October Read Aloud Books for Preschool and Kindergarten

Looking for some great October read aloud books? Here’s a fun October Book list to read with your child this month.

We’ve gathered over 100 books for October just for you. Each book recommendation includes a link to YouTube where you can also listen to a Read Aloud of the story. The handpicked book read alouds are both Teacher and Mom Approved!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to Amazon 

October Read Aloud Books for Preschool and Kindergarten

There are many reasons why children’s books are fun to read in October. Here are a few:

• They often have spooky or Halloween-themed stories. This can be a fun way to get kids excited about the holiday and learn about different traditions.
• They can be a great way to teach kids about different cultures. Many children’s books feature characters from different countries and celebrate different holidays.
• They can help kids develop their imaginations. Children’s books are full of fantastical creatures and adventures that can help kids think creatively.
• They can be a great way to bond with your child. Reading together aloud is a fun and relaxing activity that can help you connect with your child.
• They can help improve your child’s literacy skills. Reading aloud to your child is a great way to help them develop their vocabulary and comprehension skills.

So if you’re looking for a fun and educational activity to do with your child this October, consider reading some children’s books together!

October Book Themes

Books about Scarecrows

Barn Dance! by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault (Listen to Read Aloud)
Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Scarecrow’s Hat by Ken Brown (Listen to Read Aloud)

The Little Scarecrow Boy by Margeret Wise Brown (Listen to Read Aloud)
Otis and the Scarecrow by Loren Long (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Scarecrows’ Wedding by Julia Donaldson (Listen to Read Aloud)

Scarecrow Activity Idea: Make a Shape Scarecrow for Math fun!

Hispanic Heritage Month Books for Kids

La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya (Listen to Read Aloud)
Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal (Listen to Read Aloud)
Islandborn by Junot Díaz (Listen to Read Aloud)

Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez (Listen to Read Aloud)
” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener nofollow” title=””>Isabel and her Colores Go to School by Alexandra Alessandri (Listen to Read Aloud)
Areli Is a Dreamer by Areli Morales (Listen to Read Aloud)

Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña (Listen to Read Aloud)
Across the Bay by Carlos Aponte (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Piñata That the Farm Maiden Hung by Samantha R. Vamos (Listen to Read Aloud)

Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor (Listen to Read Aloud)
From My Window by Otávio Júnior (Listen to Read Aloud)
Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle (Listen to Read Aloud)

Hispanic and Latino Heritage Activity Idea: Check out these resources from EDSITEment! — the Teacher’s Guide to Hispanic & Latino Heritage in the US is incredible.

Halloween Books for Kids

Little Blue Truck’s Halloween by Alice Schertle (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams (Listen to Read Aloud)
Construction Site Gets a Fright! by Sherri Duskey Rinker (Listen to Read Aloud)

The Crayons Trick or Treat by Drew Daywalt (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Bad Seed Presents: The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky by Jory John (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Spooky Wheels on the Bus by J. Elizabeth Mills (Listen to Read Aloud)

The Little Kitten by Nicola Killen (Listen to Read Aloud)
I Spy Spooky Night: A Book of Picture Riddles by Jean Marzollo
Halloween Is Coming! by Cal Everett (Listen to Read Aloud)

Pete the Cat: Trick or Pete by Kimberly & James Dean (Listen to Read Aloud)
10 Trick-or-Treaters: A Halloween Counting Book by Janet Schulman (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Night Before Halloween by Natasha Wing (Listen to Read Aloud)

Halloween Activity Idea: Take a look at our ultimate list of Halloween Activities for kids.

Books About Pumpkins

Too Many Pumpkins by Megan Lloyd (Listen to Read Aloud)
Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons (Listen to Read Aloud)

The Roll-Away Pumpkin by Junia Wonders (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Steven Kroll (Listen to Read Aloud)
Pumpkin Town! by Katie McKy (Listen to Read Aloud)

Five Little Pumpkins  by Dan Yaccarino (Listen to Read Aloud)
Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins by James Dean (Listen to Read Aloud)
Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht (Listen to Read Aloud)

Want more? Take a peek at our ultimate collection of Pumpkin Books for Kids! Hand-picked by a busy mom and Kindergarten teacher just for you this Halloween. These books about pumpkins include fiction, non-fiction and even early readers to choose from.

Pumpkin Activity Idea: Stacking Pumpkins STEM activity or try your hand at making a Storybook Pumpkin.

Books About Ghosts

Gus Was a Friendly Ghost (Gus the Ghost) by Jane Thayer (Listen to Read Aloud)
Ready, Steady, Ghost! by Elizabeth Bauley (Listen to Read Aloud)
Ghost in the House: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Ammi-Joan Paquette (Listen to Read Aloud)

In the Haunted House by Eve Bunting (Listen to the Read Aloud)
Lift-the-Flap Tab: Spooky House by Roger Priddy (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt by Riel Nason (Listen to Read Aloud)

Ten Timid Ghosts by Jennifer O’Connell (Listen to Read Aloud)
Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago (Listen to Read Aloud)
Ghost Afraid of the Dark by Sara Conway (Listen to Read Aloud)
How to Scare a Ghost by Jean Reagan (Listen to Read Aloud)

Ghost Activity Idea: Focus on learning sight words with these Ghost Themed Sensory Bottle Activity.

