Witches, Monsters, and Spooky Tales: Mighty Girl Books for Halloween!

By Katherine Handcock, A Mighty Girl Communications Specialist

Halloween is coming fast, and most kids’ eyes gleam at the thought: the costumes, the candy, the fun... and, of course, the chance to enjoy some really spooky stories! So that you can stock your bookshelf with some great Mighty Girl books to enjoy this Halloween, we’ve highlighted a few of our seasonal favorites.

To see even more, as well as films for a Halloween movie night, check out our special feature on the Top Halloween Mighty Girl Books and Films. And, if you're on the lookout for a costume for your Mighty Girl, check out our girl-empowering Halloween Costume Guide.

Good Witches: Mighty Girl Witch Stories

Not all witches fit the wicked mold — after all, historically, many witches were wise women and healers who ended up on the wrong side of the established political order. Many of the books in our Halloween collection feature witch characters that show off the best of what a witch can be: brave, curious, adventurous, and determined to protect people with every trick she knows. They are a great way to get your child thinking beyond the witchy stereotype!

The main character in A Very Brave Witch by Alison McGhee and illustrated by Henry Bliss (age 3 - 6) is a curious witch who’s heard lots about scary humans and their Halloween holiday, but never seen any of it... until one Halloween when she finally gets to meet a human girl and realizes that they’re not so scary after all! McGhee tells her story completely in dialogue balloons, making it a fun read — and perfect for a young Mighty Girl who’s slightly nervous about this spooky holiday!

In Hoodwinked by Arthur Howard, Mitzi is a proper witch: she has a broomstick, she wears a pointed hat, and her house is full of cobwebs. So when she wants a pet — a spooky, scary pet — the only place to go is Cackle & Co., but none of the pets there quite suit. When a little orange kitten turns up, Mitzi almost rejects it out of hand — too cuddly and cute — but after a night of prowling together, she realizes that her new friend Hoodwink is absolutely perfect.

In Only A Witch Can Fly by Alison McGhee and illustrated by Taeeun Yoo (age 3 - 8), a little girl desperately wants to be able to fly — but only a witch can do that. She’s not deterred, though: instead, one special night, she gets a broom (and her cat) and tries, and tries, and tries...until, finally, her heart’s desire comes true. This reflective, quiet book makes a great counterpart to the bustling, noisy Halloween holiday.

Magic Trixie, on the other hand, is a much more busy witch! In this graphic novel by Jill Thompson (age 6 - 10), Trixie is frustrated: she doesn’t get to do anything fun, but her little sister gets away with everything. And she’s determined to wow her classmates — a collection of monsters, witches, and ghosts — at show and tell, but they all know all of her tricks already! Then Trixie remembers she knows one more trick: making something disappear. And she knows just what she’d like to make go away... At the heart of this fun story is the struggle with sibling envy, making this story perfect for the whole year round.

Sometimes a Mighty Girl is a witch's companion, like in I Am A Witch's Cat by Harriet Muncaster (age 4 - 8). This little girl knows her mother must be a witch -- after all, the bathroom is full of magic potion bottles she's not allowed to touch! But since her mother is a good witch, it only makes sense to pull on a cat costume and become a witch's cat. A charming story with intricate collage illustrations, this is sure to become a favorite.

Even young Mighty Girls can see the creative potential in a scary witch story. In The Witch Family by Eleanor Estes (8 - 12), Amy and Clarissa love drawing pictures and telling stories, particularly of their favorite character, Old Witch. But when their story puts Old Witch on a barren hill, she's so lonely and grumpy that Amy draws her a little girl and a baby for company -- and suddenly the Witch Family is born. This story is perfect for Halloween, or just to inspire the budding creative writers you know!

And sometimes there's more to a witch than meets the eye! In Miss Fiona's Stupendous Pumpkin Pies by Mark Kimball Moulton and illustrated by Karen Hillard Good (age 4 - 8), Miss Fiona is totally witchy with her black hat, her greenish skin, and her spooky home...but all the children know that it's worth creeping past the dark cemetery and barren fields for just a taste of her pumpkin pie. In fact, what would Halloween be without it? This fun story also reminds Mighty Girls that there's much more to everyone than there appears!

