Halloween Books all Year Long! By Kristin Blakely, PhD

Why Halloween Books Deserve a Spot on Your Shelf throughout the year

Costumes in the spring

One day in May, some years ago – my youngest son (2 ½ at that time) charged around the playground in a full “Cat Boy” costume from his favorite show, PJ Masks. His warped mask (barely hanging on after it’s pristine debut the previous Halloween), snug blue costume, and Velcro sneakers were pure perfection.  The best part…it was spring.

I love this photo not just because it’s adorable, but because it represents something I feel passionate about: imagination has no season. Costumes, props and masks shouldn’t be reserved just for Halloween. Kids don’t need a holiday to dress up, and they certainly don’t need it to be October to enjoy a spooky, monster story.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, and Laura’s Books and Blogs will earn a commission on any sales.

A “Halloween-less” Halloween book

That’s why I left out the word “Halloween” from my new picture book, No Veggies in Mummy’s Tummy. Sure, this title works for the fall season with its cheeky little mummy and playful ghoulish theme. But just like my son in his springtime superhero suit, this story was made to be read aloud and enjoyed year-round.

In the book, a pint-sized mummy kindly but firmly insists, “No thanks, not this mummy, no veggies in my tummy,” as his Mummy tries to coax him into eating something green. Sound familiar? The veggie standoff is a rite of passage in nearly every household. But with gentle humor, clever rhymes, and a subtle nod to manners, the lil’ mummy eats his veggies and might just win over your little ones—and their appetites too. The all-too-familiar veggie battle is definitely not limited to a particular season nor are fun monster characters.

Christmas in July

In our house, we fully embrace costumes, celebrations, and all things festive. Our costume cabinet is bursting at the seams [pardon the pun], and our bookshelves are stacked with seasonal favorites. But here’s the thing: those “holiday” books rarely stay tucked away. They resurface at random—and often spark the best conversations.

Once, while reading a Christmas book in July, my middle son asked, “What is Santa doing now?” That single question led to a delightful chat about the North Pole in the summer- is there still snow there? Do elves travel to visit their elf relatives on summer holiday? How do reindeer stay cool in the summer sun? What does Mr. Claus do to relax after a busy year? All of that, thanks to the reading of an out-of-season story.

More mileage out of seasonal books

It’s easy for seasonal books to have a short span on your shelf, given that they are thematic and holiday-specific. But I want to encourage you to get more mileage out of these selections by reading them differently.  Let me illustrate….

On one Labor Day long weekend, our kids were arguing after a fort-building activity turned sour, and well, the creation ended up in shambles.  A lot of work, a lot of tears, a lot of disappointment, and a lot of blame was going ‘round!  They were also restless and a bit uneasy before heading back-to-school.

So, I pulled out The Biggest Valentine Ever and the ruined Valentine’s card in the story became a proxy for the broken fort. Friendship and teamwork prevail in this sweet picture book and it was the perfect read to get things back on track that early September (note, not February) weekend.

Halloween books also often have messages of friendship and teamwork such as being inclusive when trick-or-treating. Check out Trick-or-Treating in the City. They can be useful for helping kids wrestle with fears of darkness, monsters, and some of the scarier aspects of Halloween.

Try If You’re Scary and You Know It! and Poesy the Monster Slayer. Halloween books also provide an opportunity to reflect on self-expression via costumes. A Costume for Charly is an excellent choice. All of these topics have applicability throughout the year and again show why Halloween books can be appreciated well-past October 31^st!

So, if you’ve got a costume-loving, imagination-fueled kiddo at home, I hope you’ll add No Veggies in Mummy’s Tummy to your bookshelf this fall—and pull it back out when the spring sunshine rolls around. Who says mummy-themed books can’t make surprise appearances?

Bonus Halloween fun (to do whenever)

Here is a super easy and fun mummy-themed activity with minimal supplies (you likely already have lying around) for kiddos to do whenever:

MAKE-A-MUMMY 

Step 1: Grab a stuffie (a dog, cat or bear will work well). 

Step 2: Grab toilet paper and scotch tape. 

Step 3: Wrap the stuffie with toilet paper (wrap and wrap and wrap) and secure with the scotch tape. Don’t forget to make holes for the eyes.

HAVE FUN! 

More “Halloween-less” Halloween books coming soon…

I have more monster tales on the way, ripe for future Halloween seasons and beyond. Next up, is Night, Night Wolfie which is about a little werewolf who does not want to go to bed.

Wolfie politely and consistently replies “no thank you” to bedtime requests. With calm and wise encouragement from his parents, Wolfie relaxes each paw, closes each eye, breathes on out, and falls asleep in this conversational bedtime book.

The third release in this series is Little Bigfoot’s Haircut which follows Little Biggie who reluctantly visits the Scissor Wizard to get his wild locks trimmed, in time for summer. Scary aspects of the haircut experience are chopped away in this rhyming, hilarious and relatable tale.

So stay in touch.  I’d love to share in the magic, connection, and messiness of childhood with you.

About the author

Kristin is a Toronto-based mom of three and author with a PhD in Sociology who loves (in no particular order) writing children’s books, popsicles and popcorn and peanut butter (but not at the same time), her goofy Bernedoodle, and working to make the world a more equal, just, and sustainable place.

Before writing for children, Kristin taught in the university sector and has held many leadership positions in the not-for-profit sector.  Kristin is a member of SCBWI and CANSCAIP (the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators, and Performers) and is a Judge for CANSCAIP’s 2025 Writing for Children Competition.

Author Links

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You can find Kristin on Instagram, Bluesky, or visit her website at: www.kristinblakely.com.

No Veggies in Mummy’s Tummy is available via Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Buy it!

Buy a copy of No Veggies in Mummy’s Tummy here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.

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