Books About Ghost Stories

The Best Ghost Stories Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about ghost stories? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
#1 in Series
The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Ghost Stories

Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1981

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

By Alvin Schwartz, Stephen Gammell (Illustrator) · Book #1 in the Scary Stories series

Dare to explore chilling tales of horror and dark revenge that haunt the night.

128 pages· 8,924 words· Est. 1.5 hour read
4.1/5 Goodreads · 73,980 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Enter a world where chilling tales and eerie legends come to life. This anthology of horror stories, accompanied by haunting illustrations, invites you to face dark revenge and supernatural events. Will you dare to uncover the secrets lurking in the shadows? Each story promises to send shivers down your spine and leave you questioning what lurks in the dark. Prepare for a journey into the unknown, where every page holds a new terror. Can you handle the fear?
Picture Book · Ages 4–6 · 1994

P. J. Funnybunny Camps Out

A group of friends go on a camping trip, but things don't go as planned.

32 pages· 335 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud
3.9/5 Goodreads · 304 ratings
$5.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: When P.J. and his friends dismiss camping as a boys-only adventure, Donna and Honey Bunny insist on joining. But the trip takes a spooky turn when mysterious ghosts send the boys fleeing. Only the girls hold the secret to what really happened in the woods. Can they unravel the mystery and prove their courage?
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1984

In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories

By Alvin Schwartz, Victor Rivas (Illustrator)

Discover spooky tales that will send shivers down your spine.

64 pages· 871 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud
4.3/5 Goodreads · 5,805 ratings
$5.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Step into a world of eerie tales with 'In a Dark, Dark Room.' Perfect for young readers, this collection of spooky stories, including 'The Green Ribbon' and 'The Ghost of John,' offers a delightful scare. With Victor Rivas's whimsical illustrations, each story unfolds with a mix of suspense and humor. Will you dare to explore the mysteries hidden in the dark? These folktale-inspired stories promise to captivate and thrill, making reading an adventure for those who love a good fright. Ideal for kids ready to read on their own, but who still enjoy a little help.
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 1991

Scary Stories 3

By Alvin Schwartz, Stephen Gammell (Illustrator) · Book #3 in the Scary Stories series

Discover chilling tales where nightmares blur with reality and death lurks in the shadows.

128 pages· 11,420 words· Est. 1.5 hour read
4.2/5 Goodreads · 18,322 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Mass Market Paperback
Summary: Dive into a world of eerie folklore with 'Scary Stories 3.' Unravel the mystery of the Wolf girl, encounter a hearse with glowing-eyed men, and question if nightmares can come true. Each tale, accompanied by haunting illustrations, promises to send shivers down your spine. Will you dare to face the unknown and escape an appointment with Death? These stories are perfect for sharing in the dark, where every whisper and shadow adds to the thrill. Prepare for a spine-tingling journey into the macabre and the mysterious.
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2023

The Bellwoods Game

A game in haunted woods reveals a sinister truth. Can Bailee survive the night?

320 pages· 54,806 words· Est. 7.5 hour read
3.9/5 Goodreads · 1,907 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: In Fall Hollow, sixth graders play the Bellwoods Game to keep a ghost at bay. Bailee hopes winning will change her life, but the woods hide dark secrets. As Halloween night unfolds, Bailee and her friends face unexpected dangers and unravel the truth behind the legend. Will Bailee's wish come true, or will the sinister forces lurking in the shadows claim them all?
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 1984

More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

By Alvin Schwartz, Stephen Gammell (Illustrator) · Book #2 in the Scary Stories series

Dare to explore chilling tales of horror and dark revenge.

112 pages· 9,976 words· Est. 1 hour read
4.1/5 Goodreads · 21,006 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Enter a world of spine-tingling horror with this anthology of chilling tales. Folklorist Alvin Schwartz weaves stories of dark revenge and supernatural events, each more terrifying than the last. With Stephen Gammell's haunting illustrations, these legends will leave you questioning what lurks in the shadows. Are you brave enough to uncover the mysteries within?
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2009

Ghosts

Uncover ghostly secrets with Jack and Annie as they explore famous ghost stories and the mystery of ghost hunters.

