31 Days of Halloween Books and Movies For Kids

October is one of my favorite months. After a long, hot summer, the air finally begins to feel crisp. Leaves start to show their beautiful autumn colors. Warm, soft sweaters begin to become a necessity. And Halloween looms just around the corner, the promise of tricks and treats just a few days away.

As a child, Halloween was an exciting time because, for one night, I got to dress up as whomever I wanted and walk down the street of my neighborhood in the dark, gathering a small horde of sugary sweets. As an adult and a mother, Halloween is even more fun. Not only do I still get to dress up (don’t judge!), but I get to include my kids in all the fun!

Tell a Tale of Magic

As a read-aloud family, one of the things I love to do is read books to my children that are relevant to the season. Halloween is one of the most fun seasons to incorporate themed books into a nightly routine! If you’re in the mood for a Halloween read-aloud, these books are sure to be a hit for kids of all ages.

Some of these books are more fall/autumn themed, so if you’re not a big fan of the spooky stuff, these will still work well for your kids. A few of the books can be a bit scary for younger kids, but older ones will love them! And never underestimate a beautifully illustrated picture book. Even the bigger kids will love to hear the story and wonder at the pictures.

This month, try to schedule some special read-aloud time for your family! We have made suggestions of one book every night of the month that you can find at your local library, book store, or on Amazon. So grab your book, snuggle close, and spin a web of Halloween magic your kids will love!

Get Set for Movie Madness

My family also loves to watch Halloween movies throughout October. One of my favorite things to do with my kids is tune into Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween. After dinner, we’ll all get ready for bed and gather in the living room for a fun (or silly or spooky) Halloween movie night!

I have included movies appropriate for kids of all ages, but some might be a little too spooky for the younger ages. Be sure to check out the premise of the movie before you let your little ones watch. As their mom, you know best how they’ll react! Maybe one night this week, you can pop some popcorn, put on your PJs, and gather ’round the TV for a bit of (slightly) spooky movie fun!

My family loves to celebrate Halloween every day of the month through books and movies! And I want to share with you 31 days of Halloween books and movies for the Halloween season.

31 Days of Kid-Friendly Halloween Books and Movies

October 1

Watch Casper and read How to Make Friends With a Ghost.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 2:30 pm/1:30 (central) – Casper (1995)
• 5 p.m./4c – The Addams Family (1991)
• 7 p.m./6c – Addams Family Values
• 9 p.m./8c – Hocus Pocus

October 2

Watch Monsters, Inc. and read How To Catch A Monster.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 7 a.m./6c – The Goonies
• 9:35 a.m./8:35c – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• 12:15 p.m./11:15c – Casper (1995)
• 2:45 p.m./1:45c – The Addams Family (1991)
• 4:50 p.m./3:50c – Addams Family Values
• 6:55 p.m./5:55c – Disney and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.
• 9 p.m./8c – Disney and Pixar’s Monsters University
• 11:30 p.m./10:30c – Ghostbusters (1984)

October 3

Watch Corpse Bride and read Bone Soup.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 7 a.m./6c – Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride
• 8:40 a.m./7:40c – Ghostbusters (1984)
• 11:10 a.m./10:10c – Matilda
• 1:15 p.m./12:15c – Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride
• 2:55 p.m./1:55c – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
• 4:35 p.m./3:35c – Hocus Pocus
• 6:45 p.m./5:45c – Maleficent
• 8:50 p.m./7:50c – Freeform Premiere Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

October 4

Watch It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and read The Roll Away Pumpkin.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 12:30 p.m./11:30c – Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic
• 1:30 p.m./12:30c – The Goonies
• 4 p.m./3c – Matilda

October 5

Watch Scared Shrekless and read Goodnight, Goon.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 10:30 a.m./9:30c – Matilda
• 12:30 p.m./11:30c – Casper (1995)
• 3 p.m./2c – Shrek
• 5 p.m./4c – Shrek 2
• 7 p.m./6c – Shrek Forever After
• 9 p.m./8c – Hocus Pocus

October 6

Watch Spookley the Square Pumpkin and read Pumpkin Jack.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 10:30 a.m./9:30c – Casper (1995)
• 12:30 p.m./11:30c – Shrek
• 2:30 p.m./1:30c – Shrek 2
• 4:30 p.m./3:30c – Shrek Forever After
• 6:30 p.m./5:30c – Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride

October 7

Watch Halloweentown and read Room on the Broom.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 11:30 a.m./10:30c – Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride
• 1:30 p.m./12:30c – Halloweentown
• 3:30 p.m./2:30c – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• 6 p.m./5c – Ghostbusters (1984)
• 8:30 p.m./7:30c – Ghostbusters II

October 8

Watch Coco and read Bonaparte Falls Apart.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 10:30 a.m./9:30c – Ghostbusters (1984)
• 12 p.m./11c – Frankenweenie (2012)

October 9

Watch Hotel Transylvania and read Where’s My Mummy?

