This post was originally published on Audible.com.
I’m a big believer in author Paula Guran’s statement: “The farther we've gotten from the magic and mystery of our past, the more we've come to need Halloween.” The sense of wonder and mystery that is often hammered out of us as we grow older means we lose touch with a vital part of life—and it's this youthful playfulness that ironically staves off old age. Take a gander at this collection of listens to help recapture the Halloween spirit; each one’s fun for the whole fam.
If you like your adventure listens served with a dose of chills and dipped in creepy Caribbean folklore, The Jumbies series should be your next listen. Corinne isn't afraid of anything, and she certainly doesn't believe in jumbies, the trickster creatures in the woods that parents make up to scare their kids into behaving. But after she stumbles upon something strange one night—a beautiful stranger seems to have bewitched her single dad—Corinne has to admit that maybe the jumbies are real. And unless she acts fast, they'll take over her family, and her entire island. This three-installment series is narrated by Hall of Fame narrator Robin Miles.
Under October's luna, full and bright, the monsters are throwing a ball in the Haunted Hall. Las brujas come on their broomsticks. Los muertos rise from their coffins to join in the fun. Los esqueletos rattle their bones as they dance through the door. And the scariest creatures of all aren't even there yet! This lively poem by Marisa Montes introduces a spooky array of creatures and Spanish words to little niños everywhere.
Every sleepaway camp promises memories that last a lifetime. But the memories from Camp Red Moon might give you nightmares! In this creepy listen by Goosebumps author R. L. Stine, the campfire appears to dim when the moon turns blood red and strange creatures prowl the forest. Then, the chills really kick in! Is finding a total lookalike at camp just a coincidence, or is he a shape-shifter trying to take over your life? Why don't your competitors at the robotics competition seem exactly…human? And why do campers do anything to avoid Cabin 6? Narrated by the author and a full cast, this Audible Original audio treat is sure to draw young listeners into all the fun of camp frights!
When Tom is invited to the reading of a will of a great-uncle he’s never even heard of, there’s no way to know what to expect. But on the long list of possible things to inherit, a traveling carnival ghost train is the very last item. To get his incredible inheritance—10 million bucks—all Tom has to do is run the antique ride until his 18th birthday. Easy. Except for a strange caped-creep he’s never met, who’s trying to con him out of the money...and the actual ghosts and ghouls who call the ride home. For fans of Hotel Transylvania and The Addams Family, A Crazy Inheritance is a scary-good whole-family listen!
Henry Lemarchand grew up in Philadelphia knowing very little about his family—his father disappeared when he was young, leaving behind only a strange pouch of animal teeth. When sent to the Louisiana bayou to spend the summer with his eccentric uncle, he learns about his family’s supernatural legacy: he's part of a long line of rootcrafters, folks who can absorb the memories and powers of anyone whose teeth they touch. And as Tom soon discovers, some secrets bite back. Narrated by Josh Hurley, House of Teeth is an eerie listen wrapped up in a tale about the need for belonging.
There’s more to the swamplands than meets the teeth. In this supernatural tale of magic and mysticism, Henry Lemarchand grew up in Philadelphia knowing very little of his family—his father disappeared when he was young, leaving behind only a strange pouch of animal teeth. When he is sent to the Louisiana bayou to spend the summer with his eccentric uncle and cousin in their decaying ancestral mansion, Henry learns about his family’s supernatural legacy—he is part of a long line of rootcrafters, folks who can absorb the powers and memories of anyone whose teeth they touch. In delving into his family’s strange legends, Henry soon discovers that some secrets bite back, especially in the swamplands. This tale of identity awareness and the need for belonging, is set in a world where everything is not as it seems.
The best-selling adult author of The Bear and the Nightingale, Katherine Arden makes her middle-grade debut with a creepy, spellbinding ghost story destined to become a classic. At its heart is Ollie, an 11-year-old girl haunted by loss who finds solace in books. After saving a book from being drowned by a crazed woman, she gets drawn into its chilling story—and then stumbles upon the graves of the very people she's been reading about.
A doll that may be haunted leads three friends on a thrilling adventure in this delightfully creepy novel from the New York Times best-selling cocreator of the Spiderwick Chronicles. Read by Nick Podehl, Doll Bones draws three friends under the spell of a bone-china doll and the ghost of a girl who demands that it be buried in her empty grave.