128 pages· 6,486 words· Est. 55 min read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 702 ratings
$6.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Join Jack and Annie as they dive into the world of ghosts, unraveling famous ghost stories and the mystery behind ghost hunters. What makes people believe in ghosts, and do all cultures share these tales? Discover fascinating facts and intriguing tidbits as they track the truth behind the fiction. This adventure is perfect for curious minds eager to learn more about the supernatural and the stories that haunt us. Will they uncover the secrets of the spectral world, or will the mysteries remain unsolved? Embark on this fact-finding journey and find out!
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022

The Lonely Ghost

Twins face a ghostly presence in their new haunted home.

256 pages· 35,330 words· Est. 5 hour read
3.9/5 Goodreads · 546 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Ava and Cassie move into a decrepit mansion, only to uncover eerie drawings and unsettling changes in Cassie. As Ava senses a ghostly presence targeting her sister, she must unravel the mystery before it's too late. What dark secrets does the house hold, and who is Cassie becoming?
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1398
Chapter Book · Ages 12–16 · 2012

Friends with Boys

A girl faces high school and a lifelong ghostly mystery.

Cybils Award (2012)
224 pages· 5,886 words· Est. 44 min read
3.8/5 Goodreads · 15,612 ratings
$14.99Save 7%
Paperback
Summary: Maggie McKay steps into high school, leaving behind her sheltered life. As she navigates new friendships, she must unravel the mystery of a ghost that's haunted her since childhood. Can Maggie solve the spectral puzzle and find her place in the world? This journey blends humor, surprises, and the supernatural, challenging Maggie to grow beyond her brothers' shadows.
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 1992

Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips

Strange happenings at Aunt Mathilda's house hint at a ghostly presence.

80 pages· 2,522 words· Est. 29 min read
3.9/5 Goodreads · 1,817 ratings
$4.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Eddie and his friends face eerie mysteries at Aunt Mathilda's house. Garlic chips spell 'ATTIC,' and strange noises echo from above. Is Uncle Jasper's ghost haunting them? The Bailey School kids must uncover the truth.
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Ghost Stories Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about ghost stories for developing and independent readers.

The Girl in the Locked Room

Ages 10–12 · 2018

A girl confronts a century-old mystery in a haunted house, seeking to change the past.

The Headless Ghost

Ages 8–12 · 1995

Two kids hunt for a headless ghost in a haunted house. Will they find more than they bargained for?

The Elevator Ghost

Ages 8–11 · 2014

A mysterious babysitter's ghostly tales reveal secrets and calm wild children.

The Phantom of Eerie Hollow

Ages 7–12 · 2024

A boy inherits a mansion and uncovers a ghostly mystery in Eerie Hollow.

Scariest Sleepover Ever!

Ages 5–8 · 2026

Can Pizza and Taco survive a night of ghost stories without losing sleep?

Camp Out!

Ages 6–9 · 2024

A campfire tale turns spooky when a possum legend comes to life.

Cabin Girl

Ages 9–12 · 2014

A summer job turns eerie as Bailey faces ghostly legends and unexpected challenges.

Karen's Ghost (Graphic Novel)

Ages 7–10 · 2025

A ghostly birthday party in the attic turns Halloween into a night of surprises.

Spooky & Spookier
Sale price
$599

Spooky & Spookier

Ages 7–9 · 2015

Discover ghostly legends where history and mystery intertwine in four eerie tales.

Ghost Ship

Ages 6–9 · 2016

A puppy must prove his bravery on a seemingly abandoned pirate ship. Is it truly empty?

Amelia Bedelia Scared Silly

Ages 6–10 · 2021

Can Amelia Bedelia save Halloween when the Haunted Hayride is canceled?

Mickey's Christmas Carol

Ages 6–8 · 2019

Scrooge faces ghostly visits to rediscover his Christmas spirit and save Tiny Tim.

View all ghost stories chapter books
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