In today’s blog post, I’m kicking off October with plenty of favorites for you! This collection includes favorite Halloween books for kids you can grab in digital and print format. You will also find a few spooky teacher gifts. Last year, I compiled a list of favorite Thanksgiving books, and this blog post shares even more fall favorites.
As you explore the list below, you’ll find some recommendations from EdTech friends, too. There are also plenty of gift ideas for a teacher or lover of Halloween in your life. There are some spooky, tech-friendly choices that might make a good fall gift for a fellow teacher. If you have a favorite of your own, add it to the comments section at the bottom of this post!
Halloween Books for Kids
Los Gatos Black on Halloween (Hardcover, Paperback & Kindle)
This bilingual poem is an excellent choice for Halloween! Students can read along with the beautiful illustrations. This selection (like others on the list) is available in digital format, too!
5-Minute Spooky Stories (Hardcover & Kindle)
Looking for a quick read aloud? This book has quick stories with a Halloween spin. Full of Disney characters, you can make your way through each story in about five minutes. This collection is an excellent option if you are pulling in a read aloud to a part of the day when you are short on time.
A World Full of Spooky Stories: 50 Tales to Make Your Spine Tingle (Hardcover & Kindle)
Introducing students to stories from around the world is a great way to make global connections during the Halloween season. In this book, you’ll find dozens of stories from different parts of the world. This selection includes stories from Germany, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Brazil, and many more!
Leo: A Ghost Story (Hardcover, Paperback & Kindle)
If you’re looking for a simple story with a friendship connection, take a look at Leo: A Ghost Story. This title was a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2015. Right now, you can grab this book for under $1 on Audible making it a good choice for audiobooks, too.
Books with Audio Options
Zen Ghosts (Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD & Kindle)
If you love the book Zen Shorts, then you’ll want to check out Zen Ghosts. Perfect for elementary students, this book can make a connection to the season. Or you might use this Halloween selection to inspire your student writers!
Monster Trouble! (Hardcover & Audio CD)
If your students are feeling a bit scared this Halloween, this book is one to check out. It follows Winifred Schnitzel as she struggles with the monsters under her bed. In addition to the hardcover version, there is an Audio CD version available, too!
This free ebook includes more reading favorites. Click here to download!
Halloween Book Recommendations
I love when EdTech friends offer up recommendations for their favorite things. Last year I pulled together this list of teacher gift ideas. In this blog post, my EdTech friends have shared some of their favorite Halloween books!
The Spider and the Fly (Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD & Kindle)
Brianna Hodges (who you can follow on Twitter here) recommended The Spider and the Fly. In this picture book, you’ll find Mary Howitt’s 1829 poem. It is placed alongside illustrations from Tony DiTerlizzi.
The Westing Game (Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD & Kindle)
Fellow Apple Distinguished Educator Andy Leiser (who you can follow on Twitter here) recommended The Westing Game. As a fifth grade teacher, this book was in my classroom library. I’m so glad Andy gave a shout out to this student favorite!
More Halloween Favorites
I Need My Monster (Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD & Kindle)
Al Thomas (who you can follow on Twitter here) recommended the beautifully illustrated picture book I Need My Monster. This funny book is excellent for students of all ages. However, it is perfect for students who suspect there might be a monster under their bed. A great choice for the Halloween season!
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Paperback & Kindle)
North Carolina Principal Sean Gaillard (who you can follow on Twitter here) recommended It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Have you read this favorite Peanuts story to students? Halloween is a perfect time to introduce them to Snoopy and Charlie Brown.
There’s A Monster At the End of This Book (Hardcover, Paperback & Kindle)
When Bryan Miller (who you can follow on Twitter here) recommended There’s A Monster At the End of This Book, it brought back a lot of read-aloud memories. If you or your students are fans of Sesame Street you’ll definitely want to check out this read-aloud!
Reading Specialist and Class Tech Tips reader Barbara R. Falkenbury, shared three of her favorite October books. She loves There Was an Old Lady Who Wasn’t Afraid of Anything, Too Many Pumpkins, and Click, Clack, Boo!
Teacher Gifts for Halloween
In addition to some of the favorite books on the list, I’ve compiled a list of spooky gifts for teachers. Of course you might want to pick up for yourself, too! You’ll find a few things to add to your Halloween wardrobe, must-have decorations, and of course, some tech-friendly favorites! Make sure to add your favorites to the list. All you have to do is leave a comment at the bottom of the post.
If you follow along on Instagram, you know I’m in the midst of a delightfully busy travel season. Between school visits and conferences, I’m getting my miles (and steps!) in this fall. Well, you can believe that this witch-themed frequent flyer sweatshirt is sitting in my Amazon cart right now.
For an emoji-loving teacher, this pumpkin emoji shirt is sure to get a smile. You might share this along with a favorite Halloween riddle. This website is full of kid-friendly Halloween jokes, too.
I love my Tervis Tumbler, and this option is an excellent choice for a teacher who loves Halloween. With a Nightmare Before Christmas theme, this insulated cup is perfect for drinks like iced-coffee or hot tea. You might share it along with one of these fall-flavored K-cups.
Halloween T-Shirt for Book Lovers
This silly t-shirt for book lovers is a great Halloween treat for a special teacher in your life. It comes in a few different colors, but the message is the same. You might pair this gift along with a set of book recommendations. Or you can give it as a gift for a guest reader in your classroom during the Halloween season.
More Techy Favorites
Halloween Apple Watch Bands
I always think that I’ll switch out my Apple Watch band more often than I actually do. That being said, I love this Halloween-themed watch band that comes in a few different sizes. If patterns aren’t your thing, there is this orange option for a more subtle Halloween connection.
Halloween Flash Drives
If you need a new flash drive or a fun seasonal gift for someone techy, this option is worth considering. This USB flash drive includes a pumpkin keychain. But if you’re looking for something under the $5 mark, this one is worth considering, too!
Whether you’re looking for a new ebook to share with students or a gift idea for a fellow teacher, I hope this list will help you on your fall quest for the perfect Halloween selection!
