Halloween Round-Up

As Halloween approaches, there's no better time to try telling some slightly spine-tingling tales to the kids you love. We've curated a list of ten of our favorite somewhat spooky stories, each with a handy Spooky Meter (0-10 Spooks) rating, to help you find the perfect level of thrills for the children in your life. These tales are original re-tellings of timeless classics, updated with modern language, while preserving their captivating plots and themes.

Spoiler Alert: Hansel & Gretel and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow top our list for maximum spookiness. Be assured, there are stories mild enough for even the youngest audiences. We hope these stories create cozy, unforgettable moments this Halloween season!

1. A Tale for Halloween- 0 Spooks. This charming story follows two siblings on a delightful Halloween adventure filled with dancing vegetables, friendly witches, and a magical night to remember. Free of spooky or suspenseful moments, this heartwarming tale is perfect for children of all ages.

2. The Cobbler and the Ghosts- 2 Spooks. This English folktale is a fun ghost story for kids. In it, a hardworking cobbler decides he wants to be famous for seeing a ghost. He then sets off on nightly ghost hunts, but each adventure goes hilariously wrong. He learns valuable lessons about wisdom and taking advice.

3. Stingy Jack - 3 Spooks. Considered the Irish origin story for the Jack-O-Lantern, this folktale follows Stingy Jack as he outsmarts the Devil. Jack initially gets what he wants, but is left to face the consequences of his selfishness.

4. The Boy Who Set Out to Learn What Fear Was - 4 Spooks. In this German folktale, a young boy embarks on a quest to learn what it means to shiver with fear. He faces both natural and supernatural challenges, including a man in a sheet, sitting near dead bodies, and spending three nights in a haunted castle. The boy’s reactions to the various challenges illustrate that a different perspective can make all the difference.

5. Teeny-Tiny - 5 Spooks. This is the story of a teeny-tiny woman who finds a mysterious bone in a graveyard, and a persistent, eerie voice demanding the bone back. This English folktale teaches the importance of respecting others’ belongings, wrapped in a delightfully whimsical narrative.

6. The Golden Arm - 6 Spooks. This English ghost story tells of a man who marries a beautiful woman with a right arm of solid gold. When she passes away, he steals the golden arm from her grave and must face the consequences.

7. The Strange Visitor -7 Spooks. This chilling English folktale finds a woman sitting alone one night, wishing for company. Strange body parts enter the room one by one, starting with broad feet and slowly building into a full figure with a huge head. It all leads to an unsettling encounter.

8. The Baba Yaga - 8 Spooks. In this Russian folktale, a young girl is sent by her wicked stepmother to visit a fearsome witch named Baba Yaga. With the help of some magical items and advice from a talking cat, she escapes the witch and returns safely to her father.

9. Hansel & Gretel - 9 Spooks. This German folktale is the story of a brother and sister, Hansel and Gretel, who are abandoned in the forest by their parents. They encounter a child-eating witch and must outsmart her to get home to their father.

10. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - 10 Spooks. A classic American ghost story about Ichabod Crane, a school teacher, and his encounter with the Headless Horseman.

We hope you enjoy these somewhat spooky tales. Remember Halloween stories are about more than just frights—they are an opportunity to create cherished memories filled with laughter, wonder, and the magic of a good story. For more about the potential benefits of sharing these stories and others, see our post “Can Scary Stories be Beneficial for Kids?” Whether it's the gentle suspense of a ghostly whisper or the thrilling chase of a headless horseman, these tales are meant to spark imaginations and foster a love for storytelling in children. We hope our selections bring as much joy and excitement to your home as they have to ours. May your Halloween be filled with delightful chills and heartwarming moments!