Books About Urban Legends

The Best Urban Legends Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about urban legends? 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.

Series

Series

#1 in Series

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Urban Legends

Sale price

$1235

Chapter Book · Ages 14–17 · 2015

Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, Vol. 1

Book #1 in the Toilet-bound Hanako-kun series

A wish-granting ghost in a school bathroom isn't what it seems.

177 pages· 5,667 words· Est. 32 min read

4.3 Goodreads · 16,855 ratings

$13.00Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Nene Yashiro, a high school girl with a passion for the occult, seeks out the legendary Hanako-san, a ghost rumored to grant wishes. But when she ventures into the haunted bathroom, she discovers Hanako-san is not the girl she expected, but a boy! As Nene navigates this unexpected twist, she must confront the mysteries of Kamome Academy and the true nature of her own desires. Will her wish be granted, or will she uncover secrets that change everything?

Sale price

$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2013

Blue Moon

By James Ponti · Dead City series

A girl uncovers a sinister zombie plan while keeping her undead mother's secret.

336 pages· 64,393 words· Est. 9 hour read

4.3 Goodreads · 1,979 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Molly Bigelow's world is turned upside down when she discovers her mother was a legendary zombie hunter—and not entirely dead. As she aids the Omega team in unmasking the original thirteen zombies in New York City, Molly must navigate a web of secrets and a looming undead threat. Her journey from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade to Times Square on New Year’s Eve tests her loyalties and courage. Can Molly protect her family and friends while confronting a chilling conspiracy? The stakes are high, and her life will never be the same.

Sale price

$1597

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

4.1 Goodreads · 18,401 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.

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

Whispering Pines

By Heidi Lang, Kati Bartkowski · Whispering Pines series

A town's eerie secrets unravel as two kids face otherworldly threats.

320 pages· 68,465 words· Est. 9.5 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 1,480 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: In Whispering Pines, Rae seeks answers about her missing father, while Caden harbors a chilling secret. As kids vanish and return eyeless, they must confront the town's dark mysteries. Can Rae and Caden uncover the truth before it's too late?

Sale price

$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022

The Girl in White

By Lindsay Currie

A girl confronts a ghost to break a town's ancient curse.

304 pages· 61,330 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

3.8 Goodreads · 2,042 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Twelve-year-old Mallory is new to Eastport, a town obsessed with its cursed history. Plagued by nightmares and a sense of being watched, she encounters a ghostly figure from her dreams. As Eastport prepares to celebrate its eerie past, Mallory must unravel the mystery of Sweet Molly, the town's most feared legend. Can she face her fears and stop the curse before it destroys everything? Dive into a chilling adventure of bravery and mystery, perfect for young fans of ghost stories and historical legends.

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$1498

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2025

Bones and Berserkers

By Nathan Hale · Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series

Discover chilling true tales of terror from American history.

128 pages· 8,725 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 462 ratings

$15.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Dive into 'Bones and Berserkers,' where history's darkest tales come alive. Encounter a devil baby haunting New Jersey, a well of restless soldiers, and a demon cat foretelling doom. Each story, a blend of folklore and fact, challenges the brave to uncover the mysteries of America's past. Will you dare to read to the end?

Sale price

$674

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2016

Here Comes the Shaggedy

Goosebumps Most Wanted series

A swamp hides a legendary beast. Can they escape before it's too late?

140 pages· 25,290 words· Est. 3.5 hour read

3.9 Goodreads · 368 ratings

$6.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Kelli and Shawn Anderson's new home borders a mysterious swamp, rumored to hide the legendary Shaggedy. As their scientist father studies the area, strange creatures emerge, threatening their safety. Can they convince him to leave before the beast strikes?

Sale price

$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 12–+ · 2011

Shelter

By Harlan Coben · Book #1 in the Mickey Bolitar series

Mickey's new girlfriend vanishes, leading him into a dark world of secrets and lies.

304 pages· 63,602 words· Est. 7 hour read

4.0 Goodreads · 36,013 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Mickey Bolitar's life is in turmoil after his father's death and his mother's rehab stint. Living with his estranged uncle, he starts anew at a high school where he meets Ashley, a seemingly perfect girlfriend. But when Ashley disappears, Mickey uncovers a hidden world of deception, revealing that neither Ashley nor his father were who they seemed. As he delves deeper, Mickey faces a conspiracy that challenges everything he thought he knew. Can he unravel the truth before it's too late? Dive into a gripping mystery where high school drama is the least of Mickey's worries.

Sale price

$2564

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2025

Is It Real? the Loch Ness Monster

Unravel the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster. Is it real or just a legend?

160 pages· 17,312 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

3.8 Goodreads · 265 ratings

$26.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Dive into the depths of Loch Ness with a detective's eye. Join the quest to uncover the truth behind the legendary monster that has captivated imaginations for decades. As you sift through evidence and eyewitness accounts, will you discern fact from fiction? The stakes are high as you explore the murky waters of Scotland's most famous lake. Is Nessie a myth, a misunderstood creature, or something else entirely? Embark on this thrilling investigation and decide for yourself if the Loch Ness Monster is a creature of reality or a figment of folklore.

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2021

What Lives in the Woods

By Lindsay Currie

A girl in a haunted mansion discovers something sinister in the woods is after her.

320 pages· 60,241 words· Est. 6.5 hour read

3.8 Goodreads · 2,893 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Ginny Anderson's summer plans are upended when her family moves into a creepy mansion in Michigan. Locals whisper of glowing-eyed creatures and vanishing campers in the surrounding woods. As the mansion's eerie secrets unfold, Ginny realizes the legends are real—and they're targeting her. Can she unravel the mystery before it's too late?

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