Halloween Picture Books for Kids: 13 Read Alouds We Love, by Age

Real talk: I read these to my 4-month-old nephew and my 3-year-old son, and they both loved every single one. Halloween books are a favorite at our house, so here are the 13 we asked for again and again this year, sorted by age so you can find the right fit fast.

Sourcebooks Kids sent me these books, and every opinion is my own. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Halloween Board Books for Ages 0 to 3

Boooo Fantasma: As a mom who's always up for a learning experience, this bilingual book was perfect for my 3-year-old. See it on Amazon

Happy Meow-loween Little Pumpkin: It's a sweet and pun-filled way to celebrate Halloween. See it on Amazon

Press, Hear, & Play: Boo Boo Babies: We absolutely loved the real baby photos in this book, especially my 3-year-old. See it on Amazon

A Trick or Treat Surprise: My kiddos absolutely love lift-the-flap books, and this one did not disappoint. See it on Amazon

Halloween Picture Books for Your Classroom

An Untold Story of the Halloween Fairy: We are obsessed with anything by Diane Alber, and this was such a cute play on her series. See it on Amazon

Meet October (The Calendar Kids): As a teacher mom, I love a learning series, and Meet October might be our favorite. See it on Amazon

When the Witch Wrote Back!: Writing to Santa is old news after reading this book. See it on Amazon

The Scariest Sleepover Story You've Ever Heard!: This book came with great anticipation because it's the 3rd in the series, and it definitely did not disappoint. See it on Amazon

The Scariest Book in the Whole Entire World: My 6-year-old absolutely loved how this book talks right to her, and she laughed hysterically the whole way through. See it on Amazon

The Boo Crew Needs YOU!: A great interactive story. See it on Amazon

Spooky Silly Halloween Jokes: So good that my 6- and 9-year-old took it to bed, and I could hear them giggling long after lights out. See it on Amazon

The Witch's Cat and the Broomstick Blunder: Such a great holiday book about a mischievous cat. See it on Amazon

Bonus Fall Pick

The Pumpkin Thief: My family loves the squirrel series, and this fall adventure was the perfect addition. See it on Amazon

3 Easy Ways to Use These in Your Classroom

1. Before you open the book, hold up the cover and ask, "What do you think will happen?" Little ones love finding out if they were right.
2. After you read, have students retell the story in 3 sentences: beginning, middle, end.
3. Set out a basket of board books so your youngest readers can flip, lift and read on their own.

Pair It With a Writing Activity

After your read aloud, let students write about it. My Halloween Creative Writing Prompts with Craft Activities come with 5 prompts like "If I were a bat for a day" and "Help! My teacher's a monster," plus picture toppers that look so cute on a bulletin board.

Grab a Freebie

Want a little something for your classroom? Get my free editable Lanyard Class List so you always have your roster on hand. Send me the free class list

See all 13 books in one place on my Amazon storefront: Halloween Read Alouds list

Made by a teacher who's been right where you are.

Teacher Stress and Burnout: 10 Practical Ways to Manage Stress

 How to Manage Stress as a Teacher: Practical Strategies That Actually Work

Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers in the world, but it’s also one of the most stressful. Between lesson planning, testing requirements, parent communication, and the daily emotional energy it takes to support students, teacher burnout has become a serious issue. In fact, research shows that teacher stress is at an all time high, and many educators are leaving the profession because the load feels impossible to carry.

But here’s the good news: while we can’t control everything about education, there are practical ways to manage teacher stress and protect your mental health. These strategies won’t erase the workload, but they can help you feel more balanced, energized, and ready to face each day in the classroom.

1. Set Real Boundaries

Teaching can easily spill into every corner of your life if you let it. Decide on an actual “end time” for your workday and stick to it. Your students need a rested teacher more than they need one more worksheet graded at 10 p.m.

2. Prioritize What Matters Most

Not every task has to get done today. Focus on the things that truly move student learning forward, and let go of the busywork. Sometimes “done” really is better than “perfect.”

