Mechanicsburg

How Scary Stories Build Stronger Readers

Why a little fright can be just right for growing young minds

Pumpkins, costumes, and creepy tales—October is the perfect time to curl up with a spooky story. While they may send a chill down your spine, scary stories can actually play a positive role in helping children become better readers. At Best Brains, we love using seasonal stories to spark imagination, build reading skills, and make learning fun.

Here’s how a little fright can fuel literacy growth:

1. Scary Stories Are Incredibly Engaging

Suspenseful plots, cliffhangers, and eerie twists keep kids turning the page. This high level of engagement is great for reluctant readers, who might not usually be excited about books. When kids are hooked, they’re more likely to stick with a story, even when the vocabulary or sentence structure challenges them.

2. They Build Vocabulary and Comprehension

Spooky tales often include rich, descriptive language: words like “lurking,” “eerie,” or “chilling.” These stories help expand vocabulary while developing children’s ability to infer meaning from context—key skills for reading comprehension.

3. They Teach Emotional Regulation

Scary stories give kids a safe space to explore fear. Experiencing tension in a fictional setting can help children build coping skills and resilience. As they learn to manage emotions while reading, they build emotional intelligence alongside reading fluency.

4. They Strengthen Critical Thinking

Good scary stories are full of mysteries to solve and suspenseful turns to untangle. Kids naturally start making predictions, asking “what will happen next?” or “why did that character do that?” This encourages deeper thinking and engagement with the text—exactly what strong readers do.

5. They Foster a Love of Reading

When kids associate reading with fun—especially around holidays and traditions—they’re more likely to build lifelong habits. Halloween-themed books make reading feel festive and exciting, creating positive associations with literacy.

Best Brains Recommends:

Looking for age-appropriate spooky books? Try these:

• Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson (Preschool–Grade 2)
• Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds (Grades K–3)
• The Haunted Library by Dori Hillestad Butler (Grades 2–5)
• Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine (Grades 3–6)

Reading Support That’s Never Scary

At Best Brains, we tailor our reading program to match your child’s level and learning style—so they grow with confidence, not fear. Whether your child is just starting to sound out words or needs help with comprehension and vocabulary, we’re here to help.

Call today to schedule a FREE placement test—if you dare! 👻

Sources/Further Reading:

1. Coats, K. (2001). Scary stories, emotional regulation, and the role of narrative. The Lion and the Unicorn, 25(2), 198–217. https://doi.org/10.1353/uni.2001.0015
2. Gaiman, N. (2013, October 15). Why our future depends on libraries, reading and daydreaming. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/15/neil-gaiman-future-libraries-reading-daydreaming
3. Scholastic Parents. (n.d.). Why kids love scary books. Scholastic. https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/why-kids-love-scary-books.html
4. University of Cambridge. (2013, October 8). Reading fiction improves empathy, study finds. https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/reading-fiction-improves-empathy-study-finds
5. American Psychological Association. (2010, October 27). What’s the deal with kids and scary stories?. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2010/scary-stories