For older readers, tales of witches can also explore deeper, darker territory. In The Witches of Worm by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (age 10 - 13), Jessica is already isolated from both her busy, dating mother and her peers when she brings home a skinny, ugly kitten she calls Worm. But then Worm starts convincing her to do mean, awful things — and Jessica realizes that Worm must be a witch’s cat. So has Worm bewitched her, or does he have other reasons to be interested in Jessica? And how can she free herself from his influence? This Newbery Honor book captures the isolation and alienation many young people feel, and explores the question of moral responsibility — all in a spooky, supernatural setting.

Terry Pratchett’s Discworld witches have always explored questions of responsibility, psychology, and friendship, and his young adult series about witch Tiffany Aching follows the same mold. From The Wee Free Men (age 9 - 14) which features a nine-year-old Tiffany desperately seeking witch magic to defend her home from the denizens of Fairyland, through A Hat Full of Sky (age 9 - 14) and Wintersmith (age 10 and up) as Tiffany grows in power and influence, to her most recent adventure, I Shall Wear Midnight (age 12 and up), in which Tiffany is now an independent witch facing dangerous, angry murmurs stirred up by the mysterious Cunning Man, these books capture humor, suspense, tragedy, and even hints of romance. Don’t be surprised if your Mighty Girl returns to these complex, engaging stories over and over again.

Of course the "witches" of history the history books were generally misunderstood -- or "troublemaking" -- women. In Lisa Graves' History's Witches (age 9 - 14), your Mighty Girl will learn about a wide variety of women whose actions, like practicing medicine, standing up to a ruler, or even just living alone, ended up with them branded as witches. The infographic style makes for an accessible read of these fascinating stories, with lots of resources provided for further exploration of these daring women.

Going Bump In The Night: Mighty Girl Monster Stories

Of course, Halloween isn’t just about witches, but also about vampires, zombies, werewolves, and all the other supernatural monsters that send a delightful shiver up our spines! Whether these Mighty Girls are facing monsters — or are the monsters — their stories are full of fun, thrills, and scary creatures.

In Skelly the Skeleton Girl by Jimmy Pickering (age 4 - 7), Skelly finds a lost bone one day, and decides to return it to its proper owner. But after asking her bony goldfish, her carnivorous plants, and even the creature that lives under the stairs, she still hasn’t found the owner of the bone! Finally, she finds where the bone belongs — and makes a new friend. Pickering’s unique, bright artwork and clever verse are perfect for any kid who likes spooky but cute characters.

In Zombelina by Kristyn Crow and illustrated by Molly Idle (age 4 - 8), Zombelina's love of dance is appreciated by her friends and family -- but when she joins a ballet class for real girls, a bout of stage fright leaves her moaning and staggering like, well, a zombie onstage...and scares away most of the audience. Those who are left, though, are the ones who appreciate exactly who Zombelina is. This lovely story of family -- with just a hint of spooky atmosphere -- is sure to please!

Zombies aren't the only creatures that dream of dancing! In Vampirina Ballerina by Anne Marie Pace and illustrated by LeUyen Pham (age 2 - 6), Vampirina dreams of being a ballerina. But how can you take dance class when you’re a vampire? Well, you have to find a class that meets at night... and figure out a way to learn when you can’t see yourself in the mirror. And, of course, resist the urge to snack on your classmates! But Vampirina learns that with determination and support from your family — no matter how monstrous — you can achieve amazing things.

Bernadette in Mostly Monsterly by Tammy Sauer and illustrated by Scott Magoon (age 4 - 8) is a typical monster... but secretly, she loves flowers, kittens, and even baking. Her first day at Monster Academy shows her just how different she is from her classmates — they’d rather eat snail goo than her beautiful cupcakes! But Bernadette is determined to find a way to make friends without changing who she is. Both a great Halloween story and a story to help handle fears about fitting in, this funny book is sure to get giggles.

