Five Educational Halloween Books for Early Readers and Elementary Students

This list of five Halloween books are directed for teachers and educators of the classroom or for homeschoolers. These books introduce Halloween and discuss the history of the celebration dating back to Roman times. The last book on the list is a rhyming book to read just for fun. All the books are directed to early readers and elementary aged children.

Halloween, A Crowell Holiday Book written and illustrated by Helen Borten. A 36 page hardback book. This is a great way to introduce young children to Halloween in a non-scary way. Discuss the history of Halloween, how the holiday got its name, how the Romans and Celts celebrated the day and modern ways of celebrating. The illustrations are a bit dated, since it was published in 1965, but the information is very relevant to today's holiday. This book is great for teachers and homeschoolers alike, in that the history of the occasion is examined yet explained in a simple manner. This book is also recommended if your student is looking for a book while researching for an essay.

Halloween by Joyce K. Kessel with pictures by Nancy L. Carlson. A 48 page hardback book from Carolrhoda Books. This book not only teaches the history of the Celts' celebrations, but also about why some of the staples of Halloween are in place still today. These traditional images such as black cats, jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, and witches are discussed. The explanations are not scary, but simply explained in regards to civilization and society. With simple words and large font, the book is great for reading aloud to youngsters or allowing the student to read it himself.

Halloween Holidays and Festivals by Robin May. A 48 page hardback book from Rourke Enterprises, Inc. This book is illustrated with classic images from throughout history and photographs and drawings from modern times. Written for an advanced reader, this book delves deep into the history of Halloween and how the celebrations differ throughout the world and amongst many cultures. A great book for higher level elementary aged children and wonderful for homeschoolers and teachers looking for an educational approach to teaching Halloween. This book includes a glossary and a further reading book list.

Our Halloween Book by Jane Belk Mocure and illustrated by Pam Peltier is a 32 page hardback book from Children's Press. This book is from a teacher who celebrates Halloween in her class and leads you through games and activities for your class or your homeschool unit. Directed toward early elementary kids, this book gives examples of many autumn craft projects that are educational and fun. You'll learn how to teach shapes, teach time, play pretend, and dress up by using Halloween and autumn themes.

Celebrating Halloween by Shely Nielson with illustrations by Marie-Claude Monchaux is a 30 page hardback boook from Abdo and Daughters Publishing. This rhyming words book discusses Halloween and autumn. Each page has a delicate colored pencil drawing with a poem about the occasion. The pictures show many different ethnic groups and shows children trick-or-treating. A great book for relaxing and reading about Halloween and autumn just for fun.