3. Move Your Body

You don’t need a full workout to reset your brain. A quick walk down the hall, some stretches behind your desk, or a few deep breaths between classes can reduce stress in real time.

4. Find Safe Spaces to Vent

Every teacher needs a support system. Talk to colleagues who understand, or join an online teacher community where you can share the struggles without judgment.

5. Add Something Green

Plants in your classroom or on your desk can make your space feel calmer, fresher, and more welcoming. It’s a small change that can make a big difference.

6. Learn to Say No

It’s tempting to say yes to every committee, extra duty, or “fun” initiative. But your time and energy are limited. Protect them by saying no to the things that don’t serve your students or your sanity.

7. Use Music to Reset Your Mood

Whether it’s a calming playlist during planning or a hype song on your drive home, music can shift your energy fast.

8. Protect Your Sleep

Grading late into the night only sets you up for exhaustion tomorrow. Prioritize rest. You’ll show up better for your students when you’re not running on empty.

9. Fuel Your Body Well

We’ve all been guilty of surviving on coffee and leftover Goldfish crackers. But eating balanced meals and drinking enough water can have a huge impact on your energy and focus.

10. Celebrate Small Wins

Not every day will feel magical, but there are always moments worth noticing. Whether it’s a kind note from a student, a successful lesson, or just surviving Monday, give yourself credit.

The Bottom Line

Teacher stress isn’t going away anytime soon, but how we respond to it matters. By setting boundaries, protecting your health, and celebrating small victories, you can manage the stress before it turns into burnout.

Remember: your well being matters. A healthy, balanced teacher creates a healthier, happier classroom for kids.

Want to cut down on stress with ready to use classroom resources? I’ve created time-saving lesson plans, activities, and tools that help teachers simplify their day. You can explore them in my Teachers Pay Teachers store here.

Jessica Ann Stanford
Teachers Follow Teachers
Follow along on Instagram @teachersfollowteachers and on Facebook.

Handwriting Fonts for Teachers: The Stanford Fonts Growing Bundle

I’m so excited to share that Stanford Fonts are now available as a Growing Font Bundle to and they’re designed especially for teachers, parents, and creators who love making resources that stand out. If you’ve been searching for teacher fonts for handwriting practice, bulletin board fonts, or Cricut and Silhouette fonts for crafts, this bundle has everything you need (and more).

With over 200 unique handwritten fonts in my collection, and most of them available in three different weights, you’ll have instant access to more than 600 fonts filled with alphabets (including foreign characters), numbers, and symbols. From cute bubble block fonts for posters to modern cursive script fonts for labeling and projects, Stanford Fonts makes it easy to create resources you’ll love using again and again.

Jessica Ann Stanford
Teachers Follow Teachers
Follow along on Instagram @teachersfollowteachers and on Facebook.

Font Pairings for Teachers: Easy Combos for Worksheets, Bulletin Boards and Cricut

If you’re anything like me, you probably have hundreds (maybe thousands) of fonts on your computer, but when it’s time to create something whether it’s a handwriting worksheet, a bulletin board, or a Cricut craft project, you spend forever searching for the perfect font pairing. And let’s be honest… once I finally find a cute font combo I love, I end up reusing it way too much. What’s the point of having so many fonts if I’m only going to stick with the same two?

That’s exactly why I started creating stanford font pairing charts for myself. Instead of wasting time scrolling through endless font files, I can quickly glance at my chart and grab the best font combinations for teachers, crafters, and designers. And today, I thought I’d share them with you!

Jessica Ann Stanford
Teachers Follow Teachers
Follow along on Instagram @teachersfollowteachers and on Facebook.

Remind App for Teachers: Text Parents Without Sharing Your Number

Communication is and has always been an issue in relationships. Whether it be from parent to child, spouse to spouse, teacher to student, teacher to parent...

I digress.

I would imagine that a lack of communication leads to most of the problems that we endure throughout our day. What would you say if I told you that I may have a solution for at least 1, if not 2 of those relationship communication situations? (Sorry this isn't going to get your husband or kids to share more about their day over dinner.)