from the perspective of a pumpkin seed.
(Ages 3–6)
Ages 7–9: Early Readers & Chapter Books
- “Monster and Boy” by Hannah Barnaby, illustrated by Anoosha Syed
A sweet and funny series opener about a boy who meets a monster under his bed.
(Ages 6–9) - “The Haunted Library” by Dori Hillestad Butler
A mystery series with friendly ghosts and just enough suspense to keep early readers turning pages.
(Ages 6–9)
Ages 10–13: Spooky Stories for Middle Grade Readers
- “The Witches” by Roald Dahl
A darkly funny classic that’s equal parts creepy and whimsical.
(Ages 8–12) - “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” collected by Alvin Schwartz, illustrated by Stephen Gammell
Folk horror tales with iconic eerie illustrations.
(Ages 10–13)
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