I would like the record to show that Halloween is low on my list of favorite holidays. There! I said it! But there’s just something so fun about letting the content of your book match the changing seasons or holidays going on in real life. So for someone with an extremely low tolerance for scary or creepy things (*raises hand*), Halloween children’s books are the perfect way to be festive but not, like, TOO festive.
This roundup of Halloween books in Spanish is the perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit (even if you’re a Halloween grinch like me!).
*Updated for 2023 by the Sol Book Box team!
Boo! / ¡Bu!
by Leslie Patricelli
We’re starting this list with a book for the chiquitos! What should Baby be for Halloween? A pirate? A princess? From carving a jack-o-lantern to learning how to trick-or-treat, this bilingual board book is an ideal intro to your little one’s first Halloween.
Little Monster, what Pan Dulce do you Want? / ¿Monstruito, qué pan dulce quieres?
by Ana C. Esparza
This new bilingual board book is another excellent addition to a Halloween book collection! Published by the wonderful Lil’ Libros, in this book a group of little monsters is hungry for pan dulce. But the narrator hasn’t guessed what kind! Is it a concha? An oreja? It takes a few tries but finally the offering is acceptable– just in time to celebrate the end of Halloween and the beginning of Día de Muertos!
Kid del Toro
by Chogrin, illustrated by Pakoto
When a curious, monster-book-loving boy decides he absolutely needs his books to keep him company at night, there’s only one problem: he has to get past the ACTUAL monster lurking in his bedroom! Inspired by the true story of a childhood dream that famed director Guillermo del Toro has shared in several interviews, this is a winner for both creature-loving kids and parents alike (especially fans of del Toro’s film work!).
El Fantasma de las Bragas Rotas
by José Carlos Andrés, illustrated by Gómez
The residents of Villa Pesadilla are having a hard time. They’ll just be minding their business when all of a sudden the local ghost will come around and terrify them, yelling “¡Soy el fantasma de las bragas rotas!” The townsfolk decide to send their bravest, strongest, cleverest neighbors to deal with the ghost, but each of them ends up running away in horror. Is there anyone who can fix things for el fantasma with the smelly old underwear?
Un Vampiro Peligrozo
by José Carlos Andrés, illustrated by Gómez
On a dark night in Transylvania, a little vampire is ready to give someone the scare of their life. If he does, he will pass the test at Vampire School. If he doesn’t… he will be banished to Banana Peeler School! So when he sees a little girl walking alone, he tries his tactics on her. The little girl is… not very scared. But when she sees how upset the vampire is, and how much this means to him, she decides to help him out. Will our vampirito be able to give his gran susto after all?
Cosas de Bruja
by Mariasole Brusa, illustrated by Marta Sevilla
This witch is hopping mad. Her hair, instead of being a witchy color like green (boogers!) or red (blood!), is a distressingly cheerful shade of blue. So to prove how very witchy she is, she decides she’ll do something truly terrible, like kidnap a kid at the park. When she sees Nicolás playing with (what she thinks are) dolls he stole from his sister, she’s found her victim. Will the witch become the witchiest of all, or will she find the path to radical self-acceptance instead?
Los Zombis no comen verduras
by Megan Lacera, illustrated by Jorge Lacera
Mo the zombie is a little veggie enthusiast, but his parents don’t get it. Why can’t he just eat their regular healthy zombie foods? When Mo realizes he can make his vegetarian meal look like a zombie meal, he goes on a quest to convince his parents to "give peas a chance." But will they go for it, or will he still just be the weird vegetarian zombie? This is a very silly, kind of gross book that also delivers a valuable lesson on daring to be different.
Gustavo el fantasmita tímido
by Flavia Z. Drago
Gustavo is an excellent ghost: he can walk through walls, make objects fly, even glow in the dark! And he loves nothing more than playing beautiful music on his violin. But Gustavo has a problem. He is terribly shy, and although his greatest wish is to make friends, he’s never had the courage to talk to the other monsters in town. With el Día de Muertos fast approaching, will Gustavo be brave enough to let the other monsters get to know him?
Leila La Brujita Perfecta
by Flavia Z. Drago
Leila is a perfect little witch. She’s the best at everything she does, whether that’s flying, shape shifting, or making potions. But one thing she hasn’t done yet is win the Magnificent Witchy Bakeoff. So of course, she plans to accomplish this by baking something perfect. There’s just one problem: it turns out that the kitchen is the one place Leila is NOT perfect. In fact, she’s kind of a disaster. But some helping hands may be just the thing to help Leila taste something even sweeter than baked goods: acceptance.
Las zanahorias maléficas
by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown
This book reminds me of an old-timey horror film, with its ominous black and white illustrations peppered with a pop of orange. El conejito Jasper LOVES carrots, and stops by the carrot patch often to pick the biggest and juciest. Until one day, the carrots decide to go after him! Or is he just imagining things?? One of my very favorite Halloween books in Spanish!
Los calzoncillos maléficos
by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown
You’ve gotta love a sequel, and in this book our little conejito Jasper is back. But he’s not a baby bunny anymore. He’s not scared of the dark, and he DEFINITELY isn’t scared of some undies. Until the lights go out and they glow! If Jasper WAS afraid, he would try to get rid of the chones. And it definitely wouldn’t terrify him if they kept coming back. ¡Para nada!
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Happy spooky season! I hope you find a new book (or 5) to love!
Vanessa Nielsen Molina
Vanessa is an entrepreneur, educator, and mamá of four, who’s passionate about helping other parents experience the joy of raising bilingual children. Follow her journey and access more resources at BilingualBookworm.com.
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+ A FEW NEW PICKS FOR 2023 BY THE SOL BOOK BOX EDITORS!
As seen in many of our October book boxes.
Una momia muy hambrienta
A new “not-so-scary” story from José Carlos Andrés has become something of a spooky season tradition here at Sol Book Box. Here we follow the adventures of a very hungry mummy, and the little girl that decides to help her. In the same goofy spirit of Un vampiro peligrozo & El fantasma de las bragas rotas, this hilarious new book teaches important lessons about friendship, compassion, and conquering our fears. Another delightful treat!
El Chupacabras
A long time ago, a girl named Carla lived on a goat farm with her father, Hector. One night, a goat disappeared from the farm and turned up flat as a pancake. Only one creature could do that—El Chupacabras, the goatsucker! A fearsome beast according to legend, but you can't believe everything you hear...and sometimes the truth is even more interesting.
From the bestselling author of Dragons Love Tacos, this whimsical, bilingual re-telling of the chupacabra folktale is a family-friendly hoot.
The Day of the Dead / El Día de los Muertos
This last one is a bit of a cheat, but this traditional Mexican holiday is also observed by millions each year, bringing family and friends together to joyfully pay respects and remember loved ones who have passed on. Despite occupying almost the same space on the calendar (and sharing some similarly spooky iconography), El Día de los Muertos is a uniquely special celebration all its own. And this charming bilingual board book with sweet-smelling marigold petals and joyful songs is a perfect introduction.
