🎃 Spooktacular Family Reading Night Ideas for Halloween

Fall is here, bringing cozy nights, sweet treats, and stories that unite families! Halloween is the perfect opportunity to transform reading into a magical experience. At Martin’s Children’s Books, we love helping families create fun traditions that make learning and literacy a little more boo-tiful! 👻

Here are some creative Family Reading Night ideas that blend spooky fun with reading adventures:

🕯️ 1. “Glow in the Dark” Reading Fort

Transform your living room into a Halloween reading cave!

• Use flashlights, string lights, or glow sticks to illuminate your fort.

  
  

• Everyone picks their favorite Halloween-themed book (or one from our collection like What Do I Do About This? for problem-solving fun).

  
  

• Take turns reading by flashlight—it’s equal parts spooky and silly!

  
  

🍬 2. Candy Corn Storytime Snacks

Set up a small snack table with popcorn, candy corn, and apple slices.

As kids snack, read short stories or picture books about kindness, bravery, or teamwork.

💡 Tip: After the story, ask your child which character they’d share their candy with and why. This sparks discussion about friendship and empathy!

🧙‍♀️ 3. Costume Character Parade

Have each family member dress up as their favorite book character!

Read a short passage from that character’s story and have everyone guess who it is.

You can even include your little ones’ favorite characters from Black Girl Be You or Black Boy Be You for a confidence-boosting celebration.

📚 4. Spooky Word Hunt

Hide Halloween-themed words (like pumpkin, witch, ghost, or bat) around the room.

Each time a child finds a word, they must use it in a sentence or create a short story!

This activity builds vocabulary and imagination—two of our favorite things!

🌙 5. “Frightfully Fun” Family Book Club

Choose one fall-themed picture book to read together all week.

Each night, discuss what happened in the story and what might come next.

End the week by drawing your favorite scene or character.

🦇 6. Halloween Reading Bingo

Make a bingo card with activities like:

• Read under a blanket

• Read a book with a pumpkin on the cover

• Read to a stuffed animal

• Read outside under the moonlight

  
  

Complete five in a row for a special treat! (You can even print a Martin’s Children’s Books Reading Bingo card to make it extra fun!)

🎉 More Fun Activities to Enhance Reading

Create a Halloween Reading List

Compile a list of Halloween-themed books to read throughout the month.

Include classics, new releases, and even some spooky poetry.

This list can guide your reading nights and keep the excitement alive!

Host a Halloween Story Swap

Invite friends or family over for a story swap.

Everyone can bring their favorite Halloween book to share.

This not only promotes reading but also encourages social interaction and discussion about stories.

Decorate Your Reading Space

Get creative by decorating your reading area with Halloween-themed crafts.

Use pumpkins, ghosts, and spooky decorations to set the mood.

A festive environment can make reading even more enjoyable!

Wrap-Up: Keep the Spirit of Reading Alive!

Halloween may come and go, but the magic of reading lasts all year long.

Whether your child loves counting pumpkins like in Surrounded by Numbers or preparing for school with ABC’s of Kindergarten, family reading nights help build skills, laughter, and memories that shine brighter than any jack-o’-lantern.

✨ Tip: Take pictures of your family’s reading setup and tag us on social media using #MartinsChildrensBooks — we’d love to feature your Family Reading Night!

For more fun, check out our Halloween Coloring and Activity Book with Sticker Sheet.

Halloween Coloring and Activity Book with Sticker Sheet

$10.99

Buy Now