Slightly older readers will enjoy the ominous (but friendly) creatures in Araminta Spookie: My Haunted House by Angie Sage (age 6 - 10). Araminta loves the spooky home where she's growing up, so when her crabby Aunt Tabby decides she wants to sell it and move, Araminta -- and a few ghostly friends -- set themselves to scaring off buyers... literally! But when it's a ghost-loving family who's looking at the house, Araminta's plan may not go as smoothly as she'd hoped. Fans of the weird and fun will love this funny tale!

Katy Towell’s Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow (age 8 - 12) features characters that struggle with their supernatural sides: Adelaide looks like a werewolf, Maggie is strangely strong, and Beatrice says she can see ghosts. Their classmates call them the “scary children” and they spend most of their time together in the library. But when people start disappearing in the town of Widowsbury, the girls will have to work together to break a nasty curse. Perfect for a middle reader whose taste run towards horror and all things creepy.

Kendra and Seth in Fablehaven by Brandon Mull (age 9 - 14) don’t know that their grandfather is the caretaker of a secret forest that houses monsters like trolls, satyrs, witches, imps, and fairies. But when the laws of Fablehaven are broken, the whole world could be threatened by the forces that are unleashed, and Kendra and Seth will have to face their fears if they want to save everything they care about. The first book of an ongoing series, this fantasy novel is terrific for independent reading — or as a read-aloud that the whole family can enjoy.

Fans of Neil Gaiman’s adult work will definitely want to introduce their Mighty Girls to Coraline (age 10 and up.) Coraline is bored in her parents’ enormous house, so when she discovers a special door that leads to a parallel world that seems almost the same — but better — at first she’s thrilled. The creepy denizens of the other house don’t bother her — until she gets to know her mirrored parents, white-faced, button-eyed...and determined to keep their little girl on their side of the door. Is Coraline clever and brave enough to return to her normal life? Gaiman’s tale quickly became a young adult classic, and has also received graphic novel treatment as well as being turned into an animated film.

On A Dark, Dark Night: Spooky Mighty Girl Tales

And of course, nothing says Halloween like a good, spooky story! Whether it’s a slightly mysterious tale for the littlest Mighty Girls — or a seriously creepy novel for bigger ones — these stories will create the perfect Halloween atmosphere.

For really little Mighty Girls, Karen Katz’s Where Is Baby’s Pumpkin? (age 0 - 3) is a great introduction to Halloween mystery. A costumed toddler is hunting for her pumpkin, but under the flaps she finds everything from ghosts to bats to a witch’s hat. Finally, after the pumpkin is found, the final flap reveals a Halloween party to remember! This book is a great way to introduce the fun of Halloween to even the littlest girl.

In Frangoline and the Midnight Dream by Clemency Pearce and illustrated by Rebecca Elliot (age 3 - 5), Frangoline is the sweetest girl all day — but at bedtime, she becomes a furious creature, running outside and refusing to lay down her head and sleep, even when the moon cautions, “Little ones should be in bed!” But on Halloween night, when her dancing and shrieking wake the dead, will Frangoline learn her lesson? After all, she’s not really bad, just too excited to sleep... For any parent and child who’ve wrestled with bedtime, this just-spooky-enough book is sure to get a laugh. Even when you think you’re not afraid of anything, that doesn’t mean things can’t get scary sometimes!

Melly from Not Very Scary by Carol Brendler and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli (age 3 - 6) is another daring Mighty Girl who finds that even she can get scared sometimes! On her "not very scary" walk, the skeletons, black cats, and goblins following her get a little more intimidating with every step. Hopefully the surprise her cousin promises will be worth it... This fun, slightly spooky counting story is sure to generate giggles.