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 9:10 a.m./8:10c – Shrek
• 11:15 a.m./10:15c – Shrek 2
• 1:20 p.m./12:20c – Shrek Forever After
• 3:25 p.m./2:25c – Hotel Transylvania 2
• 5:30 p.m./4:30c – Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
• 7:40 p.m./6:40c – Hocus Pocus
• 9:50 p.m./8:50c – The Addams Family (1991)
• 11:55 p.m./10:55c – Addams Family Values

October 10

Watch The Addams Family and read Goodnight, Little Monster.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 7 a.m./6c – Shrek
• 9:05 a.m./8:05c – Shrek 2
• 11:10 a.m./10:10c – Shrek Forever After
• 1:15 p.m./12:15c – Hotel Transylvania 2
• 3:20 p.m./2:20c – Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
• 5:30 p.m./4:30c – Hocus Pocus
• 7:40 p.m./6:40c – The Addams Family (1991)
• 9:45 p.m./8:45c – Addams Family Values
• 11:50 p.m./10:50c – Casper (1995)

October 11

Watch The Haunted Mansion and read At The Old Haunted House.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 11:30 a.m./10:30c – Freeform Premiere Jaws
• 2:30 p.m./1:30c – Freeform Premiere Jaws 2
• 5:05 p.m./4:05c – Alien
• 7:45 p.m./6:45c – Aliens

October 12

Watch The Nightmare Before Christmas and read Snowmen at Halloween.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 3 p.m./2c – Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic
• 4 p.m./3c – Casper (1995)
• 6:30 p.m./5:30c – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
• 8 p.m./7c – Mrs. Doubtfire

October 13

Watch The Incredibles and read Creepy Carrots.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 12:30 p.m./11:30c – Casper (1995)
• 3 p.m./2c – Halloweentown
• 5 p.m./4c – Mrs. Doubtfire
• 8-11 p.m./ 7-10c – The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

October 14

Watch Hook and read Trick ARRRR Treat: A Pirate Halloween.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 1 p.m./12c – Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
• 3:30 p.m./2:30c – Hook
• 6:45 p.m./5:45c – Matilda
• 8:50 p.m./7:50c – Hocus Pocus

October 15

Watch Scooby-Doo and The Goblin King and read The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

October 16

Watch Hocus Pocus and read The Scarecrow’s Dance.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 7 a.m./6c – Ghostbusters (1984)
• 9:30 a.m./8:30c – Ghostbusters II
• 12 p.m./11c – Mrs. Doubtfire
• 3:05 p.m./2:05c – Men in Black (1997)
• 5:15 p.m./4:15c – Freeform Premiere Men in Black II
• 7:15 p.m./6:15c – Hocus Pocus
• 9:25 p.m./8:25c – Maleficent
• 11:30 p.m./10:30c – Freeform Premiere The House with a Clock in Its Walls

October 17

Watch Toy Story of Terror and read Eek! Halloween.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 7:30 a.m./6:30c – Mrs. Doubtfire
• 10:30 a.m./9:30c – Men in Black (1997)
• 12:40 p.m./11:40c – Men in Black II
• 2:40 p.m./1:40c – The House with a Clock in Its Walls
• 5:10 p.m./4:10c – Hocus Pocus
• 7:20 p.m./6:20c – Hotel Transylvania 2
• 9:25 p.m./8:25c – Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
• 11:35 p.m./10:35c – Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story of TERROR!

October 18

Watch Mickey’s House of Villians and read Spooky Pookie.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 2 p.m./1c – Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride
• 4 p.m./3c – Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story of TERROR!
• 4:30 p.m./3:30c – Hotel Transylvania 2
• 6:30 p.m./5:30c – Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
• 8:30 p.m./7:30c – Casper (1995)

October 19

Watch Monster House and read Creepy Pair of Underwear.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 12:30 p.m./11:30c – Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
• 3:40 p.m./2:40c – X-Men: First Class
• 6:50 p.m./5:50c – Men in Black (1997)
• 9 p.m./8c – Men in Black II

