Spooky Reads: Kids

Is it possible to die -- and not know it? What if a person is buried too soon? What happens to a thief foolish enough to rob a corpse, or to a murderer whose victim returns from the grave? Read about these terrifying predicaments as well as what happens when practical jokes produce gruesome consequences and initiations go awry.

Mirabelle is part of a very unusual family. Between Uncle Bertram transforming into a ferocious grizzly bear and Aunt Eliza's body being made entirely of spiders, it's safe to say they are an extraordinary lot. To the human residents of Rookhaven Village, the family is a threat. So long ago, a treaty was reached between them, and an invisible glamour was set around the perimeter of the Manor to keep strangers out, and to keep Mirabelle and her family hidden from those who would do them harm.

In this spooky adventure, Jerry and her trusty wheelchair move into a creepy motel at the edge of the woods where nothing is as it seems. When her mom disappears, it's up to Jerry to brave the forest and its demons so she can save what's left of her family.

The house seemed to sit apart from the others on Katydid Street, silent and alone, like it didn't fit among them. After moving in, Violet falls ill--and does not get better. As days turn into weeks, she finds herself spending more time alone in her attic room with shadows moving in the corners, wrapping themselves around her at night. And soon, Violet starts to suspect that she might not be alone in the room at all.

Andie Jennings is set to inherit her family's magic on Midsummer's Eve. Except her gift doesn't come. But when a see-through cat starts following her, Andie realizes she didn't fail to get her magic at all. Her gift just isn't what anyone expected. Turns out, her new ability to communicate with ghosts may help her solve a mystery in Morning Glory and finally bring about some much-needed change.

Jake and the other finalists in a ghost-story writing competition have been invited to tour Grimstone Hall where they'll learn about the seven ghosts who haunt the grounds! As their guide leads them through grand rooms, hidden nooks, and magnificent grounds, they hear all about the ghosts. But strange shapes and shadows follow Jake as they move through the house, and the tour guide starts behaving very suspiciously.

Everyone in Southridge knows about the legend of the Gravemother. They know how to leave offerings by the abandoned house she was supposedly murdered in to pacify her. They know better than to trespass on her property. But not everyone believes in the tale-especially not fourteen-year-old Rhett, who lives around the corner from the old mansion.

Zach, Poppy, and Alice have been friends forever. And for almost as long, they've been playing one continuous, ever-changing game of pirates and thieves, mermaids and warriors. Ruling over all is the Great Queen, a bone-china doll cursing those who displease her. But they are in middle school now. Zach's father pushes him to give up make-believe, and Zach quits the game. Their friendship might be over, until Poppy declares she's been having dreams about the Queen--and the ghost of a girl who will not rest until the bone-china doll is buried in her empty grave.

Rika Lovelace is in trouble. The kind of trouble that sends her to her grandmother's estate in Trinidad for the whole summer. But something about the island feels...different. Rika meets a group of kids called Minders, who seem to have elemental powers. Even worse, she can sense jumbies lurking in the shadows. She wants a ticket home, but when the Minders let slip that her long-lost mom is in danger, she knows she can't leave.

When a boring old skatepark opening becomes the scene of a something truly strange, CJ Delaney can't believe her luck. This is just the kind of big story she's dreamed of breaking for the town's local paper. With best friend Parker in tow, CJ is determined to get to the bottom of everything and save the town from evil.

Monster wants to be the star of a chilling, petrifying, utterly terrifying SCARY story. But scary stories ... well, they can be very scary -- especially for their characters! Particularly when they involve dark forests and creepy witches and spooky houses ... Oh yikes and crikes, this is definitely not the scary story Monster had in mind!

Join five adorable little pumpkins on their romp through their neighborhood in this silly rhyming story that celebrates all that is fun about Halloween.

Misty the Ghost is feeling sad. The haunted house she lives in is cold and damp. Spiders have taken over her living room. And worst of all, nobody thinks she is spooky. They think she is (gasp!) CUTE. But after trying to disguise herself as a mummy, a werwolf, and a witch--with hilarious results--Misty learns that true happiness comes from just being herself.

Bruce is a bear who does not like holidays, and he really doesn't like Halloween. His family of mice and geese decide the only way to get Bruce excited about Halloween is to tell a spooky story. But their campfire tale takes a turn when a ghostly visitor appears. Will Bruce get in the Halloween spirit? Or will the Halloween spirit get Bruce?

WARNING! This is a VERY scary story. It is the most spine-chilling story anyone could ever read. It takes place in a horrifying haunted house (okay, not that terrifying) with a creepy creature (well, maybe not that creepy) and its frightening friends (but are they that frightening?)