Sometimes a friend’s dare will get the best of you. In Annie Was Warned by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (age 3 - 7), Annie knows she’s not supposed to go to the Montgomery Mansion — but how can she turn down a dare? Besides, she’s not scared of a haunted house...is she? Full of perfectly shivery moments as Annie ventures down the street and up the mansion’s steps, and with a pleasant surprise on a fold-out page when she goes through the door, kids will enjoy reading this book again and again.

In The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid Of Anything by Linda Williams and illustrated by Megan Lloyd (age 3 - 7), the old lady is never scared...until one fall night, walking home through the woods, when she hears CLOMP, CLOMP, SHAKE, SHAKE, CLAP, CLAP! For the first time in her life, the old lady is SCARED! But when she figures out who her pursuers are, her clever solution will get everyone laughing.

Strange things always happen around Andi Watson’s Glister Butterworth, and Glister and the Haunted Teapot (age 7 - 12) tells the first of several tales of the weirdness that surrounds Glister. When a rare (but unlabelled) teapot arrives on their doorstep, Glister and her father shrug — and put on a pot of tea. But haunted tea is not the relaxing experience Glister would have liked. Glister will have to help the ghost in the teapot fulfil his last wish if she wants things back to normal...or at least as normal as they get around Chilblain Hall! Told in a comic-strip style, this great story features a smart, spunky, fun heroine.

In Suddenly Supernatural: School Spirit by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel (age 8 - 12), Kat Roberts has a secret: unlike the normal girls at her school, she, like her mother, can see and talk to spirits. But when she and a friend discover that a ghost of a former student needs their help, Kat has to embrace her gifts to solve the mystery — while still navigating all the trials that middle school has to offer. The perfect mix of humor and suspense, supernatural and every-day, this book will fascinate your mystery-loving middle reader.

For older Mighty Girls, the stories get truly spooky. In The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier (age 9 - 12), abandoned siblings Molly and Kip are working as servants in a declining Victorian manor house. But the house's owners -- and the tree on the grounds -- have unexpected secrets, and soon Molly and Kip must combat a dangerous spirit with nothing but their wits...and the power of storytelling. If your tween wants a truly eerie tale, this is a great place to start.

Twelve-year-old Clara in The Aviary by Kathleen O’Dell (age 9 and up) lives in a strange place — the crumbling mansion where her mother works as a servant to widowed Mrs. Glendoveer includes an aviary, where the birds shriek every time she approaches. But one day, instead of squalling, the mynah bird speaks — and Clara starts uncovering dark secrets about the Glendoveer family. And as Clara tries to solve the Glendoveers’ mystery, she learns secrets about her own family — and all the while, she has the feeling that the birds want to tell her something... A charming, spooky tale of secret identities, nasty villains, and surprising heroes, this book will totally absorb your Mighty Girl.

Anya in Anya’s Ghost, a graphic novel by Vera Brosgol (age 14 and up), is desperate for a friend. When she falls down a well and meets a hundred-year-old ghost, she figures that a ghost friend is better than nothing. After all, she’s embarrassed by her immigrant family, her body is changing in ways she doesn’t like, and there’s no chance she’ll ever fit in at school! But some of the things Emily suggests make Anya very uncomfortable, and when it turns out that Emily hasn’t been honest with Anya, Anya will have to make some very difficult decisions. This supernatural story captures the real-life challenges of teens from immigrant families, as well as the day-to-day struggles of life as a teen.

Whether your Mighty Girl saves the spooky stuff for Halloween, or enjoys it all year round, we hope you’ve found something suitably scary on this list! Just make sure you read with the light on...

Additional Recommended Resources

• For more spooky stories, as well as age-appropriate scary movies, check out our Halloween section and our Top Halloween Mighty Girl Books and Films.
• If you’re looking for Halloween costume inspiration for your Mighty Girl, make sure you check out our collection of age-appropriate, empowering Halloween costumes, or check out our Facebook album made up of costume pictures submitted by Mighty Girl community members.
• If your Mighty Girl loves mystery and suspense, make sure you check out our Mystery / Suspense section.