Do you feel that chill in the air? It's time to bring out the scary stories!
We believe horror is for everyone. Whatever your age and whatever your preferred level of freight—there's a book for you. That's why this book list features all kinds of stories from slightly spooky picture books to haunting middle-grade graphic novels to terrifying teen thrillers. All perfect for cozying up and reading under the full moon!
Picture Books
The Cow in the Dark at Night
Written & illustrated by Jess Hannigan
HarperCollins, 2026
IL: Ages 4-8 RL: Grades p-3
It is nighttime and the cow is loose. In this vibrant and silly picture book, curiosity leads to some strange encounters indeed…
The cow has always wondered what goes on when the sun goes down. Tonight, she will discover it all. Adventures, nocturnal friends, every exciting thing waiting out there in the dark new world. But these night people may have other things in mind… It’s a good thing that the moon is very bright tonight.
Lemming’s First Halloween
Written by Jamesie Fournier
Illustrated by Faiza Khan
Inhabit Media, 2026
IL: Ages 0-5 RL: Grades p-k
It’s the spooky season in the Arctic and Lemming and her pup are experiencing their first Halloween! As the night grows cold and dark, they meet all their old friends disguised as classic Halloween creatures. At first afraid of these creepy foes, the little pup eventually starts to understand that Halloween takes bravery and courage.
But when a qallupilluk—a mythological creature from Inuit folklore that steals children—comes skulking through town, will little Lemming’s new-found courage be enough to save the day?
Lila Makes a Monster
Written by Laurie Elmquist
Illustrated by Anna Bron
Orca Book Publishers, 2026
IL: Ages 3-5 RL: Grades p-k
It's a rainy day, and Lila is bored. Then she gets an idea: she can build a monster friend! She uses bits and pieces she's collected, like bolts and hinges and coils and—eureka!—with a bolt of lightning, he comes to life. Soon Lila and Monster are bouncing on the bed, making sticky slime and munching on cereal straight from the box.
But when Monster accidentally makes a big mess, Dad comes running, and he can't help but be alarmed. Lila realizes it might be time to send Monster packing. Still, there couldn't be any harm in leaving her window open a crack. And perhaps she could save some of her sandwich...just in case a friend drops by.
Midnight Manor: A Backwards Bedtime Book
Written & illustrated by Sid Sharp
Annick Press, 2026
IL: Ages 3-6 RL: Grades p-1
IL: Ages 3-6 RL: Grades p-1
When the sun goes DOWN, it’s time to get UP at Midnight Manor! The unusual residents have a busy night counting the caterpillars on the curtains and playing drums with the banshees in the basement. Before they know it, the sun is rising–which means it’s finally time to say goodnight.
Midnight Manor is brimming with quirky characters and spooky scenarios in thoroughly domestic settings, from skeletons in the closet to bats in the laundry basket. Equal parts tribute to Edward Gorey and Maurice Sendak, this timeless bedtime book in reverse will delight kids and adults alike with each luxurious page painted in Eisner-nominated artist Sid Sharp’s trademark lush style.
Mother Boo: Poems from Spookytown
Written by Vikki VanSickle
Illustrated by Jennica Lounsbury
Tundra Books, 2026
IL: Ages 4-8 RL: Grades p-3
Deep in October County is a magical place called Spookytown, where the leaves are always bright, the air is always crisp and the pumpkins are always in their prime. When it’s time for a story or a poem, the little witches, ghosts and goblins of Spookytown love to snuggle up with this collection, compiled by Mother Boo—the oldest ghost in town.
Discover the secret to flying, join a pumpkin parade and dance with werewolves in this collection of Halloween poems inspired by Mother Goose. From silly to spine-tingling, there is something for everyone to enjoy!
My Friend Fear
Written & illustrated by Elise Gravel
Scholastic Canada, 2026
IL: Ages 3-8 RL: Grades p-2
In her brand-new picture book, beloved children’s book author-illustrator Elise Gravel takes on an emotion that’s not as scary as it may seem: fear itself!
Fear is here! And it can be pretty scary. We may want to get rid of it quickly, but Fear can be useful. Fear helps to protect us by showing what is dangerous. Fear helps us learn and grow so that we can do scary things safely, and maybe discover they aren’t so scary after all. But Fear can make us anxious and stop us from doing things we want to do. The trick is to learn how to understand and live with fear.
