Favorite Spooky and Cozy Picture Book List
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It finally feels like Autumn out here in the Midwest, and that means it's time for some cozy picture books! I love cozy picture books, and even though we don’t have a fireplace right now we can still pretend!
Our family doesn’t do scary books and movies, but we do love a little bit of spooky! This list includes books that are cozy, spooky, or both!
Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest
Little Witch Hazel, written and illustrated by Phoebe Wahl, is one of my favorite picture books of all time. The art is so cozy and incredibly bright and beautiful, and the story telling is so sweet. This book covers all four seasons, and the Autumn story is the tiniest bit spooky, making it a great cozy read. Bonus points because Little Witch Hazel is a tiny midwife living in the forest surrounded by animal friends so it really has something for everyone!
Another Phoebe Wahl book makes the list because her work is so cozy and the artwork is just so stunning. This is a shorter book filled with a sweet poem about fairies in our backyards and all around us. It also makes great copy work- my 8 year old loves to copy lines from the book and leave little notes for her own backyard fairies. An amazing side note- all the text in this book was hand drawn by the author, making it extra magical. This book doesn’t have any spooky elements, just cozy!
Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White is one of our favorite Halloween books. It’s actually so well loved in our house I had to buy a second copy because the first one fell apart. I have been reading Too Many Pumpkins to my Halloween baby since she was a toddler and it never gets old. The art by Megan Lloyd is engaging and detailed, something I love in picture books, and the story is sweet and compelling. This book is a 10/10 for the whole family!
This book was written by Linda Williams and, while the title might be a mouthful, it is so worth the read. It is illustrated by Megan Lloyd, the same artist behind Too Many Pumpkins, and the art in this book is just as enchanting. Fun fact- years ago when I was in preschool we reenacted this book for our little fall play. I played the part of the boots! This book is a tiny bit spooky but mostly cute and fun for all ages!
The Witch’s Cat and the Cooking Catastrophe by Kirstie Watson is such a cute read! It’s part of a newer series and very fun and interactive. The Cooking Catastrophe is about a cute orange cat trying to make a tasty lunch for his adorable witch friend. This book also talks about seasonings and spices and would be lots of fun to read before making your own concoctions.
The Witch Next Door by Norman Bridwell is a sweet witchy story about a witch moving next door to some very friendly kids. This is another book that has been a favorite since my daughter was a toddler. It sadly appears to be out of print (I think I have my grandma’s copy from the 80’s) but the kindle version is thankfully available!
I hope you enjoy this cozy book list! Let me know if any of these books are family favorites!