Halloween is almost here, so I'll be sharing lots of spooky books for kids and tweens. However, these two titles stood out right away, and my son and I decided to read them before fall even began. Finding engaging novels for middle to upper elementary kids—ones that aren't too mature or too childish—can be challenging. These two definitely fit that need!
Troubling Tonsils by Aaron Reynolds
Genre: Children's (ages 6 - 9 years)
Pub. Date: September 2, 2025
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Source: Publisher for review
Goodreads says, "Jasper the Rabbit is back! A little older and wiser, he collects creepy stories to share as cautionary tales. If you’re ready for some chills and chuckles alike, tune in as Jasper weaves the yarn of Charlie Marmot and the particular pickle he found himself in.
See, Charlie here has a his tonsils have become infected and have to come out. No biggie, right? But when he decides he wants to keep them in a jar for show and tell, things get creepy… First, strange slurping sounds in his room keep Charlie awake the night before his surgery. Then, he goes to the doctor only to be told his tonsils are already gone! Could it be they’re out for revenge?
Join Jasper and Charlie in this first Creepy Tale chapter book and learn from Charlie’s mistakes before it’s too late!"
I was delighted when Simon & Schuster offered me a review copy of Troubling Tonsils, as Reynolds’s Caldecott Award-winning picture books like Creepy Carrots have long been fall favorites in our home. Now, Reynolds has expanded his world with a spin-off chapter book starring Jasper Rabbit, who shares his creepy tales perfect for Halloween. In Troubling Tonsils, Jasper recounts the tale of Charlie, a marmot whose infected tonsils need to be removed. Charlie dreams of keeping his tonsils in a jar and showing them off at school, but things take an unexpected and eerie turn, reminiscent of The Twilight Zone. Fans of Reynolds’s picture books will find this a delightful introduction to the horror genre—spooky without being too scary. Even more exciting, the next book in the series is scheduled for release in early 2026.
Monster Blood (Goosebumps Graphic Novel #2) by R.L. Stine
Genre: Children's (ages 8-12)
Pub. Date: September 2, 2025
Publisher: Scholastic
Source: Publisher for review
Goodreads says, "While staying with his great-aunt Kathryn, Evan Ross visits an eerie old toy store. Among the dusty shelves, he finds a can of something called “Monster Blood.” The odd, sticky substance really does look like the blood of a creature. It has a greenish glow and sometimes feels warm to the touch. But the most alarming thing about the toy ooze is the way it keeps growing ― overflowing its container, then a bathtub, then filling up a whole trash can. Evan worries that all that growing has given the Monster Blood a monstrous appetite...
Our house is overflowing with Goosebumps books—my oldest son’s long-time favorite. Now, my younger son is starting to try out the "horror" genre. The perfect introduction for him is through this graphic novel, and Scholastic recently sent us Monster Blood, just in time for the spooky season. This graphic novel adapts the original story in a page-turning way. In Monster Blood, Evan Ross stays with his great-aunt and visits a mysterious toy store, where he discovers "monster blood." As the story progresses, the monster blood grows bigger and becomes more dangerous! R.L. Stine masterfully keeps the scares mild—enough to make kids eager to read, but not too scary to keep them up at night. For upper elementary students who may be reluctant readers, this graphic novel is a great gateway to the genre. Maddi Gonzalez’s full-color illustrations add to the excitement, making it likely to engage even the most hesitant readers. And with Goosebumps now on Disney+, it's more popular than ever!
What do you think of these new fall reads? Are you a Goosebumps fan? Let me know in the comments below.
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