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 of their Halloween titles!
Take a look!
Please Don't Scare the Ghost by Carrie Williford, Illustrated by Allysa Adams
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Publication Date: July 14, 2026
About the Book:
It's Halloween night! Which means it's time to take your friendly neighborhood ghost trick-or-treating.
You may not think of your ghost as being scared of many things, but that's something you should know up-front about your ghostie friend: they scare easily. And before you venture out, it's important to know that there are many rules to follow when meeting your local creepy crawlies. Please Don't Scare the Ghost is your one-stop shop to navigating Halloween night and its witches, ghosts, zombies, and vampires, so as not to offend any of your new friends.
Review: I really enjoyed this book! The scared ghost was really adorable, and I think shy or easily frightened children will connect with the ghost and feel at ease since they can relate to him. I liked the main character's unicorn costume that was whimsical and fun, they did a good job looking out for their little ghost friend and helping them trick-or-treat. There are a few creepy moments, and the witch was definitely a little off-putting, but overall, the artwork is wonderful. It has a soft, almost airbrushed feel, with bright colors and immersive scenes that bring all the Halloween creatures to life. I loved seeing all the fun spooky characters throughout the story, and underneath it all is a sweet message about manners, friendship, and being kind to others. A cute Halloween read with just the right amount of spooky!
Please Don't Scare the Ghost is Carrie Williford’s picture book debut. She also writes for educational and consumer trade magazines published for young readers. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with her husband, daughter, and dog.
About the Illustrator
Allysa Adams (pronounced a-LEES-a) has always loved making things. Her childhood was spent drawing, sculpting, and wandering the woods to collect bones and feathers and interesting rocks. After completing degrees in molecular biology and genetics, she became a dentist (she still is!), but found she needed more of an outlet for her creativity and has since pursued illustration as a second career. She is most drawn to projects that blend day-to-day reality with elements of surrealism and outright fantasy, and if left to her own devices, would doodle endless fantastical monsters. While not working, Allysa can be found exploring Pennsylvania with her husband, young daughter, and their poorly trained dog. They live in an old house, filled with bones and feathers and interesting rocks.
Halloween Trampoline by Scott Rothman, Illustrated by Rob Justus
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 14, 2026
About the Book:
Halloween hijinks ensue when the monsters bring out their trampoline!
A rollicking rhyming text that features the monsters we all know and love as they carry out their favorite Halloween routine--jumping on their trampoline!
In the process, Vampire loses a fang while eating a tangerine and Werewolf howls at the moon while playing the tambourine. But the fun continues as they bounce high over pumpkin patches, haunted houses, and trick-or-treaters dressed nice and mean.
Review: This was a bright, colorful, and playful Halloween read. I enjoyed the rhyming scheme and the fun illustrations, and I have to admit, a trampoline was an interesting choice for a Halloween activity. I loved that all the characters were simply having a good time and doing their own thing on it. The story is definitely a bit nonsensical, but that’s also part of its charm. I think kids will enjoy the silliness and playful energy of it all. You might even feel a little bouncy yourself.
Scott Rothman is a writer of kid's books, theater, screenplays, and humor pieces. Scott's debut picture book, Attack of the Underwear Dragon, and its sequel, Return of the Underwear Dragon were both national indie bestsellers. His other books include Warm and Fuzzy, Kittybunkport, Blue Bison Needs a Haircut, and Parfait, Not Parfait. Scott lives in Connecticut (of all places),where he recently bought a trampoline that he will put together sometime in the next ten to fifty years. He wishes all his readers the happiest of Halloweens.
About the Illustrator
Rob Justus is an award-winning author, illustrator, and graphic novelist. His graphic novel series, Death & Sparkles won a Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award in 2023. In 2022, Rob was selected as the illustrator for the prestigious TD Summer Reading Club in Canada. Prior to all this, Rob spent nearly a decade as a market researcher writing very bland reports. Taking a chance on himself, Rob decided to return to his childhood passion of drawing and storytelling and hasn't looked back. Rob has written and illustrated five picture books and two graphic novels. When Rob isn't telling people he draws awesome things for a living, he is wrangling his two young boys in Ottawa, Canada.
