Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: If your kid likes Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, try More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Scary Stories for Young Foxes, Coraline, The Graveyard Book, Small Spaces and Nightbooks. All are spooky, eerie and made for readers who love goosebumps.
Alvin Schwartz's collection, with Stephen Gammell's famous creepy art, has haunted kids' bedtimes for decades. The right follow-ups give the same chills without being too intense. The 15 books below include sequels, short-story collections and spooky novels, arranged from gentler reads to darker ones. Always preview the scariest ones for younger kids.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark | Alvin Schwartz | 8-12 | fans of the original |
| In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories | Alvin Schwartz | 5-8 | first-time scary readers |
| Scary Stories for Young Foxes | Christian McKay Heidicker | 9-13 | readers who like frame stories |
| Goosebumps: Welcome to Dead House | R.L. Stine | 8-12 | readers who want fast scares |
| Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy | R.L. Stine | 8-12 | readers who like creepy objects |
| Coraline | Neil Gaiman | 8-12 | readers who like gothic fantasy |
| The Graveyard Book | Neil Gaiman | 9-13 | readers who like ghosts with heart |
| Nightbooks | J.A. White | 8-12 | readers who like stories within stories |
| Small Spaces | Katherine Arden | 9-13 | readers who like gentle horror |
| Doll Bones | Holly Black | 9-13 | readers who like friendship stories |
| City of Ghosts | Victoria Schwab | 9-13 | readers who like adventure and ghosts |
| The Dollhouse Murders | Betty Ren Wright | 9-12 | readers who like old-school scares |
| Wait Till Helen Comes | Mary Downing Hahn | 9-12 | readers who like ghost stories |
| Something Wicked This Way Comes | Ray Bradbury | 12+ | older kids and teens |
| The Haunting of Hill House | Shirley Jackson | Adult | parents who want a classic |
1. More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
The second collection brings more folk tales, urban legends and ghost stories, with Gammell's illustrations. The obvious next stop.
Best for: fans of the original.
2. In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz
An easy reader with short, mild scares, illustrated by Dirk Zimmer. Good for younger siblings.
Best for: first-time scary readers.
3. Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker
Two young foxes learn spooky tales from other animals in the woods. A dark and surprising horror story with a heart.
Best for: readers who like frame stories.
4. Goosebumps: Welcome to Dead House by R.L. Stine
Amanda and Josh move to the creepy town of Dark Falls. The first Goosebumps, packed with cliffhangers.
Best for: readers who want fast scares.
5. Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy by R.L. Stine
Lindy finds a ventriloquist dummy named Slappy, and strange things begin. One of the most famous in the series.
Best for: readers who like creepy objects.
6. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Coraline finds a door to a world where her other mother has button eyes. Eerie but loving, and a modern classic.
Best for: readers who like gothic fantasy.
7. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Bod grows up in a graveyard raised by ghosts after his family is killed. Winner of the Newbery Medal.
Best for: readers who like ghosts with heart.
8. Nightbooks by J.A. White
Alex is trapped in a witch's apartment and must tell a scary story each night to stay alive. Suspenseful and clever.
Best for: readers who like stories within stories.
9. Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
Ollie, a girl who finds a spooky book, is warned by a stranger to avoid smiling men on a school trip. Moody and atmospheric.
Best for: readers who like gentle horror.
10. Doll Bones by Holly Black
Zach, Poppy and Alice take a road trip to bury a doll said to be made from a dead girl. Haunting and thoughtful.
Best for: readers who like friendship stories.
11. City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
Cass can pull people through the Veil after a near-death experience and lives with her ghost best friend. Set in Edinburgh.
Best for: readers who like adventure and ghosts.
12. The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright
Amy finds a dollhouse that is a replica of her aunt's house and a clue to an old murder. A classic spooky mystery.
Best for: readers who like old-school scares.
13. Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn
Molly and her stepbrother Michael fight a ghost child who wants Molly's stepsister. Tense and haunting.
Best for: readers who like ghost stories.
14. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
A mysterious carnival arrives in town, and two boys face the sinister Mr. Dark. Lyrical and creepy, for older readers.
Best for: older kids and teens.
15. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Four people stay in a house with a bad reputation. A masterpiece of ghostly dread for adults.
Best for: parents who want a classic.
How to Choose
For ages 5 to 8, start with In a Dark, Dark Room. For ages 8 to 10, try More Scary Stories, Goosebumps and Nightbooks. For ages 10 to 13, pick Coraline, The Graveyard Book, Doll Bones or Small Spaces. For teens and adults, move to Something Wicked This Way Comes and The Haunting of Hill House. Read a few pages aloud first if you are unsure.
Related: What Is Dark Romance? · What Age Is The Land of Stories Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark for?
Most libraries shelve it for ages 8 to 12, though the illustrations are quite creepy.
Is Coraline too scary for kids?
It is spooky but not gory. Many children 8 and up enjoy it, but check with sensitive readers.
Are there other books by Alvin Schwartz?
Yes. He wrote the three-book Scary Stories series plus In a Dark, Dark Room.