Shivery Tales for Kids Grades 2-6

Now that Halloween is upon us, the following are shivery tales for kids grades 2-6. This list was developed by the Monroe County Library System.


ONE SKULL– not so scary

DeFelice, Cynthia. Cold Feet
Willie McPhee, the best bagpiper in the land, has fallen upon hard times, and his boots have nearly fallen apart. While in the woods, he finds a lovely pair of boots. Unfortunately, they are attached to someone else. A dead someone else. After stealing the boots with the feet still in them, Willie uses them to play a trick on an inhospitable farmer. Or is the trick on him?

Galdone, Joanna. The Tailypo: A Ghost Story
A hungry woodsman. A strange varmint in the woods. After the woodsman lops off its tail for dinner, the varmint begins to haunt the woodsman. Who will win – the woodsman or the varmint?

Lobel, Arnold (ed.). Scary Stories to Read When it's Dark
This book contains seven stories about horrible secrets, ghostly visitors, and bloody fingers. It's good to be scared once in awhile!

Martin, Bill. The Ghost-Eye Tree
When Mama sends the kids on an errand after dark, they must walk by the Ghost-Eye Tree.

McKissack, Patricia. Precious and the Boo Hag
The Boo Hag tries all her tricks to get into Precious’ house when she is home alone.

Schwartz, Alvin. Scary Stories to Tell In the Dark
Traditional and modern stories with ghosts, witches, vampires, monsters, and other scary things that will make you jump.

Sierra, Judy. The Gruesome Guide to World Monsters
Any place you visit has its own terrifying tales of very real creatures. This book will tell you important facts about the monsters and how to survive an encounter with them, if possible.

O'Connor, Jane. Eek! Stories to Make You Shriek
This easy reader contains three stories, all of which have a scary twist.

Washington, Donna. A Big, Spooky House
He was a big man. He was a strong man. He was a not-afraid-of-anything man. And then he went into the big, spooky house.

Williams, Linda. The Little Old Lady who was not Afraid of Anything
Once upon a time there was a little old lady who was not afraid of anything! But one autumn night, while walking in the woods, the little old lady heard . . . CLOMP, CLOMP, SHAKE, SHAKE, CLAP, CLAP. And then the little old lady who was not afraid of anything had the scare of her life!

TWO SKULLS – pretty scary

Ask the Bones : Scary Stories from Around the World
Spooky stories from around the world

Bauer, Marion Dane. The Secret of the Painted House
Emily finds a playhouse in the forest that has a forest scene painted on the inside walls. Can she get in?

Bruchac, Joseph. When the Chenoo Howls: Native American Tales of Terror
Short stories about different monsters from the Native American tradition.

Collier, James Lincoln. The Empty Mirror
When Nick’s reflection is stolen from him, all kinds of trouble starts.

Del Negro, Janice. Lucy Dove
Lucy has heard the stories about the abandoned churchyard. When the laird offers Lucy a bag of gold to sew him a pair of pants while in the churchyard by the light of the full moon, Lucy figures it will be an easy way to get rich quick. Those stories can't be true, can they?

Gaiman, Neil. The Wolves in the Walls
Lucy knows the wolves are in the walls, but can't get anyone to believe her. When they come out, it's up to Lucy to find a way to save her family and her house. Can she do it?

Hahn, Mary Downing. The Doll in the Garden: A Ghost Story
Ashley finds an old doll buried in her mean landlady's garden where she meets Louise, whose doll has disappeared. They must be connected, but how?

Hahn, Mary Downing. The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story
Diana and her brother Georgie have been living at the Old Willis place for a long time. When Lissa, the caretaker's daughter moves in, Diana decides to make friends with her, even though her brother reminds her "it's against the rules."

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Witch's Sister
Lynn suspects that her sister Judith is becoming a witch under the influence of Mrs. Tuggle, but she can’t get anyone to believe her.

San Souci, Robert. Dare to Be Scared Series
Meet ghosts, witches, and monsters in these stories to chill and thrill.

Snyder, Zilpha Keatley. The Trespassers
When Neely and Grub sneak into the old Halcyon House, their adventures begin.

Wright, Betty Ren. Crandall’s Castle
When Charli’s uncle, Will Crandall, buys the enormous, old house to fix up and use as a bed and breakfast, they discover that the house is haunted.

Wright, Betty Ren. The Ghost in Room 11
Why is it that Matthew is the only one who can see this stern teacher, and how does she know his name?

THREE SKULLS – really, really scary!

Ahlberg, Allan. The Improbable Cat
Everyone in David’s family starts to act strange after they adopt a kitten – or is it a kitten?

Avi. Something Upstairs
Can Kenny help set Caleb’s soul to rest by finding out who murdered him?

Bruchac, Joseph. Skeleton Man
Molly's parents have vanished and she has to depend on herself to survive. She has been dreaming of the Skeleton Man; are her dreams trying to tell her something?

Crew, Gary. The Watertower
On a scorching hot summer day, Spike and Bubba go for a swim in the decrepit old water tower which seems to menace the town.

Del Negro, Janice. Passion and Poison: Tales of Shape Shifters, Ghosts and Spirited Women
The seven short stories have two things in common: all are frightening, and they all have female protagonists.

Delaney, Joseph. The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch
When young Tom Ward, the seventh son of a seventh son, apprentices under the local Spook, he comes face to face with boggarts, ghouls, and some evil witches.

Gaiman, Neil. Coraline
While exploring the big, old house she lives in with her parents, Coraline ventures through a mysterious door into a parallel and frightening universe.

McKissack, Patricia. The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural
A collection of satisfyingly ghastly stories, most of which will give you the chills.

Reiss, Kathryn. Sweet Miss Honeywell’s Revenge: a Ghost Story
Zibby doesn’t know what came over her when she bought the dollhouse. But now that it’s hers, she feels that there is something horribly wrong with it.

Vande Velde, Vivian. Ghost of a Hanged Man
Before he's hanged, murderer and outlaw Jake Barnette vows to come back from the dead to get the folks who put him in the grave. Ben and his sister Annabelle don't quite believe him, but since their dad is the town sheriff, they are just a little worried.

Vande Velde, Vivian. There's a Dead Person Following my Sister Around
Eleven-year-old Ted is worried about his little sister when ghosts start visiting her.

Wright, Betty Ren. The Dollhouse Murders
What if there was an unsolved murder in your family's past? Twelve-year-old Amy finds a dollhouse in her Aunt's house that may hold the answer, but how?