Gwei the Hungry Ghost by Emeline Lee, Illustrated by Basia Tran
Publisher: Kokila
Publication Date: January 13, 2026
About the Book:
A picture book about a lonely ghost who learns to share and is finally fulfilled through friendship.
Gwei the ghost is absolutely famished, but unlike the other ghosts in the cemetery, he won’t eat just anything. Luckily, it’s Ghost Festival month: the one time a year when ghosts roam the realm of the living. Gwei flutters around the city eating steaming bowls of noodles, hot, hot, HOT chestnuts, and crispy fried fish with chili oil.
Yet no matter how much Gwei eats, his hunger won’t go away. As he searches for the perfect meal, he catches someone following him. It's another hungry little ghost! When he hears her grumbling belly, he reluctanctly reaches into his pouch to share. To his surprise, he finally starts to feels full.
With charming Chinese folklore-inspired text by Emeline Lee and warm, glowing illustrations by Basia Tran, Gwei the Hungry Ghost is a story about how friendship feeds the soul.
Review:
I loved this one! Gwei is a hungry ghost who feels empty but can’t quite figure out why, and his journey to find something that will fill that emptiness takes him through a wonderfully colorful world of food stalls, friendship, and discovery. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, with so much detail and such a fun, atmospheric quality. I loved watching Gwei sample all the food and save some for later, only to discover that what he really needed wasn’t food at all.
At its heart, this is a sweet story about friendship, sharing, and healing. I also really appreciated the introduction to Asian mythology and legends. The glossary and definitions explaining the different types of ghosts were a wonderful touch and made the book feel like an opportunity to learn as well as enjoy the story. It’s so pretty, so fun, and filled with memorable ghost characters, but it’s definitely not a book that needs to be saved for spooky season!
Emeline Lee is a writer of children's literature. With Gwei the Hungry Ghost, she celebrates her Chinese heritage and the folklore, traditions, and food of her ancestors. She is also the author of Bonnie's Rocket, a picture book inspired by her grandfather, an Apollo 11 engineer. Emeline’s favorite activities include hiking in the woods, eating hot pot, and crocheting cozy things. She lives in the New York metropolitan area.
About the Illustrator
Basia Tran is a Polish-Vietnamese illustrator who shares her love of lore and laughter through graphite and pixels. She’s illustrated What's That? by Karen Chan and You're a Winner, Gracie Wei!
The Gingerbread Man: Trick-or-Treaters on the Loose by Laura Murray, Illustrated by Mike Lowery
Series: The Gingerbread Man Is Loose Graphic Novel Book 5
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 4, 2026
About the Book:
It's Halloween and the Gingerbread Man can't wait to join his class in their celebrations. He even gets to make his very own costume and go trick-or-treating with friends after school!
But when his bat costume catches the eye of a hungry owl, this smart cookie will have to do some quick thinking if he doesn't want to end up as a treat!
The Gingerbread Man’s series of graphic novels—published in both hardcover and paperback editions—is ideal for first and second graders, full of the hilarious rhymes and action-packed escapades kids know and love from his picture books.
Review:
This was such a cute and playful Halloween adventure for young readers! The graphic novel format uses big, colorful images and short sections of text, making it an approachable read. I loved seeing a classroom Gingerbread Man step outside of his usual fairy-tale setting and join in on all the Halloween fun. He plays games with the kids, gets creative making a costume, and even heads out for some trick-or-treating.
There’s a little adventure, some rhyming, plenty of humor, and lots of Halloween crafting along the way. I especially enjoyed the creativity that went into his costume and the way the story embraces the excitement of celebrating Halloween with friends. Young readers will likely enjoy the playful energy and familiar character in a completely new setting. A fun little Halloween read with a fresh twist on the Gingerbread Man!
About the Author
Laura Murray was a teacher before becoming a writer, and she has had to deal with many an escaped gingerbread man in her time.
About the Illustrator
Mike Lowery is an author and New York Times bestselling illustrator who has worked on dozens of books for kids. Some of his favorites are The Gingerbread Man is Loose series by Laura Murray, Mac B, Kid Spy series by Mac Barnett and the Everything Awesome series which he also wrote. He likes to collect weird facts and other bits of knowledge and he draws them every morning in his sketchbook.
Enjoyed these Halloween Books?
Another Halloween Round Up is Coming in October!
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
