Samhain Picture Books We Love

carved turnip samhain picture books we love

“The veil that separated this world from the world of the Others (An Sidhe) grew thin.”
— Juilene Osborne-McKnight, The Story We Carry in Our Bones

What is Samhain?

Samhain is an ancient Gaelic festival with deep roots in Ireland, traditionally marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It was seen as a time when the boundary between the living and the dead grew thin, and customs around bonfires, feasting, divination, disguises, and remembering those who had died became part of the season.

Today, Samhain is still celebrated by many families and communities and is one of the eight festivals that make up the modern Wheel of the Year. It is a time for remembering ancestors, noticing the changing season, gathering together, and welcoming the darker months ahead. 

What does Samhain have to do with Halloween?

Many older Samhain customs have helped shape what have become modern Halloween traditions from carving jack-o-lanterns, wearing costumes, playing apple games and trick-or-treating.

Below are some wonderful children’s books that explore Samhain from different angles, from seasonal stories and family celebrations to books about ancestors, nature, and the Wheel of the Year.

Sam & the Samhain Scare
Written by Kathleen Converse
Illustrated by Hanna Sultanova

cover of Sam & the Samhain Scare: A Wheel of the Year Book for Little Goodbyes Press Samhain picture books we love list
Sam is nervous about some of the spooky sights and traditions surrounding Samhain. As the celebration unfolds, Sam learns more about the festival, its customs, and the importance of remembering those who came before.

The rhyming text and colourful illustrations make this an accessible introduction to Samhain for younger readers.

Buy Sam & the Samhain Scare on Amazon
Buy Sam & the Samhain Scare on Bookshop (supports Independent bookstores)

Little Witch Hosts Samhain Supper
Written by Kristin Lisenby
Illustrated by Caitlyn Barone

Little Witch Hosts Samhain Supper by Kristin Lisenby, illustrated by Caitlyn Barone book cover

Little Witch prepares a Samhain supper in honour of Great-Grandma Rose, gathering flowers, baking soul cakes, and learning about the tradition of the Dumb Supper, a silent meal held to remember and honour those who have died. The book is especially striking for Caitlyn Barone’s gorgeous pen-and-ink illustrations, which give the story a rich, old-fashioned feel that suits the season beautifully.

Little Witch Hosts Samhain Supper is independently published and available exclusively through the Little Witch Books website.

Rupert’s Tales: The Wheel of the Year – Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, and Ostara

Written by Kyrja
Illustrated by Tonia Bennington Osborn

cover of Rupert’s Tales: The Wheel of the Year – Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, and Ostara by Kyrja

In this charming book, Rupert the rabbit explores four celebrations from the Wheel of the Year: Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, and Ostara. Through seasonal stories, children are introduced to the symbols, customs, and meaning connected with each festival. The Samhain story gives young readers a broader sense of where the festival fits within the turning of the year, making this a nice choice for families who want to explore Samhain alongside other Pagan seasonal celebrations.

Buy Rupert’s Tales: The Wheel of the Year – Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, and Ostara on Amazon
Buy Rupert’s Tales: The Wheel of the Year – Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, and Ostara on Bookshop (supports independent bookstores)

Child of Faerie, Child of Earth
Written by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Jane Dyer

cover of Child of Faerie, Child of Earth for samhain picture books we love

On Hallows Eve, a human child and a faerie child meet and spend the night exploring one another’s worlds. Told in rhyme, the story draws on the idea of a night when the boundary between the human and faerie worlds grows thin allowing the two children to cross between them.

Jane Yolen’s lyrical text and Jane Dyer’s richly detailed illustrations give the book an atmospheric, folkloric feel filled with magic, mystery, and the shifting boundary between worlds.

Buy Child of Faerie, Child of Earth on Amazon

Samhain: A Story About Halloween 
Written and illustrated by Jacqueline Cooper

cover of Samhain: A story about Halloween by Jacqueline Cooper showing two children dressed in costumes carrying a carved glowing turnip and hobby horse


From bonfires and divination to guising, seasonal games, and food traditions, this book looks at the customs connected with Samhain and how they changed over time. Looking back through time, the book follows these traditions from Ireland through migration and into later celebrations, showing how old customs can travel, adapt, and continue in new forms.

Also available in French as Samhain : Une histoire sur l’Halloween.

Buy Samhain: A Story About Halloween on Amazon
Buy Samhain: A Story About Halloween on Bookshop (supports independent bookstores)

Whether you’re exploring Samhain for the first time or sharing familiar traditions with young readers, these books offer a wonderful way to celebrate the season together.


Location: Canada

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