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

Graphic Nov.

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

4.3/5 Goodreads · 16,678 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

4.3/5 Goodreads · 1,966 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

4.2/5 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.

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

4.1/5 Goodreads · 1,465 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

3.8/5 Goodreads · 2,025 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.

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

3.9/5 Goodreads · 365 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

$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

3.8/5 Goodreads · 242 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

3.8/5 Goodreads · 2,848 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?

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2021

The Smashed Man of Dread End

By J.W. Ocker

A forbidden basement hides a chilling secret. Will curiosity trap Noe forever?

320 pages· 63,285 words· Est. 9 hour read

3.8/5 Goodreads · 203 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Noe Wiley is eager for a fresh start in a new town, but eerie warnings from neighborhood girls about her own basement spark her defiance. Ignoring their advice, she ventures below, uncovering a terrifying presence. As the mystery deepens, Noe must confront the unknown lurking beneath her home. What secrets does the basement hold, and can she escape its grasp?

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2021

The Sleepover

By Michael Regina

A sleepover turns terrifying when a new nanny might be a monster.

224 pages· 11,150 words· Est. 2 hour read

3.8/5 Goodreads · 1,106 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Matthew's friends plan a sleepover to lift his spirits after losing his nanny. But when his mom hires Miss Swan, a seemingly perfect babysitter, Matthew suspects she's a legendary witch. Are his fears just imagination, or is there a real monster lurking? As the night unfolds, the kids must confront their deepest fears and uncover the truth about Miss Swan. Will they survive the night, or is the legend real?

The Bookroo Book Club