A doll that may be haunted leads three friends on a thrilling adventure in this delightfully creepy novel from the New York Times best-selling cocreator of the Spiderwick Chronicles.
Zach, Poppy, and Alice have been friends forever. And for almost as long, they’ve been playing one continuous, ever-changing game of pirates and thieves, mermaids and warriors. Ruling over all is the Great Queen, a bone-china doll cursing those who displease her. But they are in middle school now. Zach’s father pushes him to give up make-believe, and Zach quits the game. Their friendship might be over, until Poppy declares she’s been having dreams about the Queen - and the ghost of a girl who will not rest until the bone-china doll is buried in her empty grave.
Zach and Alice and Poppy set off on one last adventure to lay the Queen’s ghost to rest. But nothing goes according to plan, and as their adventure turns into an epic journey, creepy things begin to happen. Is the doll just a doll or something more sinister? And if there really is a ghost, will it let them go now that it has them in its clutches?
From rats leaping out of lockers to students mysteriously disappearing, strange things are happening at Lovecraft Middle School. And 12-year-old Robert Arthur suspects that his science teacher may be an actual monster. Professor Gargoyle is the first book in a series full of bizarre beasts, baffling occurrences, and other weird stuff that happens in middle school.
Like a car alarm, bagpipe music, or a doorbell ringing in the middle of the night, hearing this all-new audio edition of The Bad Beginning will only upset you....in the most delightful way. The debut volume in Lemony Snicket's super-selling Series of Unfortunate Events, this classic for young listeners is performed by a full-cast of talented voices, led by the incomparable Tim Curry.
13-year-old Quinn Parker knows that there’s something off about her neighbors. She calls them “the Oldies” because they’ve lived on Goodie Lane for as long as anyone can remember, but they never seem to age. Are they vampires? Or maybe aliens? With the help of her neighbor and maybe-crush, Mike, Quinn is determined to get to the truth. But the Oldies are on to them.
The haunted season has arrived in the Antler Wood. No fox kit is safe. When Mia and Uly are separated from their litters, they discover a dangerous world full of monsters.... Christian McKay Heidicker draws inspiration from Bram Stoker, H. P. Lovecraft, and Edgar Allan Poe for his debut middle-grade novel, a thrilling portrait of survival and an unforgettable tale of friendship.
The Creeping Hour is a horror anthology series hosted by the Creeps, three friends who listened to so many scary stories that they turned into monsters themselves. Gather your whole family to shiver with fright as you listen to the terrifying tales presented on this podcast. Listen if you dare. Don’t say we didn’t warn you! But no worries: it's recommended for kids ages eight to 12.
In Coraline, Neil Gaiman creates a bizarre and creepy tale starring a brave and resourceful heroine. Intrigued by a locked door in her family's new flat, Coraline unlocks it to find a passage to another flat in another house just like her own. Only it's different. Will Coraline be able to break free—and save the other children who are trapped there? Gaiman narrates, adding the perfect tone of suspense and dread to his award-winning novella.
Siblings 11-year-old Josh and 12-year-old Amanda just moved into the oldest and weirdest house on the block. Before long, the two siblings start to wonder: Could their new home be haunted? It's a classic Goosebumps tale from the acclaimed master of fright, R. L. Stine.
The Last Kids on Earth series by Max Brallier
For more listens like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid but with a speculative twist, pick up this fun and hilarious series about Jack, who’s managing life in the apocalypse the best he can in his tree house, with provisions he’s scrounged up from abandoned stores. But the zombies, Wringed Wretches, and Vine Thingies that have taken over his town are relentless, and Jack needs help if he's to survive! Reaching out to his best friend, his former school bully, his crush, and his pet monster, he assembles a team to take on the creatures—including an especially scary and smart new monster—that have invaded their town. Audiobook veteran Robbie Daymond narrates this seven-book series. Bonus: The Last Kids on Earth is the basis of an animated series on Netflix.
The Claxton Lore and Apparition Warehouse is located on a remote private property in the deep swamps of Louisiana, and overseen by a robot designed by Mr. Claxton, called CLAW. The warehouse is filled with crates, and it's CLAW's job to makes sure that all the stuff inside them doesn't get out. But CLAW is a curious robot...and legendary things he lets escape are sure to delight and haunt the imaginations of young listeners!
