All Hallows’ Read is the brainchild of author Neil Gaiman. In 2010 he had the sudden inspiration to start a new holiday tradition that involved giving books. The next major holiday was Halloween, and All Hallows’ Read was born. The idea behind All Hallows’ Read is to encourage people to “give someone a scary book for Halloween.” Old books, new books, secondhand books, hardcovers, paperbacks, eBooks, audiobooks, they are all fair game. Gather together and share a book with family or friends, or gift a total stranger as a random act of kindness. Rather than a sugary treat, All Hallows’ Read gives someone an experience by connecting that person with a story.
While booksellers were quick to embrace the book giving aspect of All Hallows’ Read, libraries quickly embraced the reading aspect. And during the month of October, librarians encourage patrons to read a scary book to celebrate Halloween. It became a celebration of reading as well as one of books. If you don’t enjoy scary books, try something creepy or spooky or atmospheric. If none of those suit your taste, try something seasonal. If you don’t care for the theme, then simply read. Read a book this Halloween.
Board Books
- Boo! by Leslie Patricelli
- Eek! Halloween! by Sandra Boynton
- If You're Spooky And You Know It by Aly Fronis
- Llama Llama Trick or Treat by Anna Dewdney
- Little Blue Truck's Halloween by Alice Schertle
Picture Books
- Bad Kitty, Scaredy-Cat by Nick Bruel
- Birdie's Happiest Halloween by Sujean Rim
- Boo! Haiku by Deanna Caswell
- Hooray for Halloween, Curious George by H. A. Rey
- Peep and Egg: I'm Not Trick-or-Treating by Laura Gehl
- 10 Busy Brooms by Carole Gerber
Easy Readers
- Fancy Nancy's Fabulous Fall Storybook Collection by Jane O'Connor
- Haunted Halloween by C. A. Krones
- Have No Fear! Halloween Is Here! by Tish Rabe
- Yo Ho Ho, Halloween! by Pam Muñoz Ryan
- You Got A Rock, Charlie Brown! by Charles Schulz
Middle Readers
- Captain Awesome Vs. the Spooky, Scary House by Stan Kirby
- A Haunted Halloween by Ray O'Ryan
- It's Halloween, I'm Turning Green! by Dan Gutman
- October Ogre by Ron Roy
- There's a Zombie in My Bathtub by Henry Winkler
Juvenile Fiction
- Charlie and the Grandmothers by Katy Towell
- The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle by Janet Fox
- The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
- Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
- Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz
Jr. High Fiction
- The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
- The Night Parade by Kathryn Tanquary
- Ravenous by MarcyKate Connolly
- The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
- The Truth against the World by Sarah Jamila Stevenson
Teen Fiction
- Asylum by Madeleine Roux
- The Haunting of Sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzie
- Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies by Lindsay Ribar
- This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
- Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke
Adult Fiction
- Candy Corn Murder by Leslie Meier
- The Cottage on Pumpkin and Vine
- First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen
- The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
- The Stitching Hour by Amanda Lee
Celebrate All Hallows’ Eve by reading a scary book this Halloween.