October is the time for sharing our scariest stories. And the good news for kids who are just learning to read, is that there are some great new spooky easy readers that are out just in time for Halloween! So without further ado, here are some excellent scary easy readers.
Illustrated by Teo Skaffa
New York : Simon Spotlight, 2026. Easy Reader.
Victor is devastated when his beloved goldfish, Doris, dies. But after his parents convince him to flush Doris down the toilet to give him "one last swim", strange things begin happening in his house and Victor begins to worry that Doris has returned from her watery grave. This book is the start of a spooky new series of easy readers that would be great for kids who would like to read Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, but aren't quite to that reading level yet.
Written by R.L. Stine
Illustrated by Marc Brown
New York, NY : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2026. Easy Reader.
In this team up between the creators of Goosebumps and Arthur, monsters Tiddly and Winks terrorize each other while telling the other not to be scared. When Tiddly tries to teach Winks not to be afraid by surprising him and making him knock over his block tower, Tiddly mockingly points out things around them like a cow and a cat while saying "don't be scared". Winks gets his revenge, however, by scaring Tiddly with a spider. While this story isn't as scary as you might expect with Stine at the helm, kids will laugh out loud at Tiddly and Winks antics and learn a lesson about how everyone is afraid of something.
Illustrated by Letizia Rubechi
New York : Scholastic, Inc., 2022. Easy Reader.Warning: this book contains five spooky stories filled with creepy surprises and mysterious creatures. Each book in this series begins with an introduction by Mister Shivers who was sent a notebook full of tales and told that they must be shared. In the book, readers will find an illustrated compilation of stories that will scare them but (likely) not cause nightmares. These short stories would be great for telling around a campfire or excellent sleepover fare.
Betty the Yeti and the Ghostly Shadows
Although this book isn't the scariest of the bunch, it is definitely the most relatable. In this tale, Betty is excited when her twin brothers, Freddy and Eddy, let her play Ghostly Shadows, a scary video game, with them. But when she tries to go to bed, Betty begins imagining that there are ghosts hiding in the shadows. For every child that has ever freaked themselves out watching a scary show (and to their frustrated parents), this book is a great example of overcoming your fears even when things seems scary.
Written by Mandy R. Marx
Illustrated by Antonella Fant
North Mankato, Minnesota : Picture Window Books, a Capstone imprint, 2025. Easy Reader.
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