Hey everyone and welcome to Owl Book World! I have been thinking about talking about children’s horror books for a little while now. I loved horror as a kid and I know there are probably tons of kids out there who love it just as much as I do.
But before I start talking about it how do you guys feel about kids reading horror as long as it is age appropriate? I’m assuming if you’re here then you’re at least somewhat okay with it. I have always thought that it would be okay if they were ready for some of the more age-appropriate horror books.
However, I think I’m a little more open with it because I started out young with it. I always enjoyed reading them when I was younger and if my son enjoys them as well then I will be okay with it.
If you read a lot of horror books when you were younger then let me know in the comments which ones you read!
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Children’s Horror Books
I know a lot of people probably question whether or not they should let their children have anything to do with horror and horror books. That’s completely up to the individual but I know I want to get my son into it as long as it is age appropriate of course. Granted I will leave it up to him as well.
But considering that I started at a young age and my family was pretty open about it, I want to do the same with my son. If he likes it he likes it. If he doesn’t he doesn’t.
Scary Stories to tell in the Dark
So I think almost everyone knows the book Scary Stories to tell in the Dark. I have to admit that I feel like this would be a great start for Children’s horror books. But that’s mostly because I read this one when I was young and absolutely loved it!
Scary Stories to tell in the dark is full of scary stories and there is nearly something for everyone. On top of that if you like reading books before you watch a movie then this is a good opportunity.
Some of these stories are pretty creepy so I would aim this book toward kids around the preteen area. The movie is somewhat different than the books but it does incorporate some of the stories in it. So, if you’re planning on watching the movie don’t go in thinking that it is going to be exactly like it.
The movie is still somewhat okay even though it doesn’t completely follow the book.
If you’re interested in the book then you can find it through the links below.
Coraline
Coraline is probably one of my favorite movies! I love it and I always like to watch it. To be honest I need to find out where it’s streaming again because it doesn’t seem like it’s streaming on Netflix anymore. To be honest, I kind of miss it.
I have to be honest though, I actually haven’t read the book. That’s probably why I actually really enjoyed the movie. I didn’t have anything to compare it to.
Here is what Coraline is about.
Coraline is about a girl who moves to a new home with her parents. Even though she thinks that the home is really cool she is also getting bored there. So, when she decides to explore the home she finds a weird and small door that seems to have no purpose. On top of that, she can’t find a key for it either.
At night when she should be asleep she wakes up and is drawn to go downstairs. When she does, that small door opens up and draws her in. So she goes in and is taken to an alternative world where the people around her are the same but are kind of different. She loves it but the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
If you’re interested in this book then you can find it through the links below.
Goosebumps
I absolutely loved Goosebumps as a kid. I know this would be great for those who are just getting used to chapter books. I’m pretty sure I had actually started them right around ten or eleven. But the thing is that I actually really loved scary stories and scary movies at that age.
Goosebumps is an anthology series and you get new characters with each and every single one. The stories kind of vary but they are all equally creepy and scary. They are all worth reading if you’re little one really likes creepy stories.
On top of that once you’re done with the books you can watch the old nineties tv show and then the more recent movies with Jack Black. I think Disney Plus is working on a new tv show as well. So once you’re done with the books you have plenty of options to watch after.
If you’re interested in Goosebumps you can find them through the links below.
The Haunting of Room 909
The Haunting of Room 909 is one of those children’s horror books that I know I would have loved when I was a lot younger. I have loved horror and creepy things since I was pretty young.
I especially loved things that revolved around the supernatural. If your little one loves paranormal books then I highly suggest checking this one out.
For most children, summer is the time for fun and games. But for Hannah and Ben Littleton things are a little bit different. Their father, Percy, is a famous paranormal investigator. So, that means they are having to spend their summer following him as he does some investigations.
At first, they are a little bored because their dad doesn’t really involve them much in the investigations. That is until they go to a hotel that is supposedly haunted by numerous ghosts. When they explore the hotel they attempt to prove how they can try and help their dad with investigations. That is only if he’ll allow it.
If you’re interested in this book you can find it through the link below.
The Witches of Willow Cove
The Witches of Willow Cove is one that I have been seeing around a lot lately. Books about witches are usually hit or miss for me, but I keep finding myself wanting to read this one.
So, I actually might try to check this one from the library soon. If you have read this one then let me know what you thought about it in the comments!
Abby Shepherd just found out not that long ago that she’s a witch. She’s just kind of getting the hang of it and learning what she should do. But weird things start to happen around her hometown of Willow Cove. Things start to make sense when a stranger named Miss Winters tells her that there are more witches in Willow Cove and that she’s in fact a witch too. She offers to teach Abby and the others how to control their magic and what to do. At first, she likes the idea but the more she gets to know about Miss Winter’s past the more she starts to realize that she’s a little bit off.
If you’re interested in this book then you can find it through the links below.
Ghosts in the House!
Ghosts in the House! is for the really younger kids and they’ll love it. This is one that I might get for my four-year-old son since this story is the perfect age for him.
Scary stories are hit or miss for him though. It’s not that he gets scared of them but a lot of the time he’s either really interested in them or he’s the complete opposite. So, it’s just a matter of trying to figure out what he likes and what will catch his attention.
Ghosts in the House! follows a young girl who lives in a house that’s haunted. But that’s okay because she’s a witch and is able to help out the ghosts. She’s able to give them a new purpose.
If you’re interested in this book then you can find them through the links below.
Quit Calling Me a Monster!
Quit Calling Me a Monster! is another great children’s horror book. This one is for younger audiences and I can see most of them really enjoying it!
I can see this one being a great teachable moment where you shouldn’t judge someone by how they look. Everyone is different and everyone acts different. Just because someone looks means doesn’t mean that they are. But if you are going to teach them this you’ll still need to incorporate stranger danger so they don’t go up to random people.
Here is what Quit Calling Me a Monster is about.
Floyd Peterson is so much more than his purple fur and his sharp teeth. He’s nice and really wants people to see him for that. So please stop calling him a monster.
If you’re interested in this book then you can find it through the links below.
I want to be in a Scary Story
This is a new story to me and it actually sounds like a really cute story. This is another story that I might actually try to get from the library as well.
I love kid’s stories where the main character is kind of interactive. I just feel like this is the type of story that will bring your young kid in and catch their interest.
Have you read this one to your little one yet?
The author of this story really wants to write a funny story, but the main character of this story wants to be in a scary story. He wants to be the star of a chilling and creepy story. But scary stories are well… you know scary. This is especially when it takes place in a dark forest. Maybe the main character would rather be in a funny story after all.
If you’re interested in this book then you can find it through the links below.
The Witch Who was Afraid of Witches
The Witch Who was Afraid of Witches is another perfect children’s horror books to add to your bookshelf. I feel like this one would be kind of a silly story and catch your kid’s interest.
This is another that I hope I can read to my son soon. I think he would probably like this one and maybe your kid will as well.
This is definitely one of those books that are more targeted at a lot of younger kids. If they enjoy things about witches then I can definitely see them really enjoying this one.
Wendy is a young witch. She’s afraid of her older bossy witch sisters. One special Halloween she discovers that her sisters can fly fast and cast spells. But she figures out that she can fly faster. Can she out witch her sisters?
If you’re interested in this book then you can find them through the links below.
What were some of your favorite horror books growing up as a kid? Hopefully, if you read any then you enjoyed them as much as I did! If you did like them then maybe you can find some old and new ones on this list that you wouldn’t mind reading over again or just starting again!
Let me know in the comments what books I should add to this list of children’s horror books. If this post really caught your attention then make sure to check out my middle school horror book list and YA horror book list.