The Scariest House on the Street
Written by Joel A. Sutherland
Illustrated by Terry Pearson
Scholastic Canada, 2026
IL: Ages 3-8 RL: Grades p-3
Who are the people in THIS neighbourhood? Willow and her little monster friends are taken aback when the old, abandoned house on Shivers Street is taken over by new occupants. It was their favourite place to play, but now it’s clean and tidy and the air smells like lemons. It’s terrifying! Things get even scarier when they’re invited to a Halloween party by their mysterious new neighbours, who just might be the spookiest monsters of all . . . humans!Known for his beloved and spooky Haunted Canada series, Joel A. Sutherland is bringing his spellbinding storytelling to a younger audience with his debut picture book!
The Skeleton and the Cat
Written & illustrated by Brandon James Scott
HarperCollins Publishers, 2026
IL: Ages 4-8 RL: Grades p-3
A humorous and touching tale of the unexpected friendship that blossoms between a peaceful skeleton and a persistent cat. Told in five short and charming stories that will remind you of Frog and Toad.
Readers and cat lovers of all ages will adore this surprising duo who is sure to convince you that skeletons are gardeners, cats tell good-ish jokes, and, together, they make the best of friends.
Juvenile & Middle Grade
Werewolves Don’t Need Babysitters
Written by Suzanne Sutherland
Illustrated by Dharmali Patel
Orca Book Publishers, 2026
IL: Ages 6-8 RL: Grades 1-3
Once Lou found out he was a werewolf, he thought things would get easier…
But his parents decided his older brothers should be the ones to train him, and of course they're up to their usual pranks. When his parents announce they're going away unexpectedly and that they're leaving his brothers in charge, Lou knows he's doomed. Especially with the extra worry of Honeybunch the vampire out there waiting for another chance to strike.
Haunted Canada Graphic Novel, Volume 3: Four Chilling Tales
Written by Joel A. Sutherland
Illustrated by Sara Harding, Maya McKibbin, Jackie Reynolds & Josh Rosen
Scholastic Canada, 2026
IL: Ages 9-12 RL: Grades 4-7
Four more spine-tingling stories from award-winning author Joel A. Sutherland have been adapted into chilling graphic novellas. In this third collection, horror lovers will read about: A swamp with a terrifying resident... An old soul, accused as a witch... A cursed and creepy asylum... A ghost seeking revenge for her dogs...
Each story is brought to ghoulish life by a different Canadian artist. This volume features Sara Harding, Maya McKibbin, Jackie Reynolds and Josh Rosen.
Remember Me, Daphne
Written by Celia Krampien
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2026
IL: Ages 8-12 RL: Grades 8-12
When a new family moves into the creepy old house across the street, sixth-grader Flora finds her wish for a best-best friend has finally come true. Her new neighbor Mac is sweet and charismatic. With Mac by her side, Flora feels like the upcoming school year will be a fresh start for her—no more anxiety or klutziness or not fitting in!
But despite their new friendship, not all is perfect. Mac fits in better with their classmates than Flora ever did. Mac’s family seems to be holding back a big secret, something about a mysterious ex–best friend named Daphne who Mac won’t ever talk about. And Mac’s little brother, Danny, gives Flora the creeps. Strange things keep happening whenever he’s around. Is Flora’s mind playing tricks? Or could it be that Mac’s house is as haunted as it looks?
Tuutarjuk: The Spirit of String Figures
Written by Louise Flaherty & Neil Christopher
Illustrated by Kagan McLeod
Inhabit Media, 2026
IL: Ages 9-13 RL: Grades 4-8
Nyla loves to make string figures. She’s getting pretty good at making different shapes and sometimes she even makes them when her mom asks her to help out around camp, or late at night when she is supposed to be sleeping.
Nyla’s grandmother warns her that children who play string games when they are not supposed to are at risk of meeting Tuutarjuk, the creature from Inuit stories that challenges children to string games—and carries them off if they don’t win.
Nyla’s sure her grandmother is just kidding. And anyway, if Tuutarjuk were real, Nyla knows she could beat it at making string figures. Late one night, Nyla’s boastfulness is tested when Tuutarjuk appears in her tent. Will she meet the creature’s challenge, or be carried off into the night?
