Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: If your child loves R.L. Stine, try Goosebumps: The Haunted Mask, Stay Out of the Basement, Bunnicula, The Witches, Coraline and Ghosts. Each gives kids a safe dose of spooky fun.
Kids who devour Goosebumps want more stories with cliffhanger chapters, creepy objects and twist endings. The key is to match scares to age. The 15 books below start with milder spooky reads for ages 7 and up, then move to stronger horror for ages 10 to 13. Preview the scariest ones before you hand them over.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goosebumps: The Haunted Mask | R.L. Stine | 8-12 | kids who want the classic |
| Goosebumps: Stay Out of the Basement | R.L. Stine | 8-12 | readers who like twist endings |
| Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy | R.L. Stine | 8-12 | puppets and dolls fans |
| Goosebumps: The Werewolf of Fever Swamp | R.L. Stine | 8-12 | monster lovers |
| Bunnicula | Deborah and James Howe | 7-11 | younger readers |
| The Witches | Roald Dahl | 8-12 | readers who love Dahl |
| A Tale Dark & Grimm | Adam Gidwitz | 8-12 | readers who like fairy tales |
| Coraline | Neil Gaiman | 8-12 | readers who like dark fantasy |
| Ghosts | Raina Telgemeier | 8-12 | readers who want a gentle ghost story |
| Small Spaces | Katherine Arden | 9-13 | readers who like slow dread |
| Nightbooks | J.A. White | 8-12 | readers who love scary stories |
| Doll Bones | Holly Black | 9-13 | readers who like friendship |
| Wait Till Helen Comes | Mary Downing Hahn | 9-12 | readers who like old-school ghost stories |
| The Graveyard Book | Neil Gaiman | 9-13 | readers who like atmosphere |
| Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark | Alvin Schwartz | 8-12 | readers who want short scares |
1. Goosebumps: The Haunted Mask by R.L. Stine
Carly Beth puts on a scary mask for Halloween and cannot get it off. One of the most famous Goosebumps books.
Best for: kids who want the classic.
2. Goosebumps: Stay Out of the Basement by R.L. Stine
A boy and his sister discover their father's plants are not what they seem. Quick and creepy.
Best for: readers who like twist endings.
3. Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy by R.L. Stine
A ventriloquist dummy named Slappy begins to act on his own. Slappy has become an icon of the series.
Best for: puppets and dolls fans.
4. Goosebumps: The Werewolf of Fever Swamp by R.L. Stine
A family moves to Florida, and Grady is convinced the neighborhood dog is a werewolf. Fun and fast.
Best for: monster lovers.
5. Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe
A dog and cat suspect the family's new pet rabbit is a vampire. Funny and silly.
Best for: younger readers.
6. The Witches by Roald Dahl
A boy discovers that witches are real and want to destroy children. Dark and funny.
Best for: readers who love Dahl.
7. A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
Hansel and Gretel continue their story through other Grimm tales. Violent, witty and unusual.
Best for: readers who like fairy tales.
8. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Coraline finds a door to a world with a second mother who wants to keep her. Eerie and unforgettable.
Best for: readers who like dark fantasy.
9. Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
Cat moves with her family to a coastal California town where the dead are friendly. A graphic novel, gentle and moving.
Best for: readers who want a gentle ghost story.
10. Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
Ollie meets a stranger who warns her about a smiling man on a school trip. Creepy and atmospheric.
Best for: readers who like slow dread.
11. Nightbooks by J.A. White
Alex is trapped by a witch and must tell scary stories to survive. Clever and frightening.
Best for: readers who love scary stories.
12. Doll Bones by Holly Black
Three friends go on a quest to bury a doll made from a girl's bones. Spooky and tender.
Best for: readers who like friendship.
13. Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn
Molly and her brother face a ghost child who wants to take Molly's stepsister. A classic haunting.
Best for: readers who like old-school ghost stories.
14. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Bod grows up in a graveyard raised by ghosts. Dark, moving and funny.
Best for: readers who like atmosphere.
15. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
The classic collection of creepy folk tales and urban legends, with famously eerie art. Perfect for sleepovers.
Best for: readers who want short scares.
How to Choose
For ages 7 to 9, start with Bunnicula, Ghosts or a first Goosebumps. For ages 9 to 11, try Coraline, Nightbooks or Small Spaces. For ages 10 to 13, read Doll Bones, The Graveyard Book or A Tale Dark & Grimm. If your child gets nightmares, read in daylight and talk about what happens. A good rule is to let kids choose, then stay nearby the first time they try something new. Set a rule such as reading the scariest chapters in the daytime. If a story gets too intense, put it away and try again in a few months, because tolerance for scary stories grows with age.
Related: 15 Books Like Wings of Fire Kids Will Love: Dragons, Quests and Animal Adventures · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Goosebumps for?
It is aimed at ages 8 to 12, with a number of milder and stronger books.
Is Coraline too scary?
It can be, for sensitive children under 8, but many kids enjoy it.
Are there graphic novel versions of scary stories?
Yes. Ghosts and the Goosebumps graphic novels are popular.
What if my child wants more after these?
Try Fear Street or Lois Duncan's older books when they are ready for teen horror.
How do I know if a scary book is too much?
Read the first chapter yourself and ask your child how they feel after a spooky scene.
Are audiobooks good for scary stories?
Yes, they can make stories more vivid, so preview them first for younger kids.