Books About Skeletons

Bonaparte Falls Apart by Margery Cuyler (Listen to Read Aloud)
Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Skeleton That Lost Its Smile by Chars Bonin

Dem Bones by Bob Barner (Listen to Read Aloud)
Skeletons ARE NOT Spooky! by Duds (Listen to Read Aloud)
Bones: Skeletons and How They Work by Steve Jenkins

The Skeleton Inside You by Philip Balestrino (Listen to Read Aloud)
Skeleton Meets the Mummy by Steve Metzger (Listen to Read Aloud)
Skeleton for Dinner by Margery Cuyler (Listen to Read Aloud)

Skeleton Activity Idea: Create your own Skeleton STEM Camp for Halloween!

Books About Witches

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson (Listen to Read Aloud)
How to Catch a Witch by Alice Walstead (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Littlest Witch by Brandi Dougherty (Listen to Read Aloud)

This is the ultimate collection of the best children’s books about witches for your Halloween fun! Hand-picked for a little spooky fun for even the littlest witches and wizards.

Witch Activity Idea: Make a spellbinding witch recipe inspired by a witch book!

Books About Monsters

How to Catch a Monster by Adam Wallace (Listen to Read Aloud)
How I Met My Monster by Amanda Noll (Listen to Read Aloud)
Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley (Listen to Read Aloud)

Explore our collection of the best Monster Books for Kids.

Monster Activity Idea: Take a look at these 20 Spooky Fun Monster Activities for Kids.

Books About Bats

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat! by Lucille Calendro (Listen to Read Aloud)
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon (Listen to Read Aloud)
Bats by Gail Gibbons (Listen to Read Aloud)
Bat Jamboree by Kathi Appelt (Listen to Read Aloud)

  

Bats at the Beach (A Bat Book) by Brian Lies (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Bat (Disgusting Critters) by Elise Gravel (Listen to Read Aloud)
Bats at the Library by Brian Lies (Listen to Read Aloud)
Little Bat in Night School by Brian Lies (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Magic School Bus in the Bat Cave (Listen to Read Aloud)
Fly Guy Presents: Bats (Scholastic Reader, Level 2) by Tedd Arnold

Amara and the Bats by Emma Reynolds (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Secret Life of the Little Brown Bat by Laurence Pringle
Nightsong  by Ari Berk  (Listen to Read Aloud)

Bat Activity Idea: Try this flying bats STEM challenge!

Books About Dia de los Muertos

Dia de Los Muertos by Roseanne Greenfield Thong (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Day of the Dead / El Día de los Muertos by Bob Barner (Listen to Read Aloud)
Uncle Monarch and the Day of the Dead by Judy Goldman (Listen to Read Aloud)

The Dead Family Diaz by P.J. Bracegirdle (Listen to Read Aloud)
Coco Little Golden Book by RH Disney (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Festival of Bones / El festival de las calaveras by Luis San Vicente (Listen to Read Aloud)
Clatter Bash! A Day of the Dead Celebration by Richard Keep (Listen to Read Aloud)

Books About Spiders

Aaaarrgghh! Spider! by Lydia Monks (Listen to Read Aloud)
Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin (Listen to Read Aloud)
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle (Listen to Read Aloud)
I’m Trying to Love Spiders by Bethany Barton (Listen to Read Aloud)

Pete the Cat and the Itsy Bitsy Spider by James Dean (Listen to Read Aloud)
Spider on the Floor (Raffi Songs to Read) by Raffi (Listen to Read Aloud)
Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti by Gerald McDermott (Listen to Read Aloud)

Books About Owls

The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson (Listen to Read Aloud)
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell (Listen to Read Aloud)
Knight Owl by Christopher Denise (Listen to Read Aloud)

Explore our collection of the best owl books for kids.

Owl Activity Idea: Have some nocturnal animal fun with these owl activities for kids.

Books About Diwali

Let’s Celebrate 5 Days of Diwali! by Ajanta Chakraborty (Listen to Read Aloud)
Shubh Diwali! by Chitra Soundar (Listen to Read Aloud)
Amma, Tell Me About Diwali! by Bhakti Mathur (Listen to Read Aloud)

My Diwali: Lights of Virtue by Priya Kumari & Komal Garg
My Diwali Light by Raakhee Mirchandani
Diwali in My New Home by Shachi Kaushik

I’ve gathered the ultimate collection of the best Diwali Books for Kids, take a look!

Diwali Activity Idea: Pick one of these special Diwali Activities with your child.

Books About Fire Safety

Curious George and the Firefighters by H. A. Rey (Listen to Read Aloud)
Stop, Drop, and Roll! by Charles Ghigna (Listen to Read Aloud)
Plan and Prepare! (Fire Safety by Charles Ghigna (Listen to Read Aloud)

No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids (and Dragons) by Jean E. Pendziwol (Listen to Read Aloud)
Pete the Cat: Firefighter Pete by James Dean (Listen to Read Aloud)
Miss Mingo and the Fire Drill by Jamie Harper (Listen to Read Aloud)

Fire Safety Activity Idea: Create a hands-on art project for fire safety week.

There are so many amazing books to read in October with your child. Which book will you read first?

Here are some additional activities for your child to enjoy…