Twice the Trouble
Written by Sarena Nanua & Sasha Nanua
Simon & Schuster Book for Young Readers, 2026
IL: Ages 8-12 RL: Grades 3-7
Spirit Service is booming, and with “Holloween” night approaching, guiding spirits to the afterlife has never been easier. But all is not well. Raveena Gill and her besties have come across an impossible creation: another phantom phone! Worse, this phone belongs to a boys-only anti-paranormal league, and the boys seem bent on trapping spirits for their own gains.
To keep the copycat phone out of the boys’ hands, Raveena proposes a wager. The first to vanquish fifty spirits by Holloween will get to keep both phones. If Raveena fails, she’ll lose Spirit Service; if she succeeds, she’ll stop the twin phone from being used for evil. As tensions between and within the clubs rise, a sinister threat stirs in the shadows. To stop it, they will have to band together to uncover the darker origins of the phones themselves…and this time, both the lands of the living and the dead are at stake.
The Witch of the Dark Wood
Written by Sarah Van Goethem
Kids Can Press, 2026
IL: Ages 9-12 RL: Grades 4-7
When Tilly Dewberry and her father move into Nana Mae's old farmhouse, Tilly can't believe Nana Mae is no longer living there. She and her cousin Finn had such wonderful times with Nana Mae, especially listening to her wild stories about the witch who lived in the Dark Wood behind the farm. But Nana Mae has suffered severe memory loss, and she's now in a nursing home. Tilly doesn't understand how this could have happened - or what she can do about it. That is, until she finds a key hidden in the old oak tree not far from the Dark Wood. Could this be Tilly's answer? Has Nana Mae left her a clue?
This spine-tingling middle grade novel from debut author Sarah Van Goethem will captivate readers with its unforgettable characters, eerie gothic setting and plot twists that will keep them guessing to the very end.
Young Adult
A Clash of Carnivores
Written by Liselle Sambury
Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2026
IL: Ages 14-18 RL: Grades 9-12
August Black risked everything to find her brother, joining a deadly secret society protecting the chilling truth that monsters are very, very real. She thought when she found him that she would leave the society behind. Instead, she fought and bled to bond herself to a Monster for life. Now, despite her efforts to stay unattached, her connection to her Monster partner, Virgil, continues to grow. She can’t stop replaying the memory of their forbidden kiss that Virgil wants to pretend never happened.
Their strained bond is put to the test as they prepare for the Monster’s Ball, a brutal tournament where pairs battle for the coveted title of Master. But despite the danger of the contest, August is consumed with finding her mom’s killer and getting revenge. Her vendetta leads to her accidentally forming a rare second bond with Nolan, a Wild Monster who wants nothing to do with her. And if the three of them can’t work together, they’ll be kicked out of the tournament before it even begins. But August can’t pull her focus away from vengeance—even if it means becoming the worst sort of monster herself. She believes that revenge will cure her grief, but it may just be the thing that breaks her bonds for good.
A Good Daughter’s Ghost
Written by Sam Wilket
Annick Press, 2026
IL: Ages 14-18 RL: Grades 9-12
Sixteen-year-old Rachel Bei comes from a family of mediums and spiritual practitioners—and she could not care less. Yes, there was that time she thought she saw her beloved wàipó not long after her death. But that was back in fifth grade, and grief does funny things to people. Now Rachel isn’t just a skeptic; she’s embarrassed by her mom’s beliefs. That’s one reason babysitting for the Morin family is so appealing. Their immaculate house and home-cooked dinners feel like an escape from Rachel’s messier life with her mom. The Morins may be moving through grief of their own, but Rachel is impressed by the sense of normalcy they’ve maintained for their daughter, Blythe . . . at least until Blythe tells Rachel she’s been speaking to her dead sister Maddie, and her ghost does not want Rachel in the house.
Drawing on Chinese folklore and suffused with a creeping dread that builds to a gruesome climax, this darkly immersive novel confronts family secrets, the stunning audacity of whiteness, and the ghosts we carry with us.
Fangs and All: A Graphic Novel
Written & illustrated by Tas Mukanik
Penguin Young Readers Group, 2026
IL: Ages 12-18 RL: Grades 7-12
Sam and Boots are relationship goals: stupidly cute, super supportive, and so in love. Of course, the natural next step is for Sam to join Boots for a weekend back home. So what if Boots says her family is a little weird and that they’d never expect her to bring a girlfriend home? Sam is sure she’ll win them over. Besides, meeting the parents is a big deal, but it’s not life or death, right?