October 20

Watch Super Monsters Save Halloween and read The Gruffalo.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 10:30 a.m./9:30c – X-Men: First Class
• 1:30 p.m./12:30c – Freeform Premiere Cowboys & Aliens
• 4 p.m./3c – Men in Black (1997)
• 6 p.m./5c – Men in Black II
• 8-11 p.m./ 7-10c – The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

October 21

Watch Frankenweekie and read Pug & Pig Trick or Treat.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 1 p.m./12c – The Perfect Storm
• 4 p.m./3c – The Craft (1996)
• 6:30 p.m./5:30c – Freeform Premiere The Huntsman: Winter’s War
• 9 p.m./8c – Maleficent

October 22

Watch A Series of Unfortunate Events and read The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 10:30 a.m./9:30c – The Craft (1996)
• 9-11 p.m. / 8-10c – Family Guy – Halloween Episodes
• 12 a.m./11c – Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

October 23

Watch Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and read The Very Hungry Zombie.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 7 a.m./6c – Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
• 9:30 a.m./8:30c – Casper (1995)
• 11:50 a.m./10:50c – Shrek
• 1:55 p.m./12:55c – Shrek 2
• 4 p.m./3c – Halloweentown
• 6:05 p.m./5:05c – Hocus Pocus
• 8:15 p.m./7:15c – Ghostbusters (2016)

October 24

Watch Alvin & The Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein and read Los Gatos Black on Halloween.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 7 a.m./6c – Casper (1995)
• 9:30 a.m./8:30c – Shrek
• 11:40 a.m./10:40c – Shrek 2
• 1:45 p.m./12:45c – Halloweentown
• 3:50 p.m./2:50c – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
• 5:30 p.m./4:30c – Ghostbusters (2016)
• 8:45 p.m./7:45c – Hocus Pocus
• 10:55 p.m./9:55c – Mrs. Doubtfire

October 25

Watch The Goonies and read Little Blue Truck’s Halloween.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 1 p.m./12c – Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic
• 2 p.m./1c – The Goonies
• 4:30 p.m./3:30c – Scared Shrekless
• 5 p.m./4c – Shrek
• 7 p.m./6c – Shrek 2
• 9 p.m./8c – Shrek Forever After

October 26

Watch Maleficent and read The Witch’s Cat.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 12 p.m./11c – The Goonies
• 2:30 p.m./1:30c – Scared Shrekless
• 3 p.m./2c – Shrek
• 5 p.m./4c – Shrek 2
• 7 p.m./6c – Shrek Forever After
• 9 p.m./8c – Maleficent

October 27

Watch Igor and read Spooky Things.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 1 p.m./12c – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• 3:30 p.m./2:30c – Casper (1995)
• 6 p.m./5c – Matilda
• 8-11 p.m./ 7-10c – The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon

October 28

Watch Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie and read One, Two…Boo!

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 11:30 a.m./10:30c – Casper (1995)
• 2 p.m./1c – Matilda
• 4 p.m./3c – Ghostbusters (1984)
• 6:30 p.m./5:30c – The Craft (1996)
• 9 p.m./8c – Hocus Pocus

October 29

Watch Spooky Buddies and read Brave Little Camper Saves Halloween.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 12:30 p.m./11:30c – Men in Black (1997)
• 9-11 p.m./ 8-10c – Family Guy – Halloween Episodes

October 30

Watch ParaNorman and read The Night Before Halloween.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 7 a.m./6c – Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic
• 8 a.m./7c – Ghostbusters (1984)
• 10:30 a.m./9:30c – Men in Black (1997)
• 12:35 p.m./11:35c – Men in Black II
• 2:35 p.m./1:35c – Goosebumps (2015)
• 5:05 p.m./4:05c – Freeform Premiere Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
• 7:10 p.m./6:10c – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
• 8:50 p.m./7:50c – Hocus Pocus
• 11 p.m./10c – Freeform Premiere Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

October 31

Watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and read The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat.

Or check out these movies on Freeform:

• 7 a.m./6c – Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
• 10 a.m./9c – Goosebumps (2015)
• 12:30 p.m./11:30c – Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
• 2:35 p.m./1:35c – Hocus Pocus
• 4:45 p.m./3:45c – Casper (1995)
• 7:15 p.m./6:15c – Maleficent
• 9:20 p.m./8:20c – Hocus Pocus
• 11:30 p.m./10:30c – Ghostbusters (1984)

Halloween is an exciting time for kids of all ages (and their parents!). Dressing up and letting little imaginations run wild and collecting free candy and treats . . . what’s not to love about that?! Adding the tradition of reading and watching Halloween books and movies together will make this fall holiday even more special for your kids. And I’m willing to bet it will create some really special memories for mom and dad, too! Happy Halloween!

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