Presents a collection of silly, scary, and disgusting poems about monsters and other unusual creatures.

On Halloween, Melly is invited to Cousin Malberta's home for a surprise, but as she walks there on a beautifully spooky evening, she is followed by increasing numbers of creatures that may actually be frightening.

Jillian thinks there's a ghost in her basement. King and Kayla know that ghosts aren't real, but what is making that dark shape and that scary noise?

Welcome to Kersville, a town with a spooky history and a collection of ghosts who are major mischief-makers. Most kids spend their days without ever seeing or dealing with a ghost, but some kids get stuck with a haunt. When that happens, they call Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol. There's no job too spooky, icky, or risky for Desmond.

In a big abandoned house, on a barren hill, lives a skull. A brave girl named Otilla has escaped from terrible danger and run away, and when she finds herself lost in the dark forest, the lonely house beckons. Her host, the skull, is afraid of something too, something that comes every night. Can brave Otilla save them both?

Sam Graves discovers that his elementary school is alive and plotting against the students, and, as hall monitor, it is his job to protect them--but he will need some help from his friends.

Who is waiting at the end of the dark hall? What is a monster doing on the beach? This scary story collection is perfect for beginning readers who are looking to be spooked. With simple text, creepy full-color artwork on every page, genuine scares, and a spooky "invisible" message on the cover, these five hair-raising stories are sure to send shivers down your spine!

It may boast the oldest public library and longest-running newspaper, but Connecticut isn't free from scares, too. Take a trip through haunted graveyards, spooky houses, and even an occult museum. Read four terrifying tales about Connecticut . . . if you dare.

This spine-tingling collection of spooky stories features over 20 eerie tales from across the globe. Discover bewitching retellings of ghost- and monster-filled myths regaled with ghoulish relish and journey continent-by-continent through this haunting book. With shocks and twists like you wouldn't believe - are you brave enough to read them all?

Award-winning author Kerrie Logan Hollihan takes a humorous but meticulously researched, well-balanced look at ghost appearances, unsolved mysteries, and eerie hauntings around the world--from the perennial Vanishing Hitchhiker, the childnabbing La Llorona, and Korean water ghosts to school hauntings and wraiths in the White House.

Discover Borneo's Gomantong Cave, where literally millions of bats, cockroaches, spiders, and rats coexist--in pitch darkness. Visit New Orleans' Beauregard-Keyes house, where Civil War soldiers are said to still clash in the front hall. Plus ghost stories from around the world, a cross-cultural study of vampires, and how to transform into a zombie with makeup.

Love to tell scary stories around the camp fire? Like to solve mysteries? Brave enough to hear the truth about some pretty freaky phenomena? Then cuddle up with this spooky spine-tingler, filled with delightfully frightful true stories of real-life monsters, doomed domains, menacing mysteries, strange disappearances, and so much more.

School is tough. School is scary. School is EERIE. No one knows this better than Davis and Emily. But they're not scared of school because of tough tests or merciless vice-principals. No, they're scared because their teacher wants her students to present the class with the spookiest, most chilling stories they can think of.

Diana and her little brother know every inch of the land around the old Willis place, a crumbling mansion that some people say is haunted. When Lissa arrives with her father, the new caretaker of the estate, Diana is overjoyed. But there are rules that must be followed in order to keep the peace. If Diana makes contact with Lissa, she could unleash evil forces beyond her control.

When Liv Livingston's parents pack up and move the family to Gloomsdale, Liv quickly learns that life is going to be very different, especially in a literal ghost town. Some students have gleaming fangs, and let's just say her new house might be haunted. Will Gloomsdale dampen Liv's spirits? Or can she find her place?

Eleven-year-old Grey can't help but feel like a pair of eyes is watching his every move. He discovers gruesome bits and pieces, like art carved from bones, left for him as gifts. Soon Grey finds himself drawn into a strange mystery involving a race of reclusive subterranean creatures--ghouls, the eaters of the dead!

When Prunella places a strange skull--shaped ring on her finger she's transformed into a skeleton girl, terrifying her monster-fearing town! Exiled, she wanders the wilderness, where she discovers that monsters aren’t as bad as she’s been led to believe. With her new friends at her side, Prunella is sure to find a way to reverse this curse…but does she really want to?

It's the beginning of the new school year and AJ hasn't had any exciting summer adventures like his best friends have. So when he's paired up with his crush, vampire-loving Nina, for a group project, he decides to win her affection by pretending to be the vamp of her dreams. Soon enough he's got more of Nia's attention than he bargained for when he learns she's not a vampire fan, she's a vampire slayer.