I don’t tend to read horror novels, or really any truly scary books, but there are some that are just perfect to read around Halloween. I included some kids books, too, just because I loved them when Amber was little.
Top Ten Halloween Reads
1. The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree by Stan and Jan Berenstain – Three terrified little bears explore the inside of a mysterious old tree and go into, up, through, over, down, and out. I love the illustrations in this one, too.
2. Dracula by Bram Stoker – The classic story of the aristocratic vampire that haunts the Transylvanian countryside is a must-read and perfect for the season.
3. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irvin – Amber and I are reading this one together this year. It’s a little old-fashioned, but a Halloween classic. I love the Disney version too.
4. Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe – Great story about a vampire bunny and some other loveable animals.
5. The Shining by Stephen King – Maybe not as scary as the movie, but scarier than I usually read. Danny is only five years old, but he is a ‘shiner’, aglow with psychic voltage. When his father becomes caretaker of an old hotel, his visions grow out of control. Cut off by blizzards, the hotel seems to develop an evil force, and who are the mysterious guests in the supposedly empty hotel?
6. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice – Still some of the sexiest vampires. Louis de Pointe du Lac tells of us his first 200 years as a vampire.
7. The Best of H. P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre by H. P. Lovecraft – Creeptastic! Lovecraft is one of the few horror writers I’ve read by choice. He wraps you in this spell, gives you images that definitely stick with you.
8. A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny – It’s been years since I read this one, but I do remember liking it. Zelazny manages to cleverly combine Jack the Ripper, Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Frankenstein, and Dracula together with witches, werewolves, druids and many others in this amusing tale of an approaching confrontation that, on the Halloween of a full-moon, will change the cosmic balance of power between good and evil. I think I need to re-read this one.
9. Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman – A witch has a big round pumpkin, but she can’t get it off the vine until several friends come to help. We read our copy so often it started falling apart.
10. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs – I’m reading this one now. I’m not very far, but I think it belongs on this list.
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
We have some great choices (2, 3, 4, & 6) in common this week! And I love the Berenstain Bears books – I remember that one about the Spooky Tree and it was definitely a favorite!
I’ve heard of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. Hope you enjoy it!
Good ones 🙂 Even if I have not read them 😉
I have tried to read Interview with the Vampire twice… I just can’t seem to love it.
Bunnicula! I loved those books when I was a kid, thanks for reminding me of them!
Ah yes, Bunnicula and The Celery Stalks at Midnight! Read those many times to my boys when they were growing up! And the Spooky Old Tree, which my Granddaughter now reads all the time. Miss Peregrine is an awesome story too! Nice list! Happy Halloween!
I loved reading the Berenstain Bears and Bunnicula with my kids and Dracula, Sleepy Hollow and The Shining scared the crap out of me! I’m glad you’re enjoying Miss Peregrine’s School. I hope to be reading it soon too! Great list!