Wrong! Because it turns out the Blackwoods aren’t just weird, they’re monsters—literally. Soon enough, Sam isn’t just dealing with the realization that her girlfriend is a vampire but also dodging a myriad of family members who can’t help but try to curse, hunt, drown, or eat her. And while Boots grapples with her own monstrous tendencies, Sam struggles to be supportive...while also staying alive. This not-so-perfect-after all couple will have to fight tooth and claw if they want to escape the weekend with their relationship and their humanity intact.
The Secret Society of the Willbrook Witches
Written & illustrated by Camille Perron-Cormier
Second Story Press, 2026
IL: Ages 12-18 RL: Grades 8-12
Introducing a cozy coven of YA witches... Andrea is nervous to start university in the small town of Willbrook. Introverted and shy, she’s living away from home for the first time and finding it hard to fit in. When Andrea meets Elaine and Sybil, they quickly welcome her to their group. Andrea might have finally found her people, but they have a huge secret…they’re witches—and they think Andrea is too.
As Elaine and Sybil teach her how to harness her powers, she finally starts to feel like she belongs. But the girls learn there’s another witch on campus, and this one might not have good intentions. Soon, Andrea learns that the world of magic is much bigger than she imagined.
The Sleuth of Ferren City
The Brindlewatch Quintet, Book Three
Written by S.M. Beiko
ECW Press, 2026
IL: Ages 13-17 RL: Grades 8-12
Monsters are real. Well, monstros are, anyway — an emerging group of citizens trying to find their place in Brindlewatch, ever since the Camillites made a splash in the small town of Quixx, and the Jettites climbed out of their subterranean city beneath Lake Mallion. The Far Cities are bristling with newcomers looking for a fresh start in this brand-new world, but is it as safe for them as they think? Sable, a Camillite who still lives on Mount Quixx, isn’t so sure. She sees the world through the distorted lens of the novels she steals from Professor Bedouin’s observatory and is slow to trust the strangers in the world beyond the page. She is a side-character in her own story, and she wants to keep it that way.
But a desperate letter begging for help rewrites Sable as the protagonist sleuth of her favorite novels, and hot on the trail trying to find her vanished friend, Sable uncovers more than she bargained for in the bright lights of the big city: a famous author with the ability to make every monstro’s dream come true, a dastardly underworld targeting vulnerable monstros, and a sweet bookseller who may be at the heart of the mystery. And on the airwaves, a broadcast like no other promises a bold new world for everyone. Will Sable find her voice and save those terrified of speaking up, before it’s too late?
We Were Never Here
Written by Sophia Hannan
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2026
IL: Ages 14-18 RL: Grades 9-12
Four teens went into the manor, three came out.
In July, Georgia Perry and Jules Park—secret girlfriends, covert art thieves, and cohosts of a popular YouTube ghost hunting show—step into a haunted house to steal a priceless painting. A few short hours later, there’s a knife in Jules’s chest and Georgia is waking up in a pool of blood with no painting and no memory of how she got there.
Now it’s October, and Georgia is underwater. She hasn’t been to class in weeks, and she’s avoiding her old crew—and only friends—like the plague. But when the three remaining thieves get a call from the man who paid a hefty sum to keep them out of jail, demanding that they return to finish the job, Georgia has no choice but to return to her old life. As the estranged friends scramble to steal the painting with no cover story and no leader, they quickly realize that something is very, very wrong, and it’s not just the suffocating memory of Jules or the prying eyes of their viewers. Between the strange shadows that begin to trail them and the nightmares plaguing Georgia’s sleep, only one thing is certain: something followed them home from De Lys manor, and it will do anything to keep them from going back.
Witch’s Inheritance
Written & illustrated by Paige Hender
Henry Holt and Co., 2026
IL: Ages 14-18 RL: Grades 9-12
Edie Birch needs an escape from her crumbling life. When a death in the family leaves Edie the inheritor of a strange, towering house in the small town of Hart Creek, she doesn’t look back.
While she tries to connect with her estranged aunt and learn more about her mysterious family history, she uncovers a shocking truth: She comes from a long line of witches. The heir to her grandmother’s powers, Edie is Hart Creek’s only hope to keep away the beasts lurking at the forest’s edge. As she struggles to master her magic, she’ll enlist the help of local folklore nerd Leander and discovers secrets that will leave her questioning who the true monsters are . . .
Book list curated by Spencer Miller