multicultural kids’ books for halloween, samhain, and día de los muertos
in our witchy, multicultural home, autumn is the season of thinning veils, candlelight, and remembrance. we honor the balance between light and dark by celebrating día de los muertos, samhain, and halloween as reflections of the same truth: life, death, and renewal are all part of the same sacred cycle.
as the air cools and the leaves begin to fall, i love bringing stories into our home that teach my son about honoring our ancestors, embracing mystery, and finding beauty in transformation — without centering fear or commercialism. over the last few years, i’ve gathered a growing list of multicultural kids’ books that celebrate these themes through folklore, nature, and tradition.
why we read beyond the spooky
while halloween is fun and festive, so many children’s books focus on costumes, candy, and fright — which is fine in small doses! for us, this season is also about remembrance, gratitude, and magic. we choose stories that explore where these celebrations come from and what they mean to different cultures.
we read about the candles lit for ancestors, the harvest rituals that mark the changing seasons, and the ways people across the world honor their dead. these books are gentle introductions to death, spirit, and renewal — subjects often avoided in mainstream stories, but vital for raising mindful, heart-centered children.
honoring our cultures and heritages
we celebrate both día de los muertos and samhain in our household — blending our mexican and celtic roots in a way that feels authentic to us. that means our reading list includes books that highlight both traditions without erasing their origins.
we also make space for halloween stories that focus on curiosity, friendship, and play — because the joy of dressing up and connecting with community is part of the magic too.
you’ll find books here that speak of marigolds, moonlit rituals, ancestors, witches, pumpkins, and transformation — all seen through diverse, inclusive perspectives that remind us how connected we all are in the great turning of the wheel.
here’s our curated autumn book stack — perfect for cozy evenings with cocoa, cider, or tea, and best enjoyed by candlelight with your little ones.
a gift for abuelita
by nancy luenn
a touching story of a girl who wanted to find the perfect way of honoring her grandmother, so she sets out to find make a día de muertos gift to honor her.
a very brave witch
by alison mcghee
a sweet role-reversal story about a young witch discovering that humans aren’t so scary after all — full of humor and heart.
celebrate the day of the dead
by diane de anda
little brother and sister prepare for the holiday, to honor their family members and ancestors. follow along as they get ready to celebrate día de los muertos.
children’s intro to samhain
by liam carew
a simple, heart-centered overview of the celtic festival of samhain — honoring the turning of the seasons and the connection between worlds.
day of the dead
by polo orozco
a beautifully written, culturally rooted introduction to día de los muertos that explains traditions through warmth, color, and community.
día de muertos (a papel picado lift-the-flap book)
by dori elys
interactive and beautifully designed — little hands can lift flaps to discover the symbols and joy of this sacred celebration.
día de los muertos
by roseanne greenfield thong
follow along as the pueblo bring the holiday celebration alive — honoring loved ones through marigolds, pan de muerto, and joyful remembrance.
día de los muertos
by hannah eliot
bright, quirky illustrations and many bilingual words engage children in the beautiful world of the day of the dead.
funny bones: posada and his day of the dead
by duncan tonatiuh
a stunning picture book biography introducing kids to josé guadalupe posada — the artist behind mexico’s iconic calaveras.
gustavo the shy ghost
by flavia z. drago
a gorgeously illustrated story about belonging, courage, and friendship — spooky in the sweetest way possible.
hardly haunted
by jessie sima
a not-so-spooky tale about a little haunted house learning to love herself — sweet, cozy, and full of personality.
hazel and the spooky season
by kyle sullivan
a sweet story about a young girl who loves the spooky season even though no one around her does. everything changes when she receives a visit from a supernatural friend who is just as spooky as she is.
let’s celebrate día de muertos
by paulina suárez
a colorful, toddler-friendly look at the traditions of día de muertos — perfect for introducing little ones to cultural heritage.
little monster, what pan dulce do you want?
by ana esparza
a bilingual romp through a mexican bakery filled with spooky treats and playful monsters — pure joy for pan dulce lovers, and a celebration of pan de muerto.
mi ofrenda
by mariana glavez
a bilingual love letter to tradition — guiding children through the meaning and magic of creating their own ofrenda.
my first 100 día de muertos words
by lil’ libros
a bilingual vocabulary board book introducing the icons, foods, and symbols of día de muertos in a beautiful way.
no such thing
by ella bailey
a charming halloween mystery where a little girl investigates spooky happenings and debunks the ghoulish mischief that’s been happening around her.
our day of the dead celebration
by ana aranda
a radiant picture book that joyfully captures a family’s ofrenda, cempasúchil trails, and the vibrant energy of día de muertos.
pumpkin soup
by helen cooper
a hygge autumn story about friendship, change, and sharing — best paired with your own bowl of warm soup.
remembering
by xelena gonzález
a tender story of a family observing the día de los angelitos customs to honor and celebrate their beloved pets who passed.
room on the broom
by julia donaldson
a cozy classic about kindness, teamwork, and friendship — perfect for little ones who love witches without the fright.
sam & the samhain scare
by kathleen converse + hanna sultanova
a witchy adventure full of lessons about courage, friendship, and trusting your magic during the darker half of the year.
samhain and the lost spirit
by alexandre ravenhart
a little spirit wakes upon their grave on samhain night to find that no family has come to visit them or leave offerings, and has no memory of any life at all!
samhain, the spirit who came to supper
by becky susan adams
a sweet tale of a little one who is scared of the dark, but a spirit, hungry for soul cakes, helps her overcome her fear. a recipe for soul cakes is included at the end.
scary, scary halloween
by eve bunting
a classic halloween book from the 80’s that captures the eerie yet enchanting side of the season — ideal for storytelling by candlelight.
spooky, scary skeletons
by andrew gold
sing and dance along with skeletons with this book based on the classic halloween song. such a fun one to sing with kiddos!
the little ghost who didn’t like to be scary
by isla wynter
a short story about a ghost who’d rather be kind than frightening — teaching children that being true to yourself is the bravest kind of magic.
the little old lady who was not afraid of anything
by linda williams
a rhythmic, classic tale of courage and cleverness — perfect for giggles and brave hearts on crisp october nights.
the mummers’ march: a samhain tale
by cecily ravenwood
follow a group of rambunctious trick-or-treaters, or mummers, and learn about some of samhain's traditions for children.
the nightmare before christmas
by tim burton
based on the beloved classic movie, this book was written and illustrated by tim burton. written in the form of poetry, it adds some whimsy to the original story.
the ofrenda that we built
by jolene + shaian gutiérrez
inspired by the nursery rhyme “the house that jack built,” this story brings you into the home of a familia as they build of a colorful ofrenda one special element at a time.
the remembering day/el día de los muertos
by pat mora
a bilingual story that honors intergenerational love — gentle, poetic, and deeply moving.
¡vamos! let’s celebrate halloween and día de los muertos
by raúl the third
energetic and full of life — a bilingual celebration that connects halloween and día de los muertos through comic-style art, culture, and community.
and there you have it — our favorite multicultural books for día de los muertos, samhain, and halloween. each one reminds us that these celebrations are not about fear or separation, but about connection, memory, and the cyclical beauty of life.
if you bring any of these stories into your home, i’d love to hear which one your littles (or you!) love most. light some candles, sip on cacao or cider, and let the stories carry you between worlds. 🕯️
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