Books About Scary Stories

The Best Scary Stories Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about scary 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.

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Scary Stories

The Doll in the Hall and Other Scary Stories
Sale price
$2279
Chapter Book · Ages 5–7 · 2021

The Doll in the Hall and Other Scary Stories

By Max Brallier, Letizia Rubegni (Illustrator) · Book #3 in the Mister Shivers series

Discover eerie tales where dolls move and mysteries lurk in shadows.

64 pages· 1,319 words· Est. 22 min read
4.0 Goodreads · 261 ratings
$23.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Mia's first babysitting job takes a chilling turn when a life-sized doll appears in the hallway, its eyes following her every move. This is just one of five spine-tingling stories where unexpected twists and eerie mysteries await. Who is watching, and what secrets do these tales hold? Perfect for young readers seeking a thrill, each story promises to captivate and spook, leaving them eager for more. Dare to uncover the mysteries within?
Tales to Keep You Up at Night
Sale price
$858
Chapter Book · Ages 10–+ · 2022

Tales to Keep You Up at Night

By Dan Poblocki, Marie Bergeron (Illustrator)

A mysterious book's tales come to life, blurring fiction and reality.

272 pages· 56,358 words· Est. 8 hour read
3.8 Goodreads · 593 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Amelia discovers a mysterious book in her grandmother's attic, filled with eerie tales of strange events and witches. As she reads, the stories begin to manifest around her, blurring the line between fiction and reality. With each page, Amelia is drawn deeper into a chilling mystery, where the ordinary hides the extraordinary, and witches could be anyone. Can she unravel the truth before the stories consume her? This spine-tingling journey will keep you questioning what is real and what is imagined, long into the night.
Fright Club
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 3–6 · 2015

Fright Club

By Ethan Long · Fright Club series

Monsters face off against cute critters to see who’s truly the scariest.

32 pages· 448 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud
3.7 Goodreads · 940 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: On Halloween eve, Fright Club's elite monsters—Vladimir the Vampire, Fran K. Stein, Sandy Witch, and Virginia Wolf—prepare for Operation Kiddie Scare. But when adorable critters crash their meeting, the monsters must prove who’s truly terrifying. Will the cute newcomers out-scare the seasoned ghouls? Join the spooky showdown and discover who reigns supreme in this laugh-out-loud tale.
I Scream, You Scream!
Sale price
$1348
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2013

I Scream, You Scream!

By James Preller, Iacopo Bruno (Illustrator) · Book #2 in the Scary Tales series

A mysterious ticket sends two kids on a ride they may never escape.

112 pages· 7,340 words· Est. 1 hour read
$13.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Sam Carver loves amusement parks and the thrill of a scary ride. When she and her new friend Andy use a strange ticket, they find themselves on a ride that turns into a real nightmare. The second Scary Tales book.
Zombie Rides Again!
Sale price
$674
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2026

Zombie Rides Again!

By Marisa Aveling, Neil Vandenberg (Illustrator) · Monster Jam series

Drivers swap spooky campfire tales about a terrifying truck, then hear something in the dark.

24 pages
$6.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Monster Jam drivers sit around a campfire trading scary stories about a truck that came back from beyond, with long bony arms that can smash anything. Just as the tales get creepiest, they hear a noise behind them. Could it be Zombie, the spookiest truck of all?
Read This Book in the Dark
Sale price
$1140
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2025

Read This Book in the Dark

By Erin Falligant, Laura Borio (Illustrator)

Fifteen spooky tales to share by flashlight, if you dare.

128 pages· 23,338 words· Est. 3.5 hour read
$12.00Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Fifteen original campfire chillers for kids, from a haunted skateboard and an evil jack-in-the-box to a ghost who comes when children call for her in the graveyard. Illustrated and wrapped in a glow-in-the-dark cover, the stories are creepy enough to raise goosebumps but light enough for sleepovers, campouts and reading aloud by flashlight.
Beastly Stories to Scare Your Socks Off!
Sale price
$2469
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2026

Beastly Stories to Scare Your Socks Off!

By Megan Atwood, Michael Dahl, Benjamin Harper, Laurie S. Sutton, Andi Espinosa (Illustrator) · Stories to Scare Your Socks Off! series

Eight creepy tales of monsters lurking under bridges, in seashells and in tombs.

72 pages
$25.99Save 5%
Library Binding
Summary: An anthology of eight short horror stories about beasts: two brothers meet a goat-headed monster under a bridge, a seashell unleashes a mutant sea creature, and two cousins awaken a skeleton creature in an ancient tomb. Stories by Megan Atwood, Michael Dahl, Benjamin Harper and Laurie S. Sutton.
Too Scared to Sleep
Chapter Book · 2007

Too Scared to Sleep

By Todd Strasser, Doug Cushman (Illustrator)

What lurks in the shadows? Discover chilling tales of nighttime terror.

80 pages· 9,290 words
3.9 Goodreads · 85 ratings
Paperback
Summary: In a world where shadows hide secrets, seven spine-tingling tales unfold. From action figures that spring to life after dark to a ghost bewildered by modern gadgets, each story promises a night of eerie surprises. When a karaoke machine turns a sleepover into a nightmare, the line between reality and the supernatural blurs. Will you dare to uncover what truly goes bump in the night? These stories will keep you on the edge, questioning every creak and whisper in the dark. Prepare for a journey into the unknown, where the ordinary becomes terrifyingly extraordinary.
The Face in the Mirror and Other Scary Stories
Sale price
$574
Chapter Book · Ages 5–7 · 2025

The Face in the Mirror and Other Scary Stories

By Max Brallier, Letizia Rubegni (Illustrator) · Book #5 in the Mister Shivers series

Discover eerie tales where wishes twist and mirrors trap.

64 pages· 1,409 words· Est. 24 min read
3.9 Goodreads · 52 ratings
$5.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: A collection of spooky short stories for beginning readers. Who is trapped inside the mirror? What happens when a wish comes true? Each tale brings simple text, eerie full-color art and a creepy twist for young readers brave enough to turn the page.
Unsettling Salad!
Sale price
$1348
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2026

Unsettling Salad!

By Aaron Reynolds, Peter Brown (Illustrator) · Book #2 in the Jasper Rabbit's Creepy Tales Chapter Books series

A badger's veggie deal turns into a creepy, chomping nightmare.

96 pages· 5,974 words· Est. 1 hour read
3.9 Goodreads · 442 ratings
$13.99Save 4%
Hardcover
Summary: Jasper Rabbit returns with a chilling tale of Thadeus Badger, who, alongside his friend Oliver Possum, faces a bizarre predicament. Their love for burgers and disdain for veggies leads them to a deal with unexpected consequences. As they attempt to eat an entire salad, the tables turn, and the veggies might just bite back. Will Thadeus learn his lesson before it's too late? Dive into this spine-tingling chapter book where even the healthiest choices can become your worst nightmare.
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