Today we are showcasing Halloween with titles from Penguin Young Readers. Many thanks to Penguin for letting me review these amazing titles.
Here are FOUR MORE of their Halloween titles!
Take a look!
Publication Date: August 4, 2026
About the Book:
Celebrate Halloween with this lift-the-flap board book about trunk-or-treating that’s full of surprises!
Perfect for car- and truck-loving kids everywhere. Join a festive family on Halloween as they go trunk-or-treating. From candy apples to cider doughnuts, discover what sweet treats are hiding under each trunk by lifting the flaps.
With cars decked out as spiders, dinosaurs, and monsters (oh my), little ones will love poring over the details of this interactive read!
About the Author
Tracie Schneider (she/her) is a writer who has worked in children’s book publishing for over eleven years. When she’s not penning stories for little ones, she’s being whisked away on adventures with her little muses, which often involve monster trucks and bugs. She lives in the Chicago area with her family and goofball pets. This is her first children's book.
About the Illustrator
Sarah Rebar (she/her) is an illustrator based in Los Angeles who has worked on several books, including four for Michelle Obama’s Netflix show Waffles + Mochi! She earned her BFA in illustration and design from Syracuse University. For nine years, she was an in-house artist for Sesame Street, working on projects for TV, publishing, and digital media.
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Publisher: Tinker: An Imprint of Penguin Workshop
Publication Date: July 14, 2026
About the Book:
Celebrate Halloween with this sweet treat of a book—a perfect gift for little trick-or-treaters.
It’s not Halloween without candy! From crunchy chocolate bars to chewy sweet-and-sour gummies, this pun-filled picture book has all the holiday favorites.
Rhyming affirmations pair perfectly with eerie-sistible anthropomorphized food art for a cheerful and festive read.
J. D. Forester (she/her) loves celebrating Halloween with a sweet treat. She is the author of several books for the youngest readers.
Charlotte Love creates fun and playful imagery by anthropomorphizing inanimate objects. She’s based in South London. Visit her online at charlotteloveshop.com, and follow her on Instagram @charlottelovely.
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Series: Mythical Feasts #2
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Publication Date: July 21, 2026
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Publication Date: July 21, 2026
About the Book:
For fans of Dragons Love Tacos comes this yummy tale about monstrous misadventures, the second book in the Mythical Feasts series.
I bet you thought cookies were a monster’s favorite treat, because some hungry monsters munch their cookies on the street.
But did you know that monsters love brownies? And why wouldn’t they? They’re dark, fudgy, and oh so gooey! They’re the perfect sneaky treat to eat while they play their favorite game, hide-and-seek. Everyone knows that monsters love to hide under beds and in closets, but don’t be afraid. Monsters are just as sweet as the chocolatey brownies stuck between their teeth.
Spooky rhymes and gut busting humor show kids that they have nothing to fear. Written by the hilarious Ben Okon, kids are sure to sink their teeth into this second book of the Mythical Feasts series.
Review:
I absolutely loved this silly, monster-filled read. Apparently, brownies are monsters’ favorite snack, while milk is definitely not. The rhyme is fantastic, and the story is quick enough to make for an easy bedtime read. Every page is packed with wonderfully detailed, bright illustrations of monsters in all shapes, sizes, and colors happily devouring brownies.
I especially loved how the book takes the fear out of monsters in the dark. These monsters can be appeased with brownies, and some may even decide that a child’s room isn’t the best place to live after all. It’s silly, playful, and genuinely fun to read, and I think parents will enjoy it just as much as their kids!
Ben Okon is a children's book author who never outgrew his childhood habit of
asking “why?” and “how?” Now that he's a father of two and is the one giving the answers, he loves challenging himself to think through things he wishes he had known earlier in life from the perspective of a child. When he is not working on children’s books, he works at Google on their strategy and operations team. He brings a unique analytical method to the children’s picture book world, crafting and testing each of his books using the same rigor that he employs when making
asking “why?” and “how?” Now that he's a father of two and is the one giving the answers, he loves challenging himself to think through things he wishes he had known earlier in life from the perspective of a child. When he is not working on children’s books, he works at Google on their strategy and operations team. He brings a unique analytical method to the children’s picture book world, crafting and testing each of his books using the same rigor that he employs when making
About the Illustrator
Komal Sharma is a children’s book illustrator specializing in colorful and imaginative worlds for young readers. She holds a BFA in Applied Art and lives in Lucknow, India with her family.
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Series: Arnold & Louise #5
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Publication Date: July 14, 2026
About the Book:
Celebrate Halloween with best friends Arnold and Louise!
In this story designed to engage early readers, charming characters combine with simple text, lively illustrations, and laugh-out-loud humor to help boost kids' confidence and create lifelong readers!
Louise knows exactly what she wants to be for Halloween. She also knows exactly what she wants her best friend, Arnold, to be. The problem is, he's not so sure he agrees with her. Can these best buds find a way to communicate and compromise, or will the fear of hurting each other's feelings keep them from coming up with a solution?
Follow the delightful duo as they navigate the thrills and chills of choosing the right Halloween costume!
Exciting, easy-to-read books are the stepping stone a young reader needs to bridge the gap between being a beginner and being fluent.
This was a charming chapter book for beginner readers, with a large font and an easy-to-follow story. I really liked the themes of listening, teamwork, cooperation, and working through emotions and fears, which make this a thoughtful choice for kids who are learning to read and building their reading skill.
The illustrations use mostly gray and purple throughout, which was a little surprising given the bright colors on the cover. I also found myself wondering about the ages of the animal characters, which made some parts feel a bit odd. That may be easier to understand for readers familiar with the earlier books, as this is the fifth in the series. Overall, a sweet and meaningful read for newer readers.
Erica S. Perl (she/her) is the author of more than forty popular and critically acclaimed books for children. She has also collaborated on books with Dolly Parton and R. J. Palacio. Erica teaches in the Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program at the Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives in Washington, DC, with her family. Her website is ericaperl.com.
About the Illustrator
Kathrin Fehrl (she/her) is a freelance illustrator based in Münster, Germany. After graduating from university with a degree in communication design, she moved to London, where she began her career as a graphic designer. Over time, illustration (originally just a hobby) became her full-time passion. Today she works with book and board game publishers, bringing stories to life with her artwork. She particularly enjoys illustrating for children as it allows her to express herself creatively while contributing to something truly meaningful.
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