Discover our Spooky Reads!

Do you like scary stories? We do! (Well, nothing TOO scary…)

This selection of some of our favourite spooky reads features witches and monsters, ghosts and ghouls, shapeshifters and more! 

Sneak Peek…

When Eilidh is evacuated to Orkney during World War II, she plunges into a ghostly world of family secrets, dark magic and a mysterious lighthouse. The Nightkeeper’s Apprentice is an enchanting, lyrical upper middle-grade debut novel from Kelpies Prize winner Jude Reid. Coming spring 2026 – read an extract now!

The perfect Halloween picture book

Legends, spells and Scottish creatures… will Janet be able to rescue Tam Linn from the evil Fairy Queen?Award-winning author Lari Don retells The Tale of Tam Linn, a traditional tale from the Scottish Borders set at Halloween. With stunning illustrations by Philip Longson.

Inspired by folklore

Shapeshifting selkies, cunning fairies, duelling dragons and bloodthirsty giants: discover stories of myth, magic and mischief retold for children by award-winning Scottish author Lari Don in this stunning illustrated collection. Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales features iconic creatures such as selkies, dragons, waterhorses, giants, fairies, changelings, imps and piskies, all beautifully illustrated by Elise Carmichael.

Check out this video of Lari telling the story of Kirree from the Isle of Man, and how she escaped from a waterhorse!

Forced to move to the remote island of Roscoe, Blair Zielinski is determined to get back to her old life. Then one of the island’s darkly magical fey folk offers her an irresistible deal. The Edge of the Silver Sea is a gripping fantasy adventure from Alex Mullarky, inspired by Celtic folklore and set on a remote Scottish island.

The Beginner’s Guide to Curses is the dramatic first instalment in a series brimming with brilliant magic, dark danger and extraordinary friendship from award-winning author Lari Don. Molly Drummond is cursed: whenever a dog barks, she turns into a hare – which can make life quite dangerous… So she does the sensible thing and attends a curse-lifting workshop, run by a local witch. Things only get more complicated from there…

Seriously spooky

You’ll need to be brave to get to the end of Shadowsmith, from Blue Peter Book Award winner Ross MacKenzie. Enter a magical and unexpected world, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing! From the author of The Nowhere Emporium.

Alex Nye’s debut novel Chill won a Scottish Children’s Book Award back in 2006 and we’re sure you won’t be able to put down this spine-tingling novel about the cursed Morton family! Trapped by snow and ice and faced by a ghostly presence, can Fiona and Samuel escape the chill or will the Morton children be doomed to repeat the past forever?

Not-so-scary options

Ruby McCracken’s life is OVER. Her parents have forced her to move to the Ordinary World and that means – new home, new school and worst of all, no magic! Seriously?! A witch without magic? That’s LITERALLY tragic. Packed with great humour, loveable characters and witty (witchy!) banter, Ruby McCracken: Tragic Without Magic is perfect for fans of Witchworld and The Worst Witch.

On a quest to uncover her forgotten past, Avery Buckle (part-girl, part-cat) and her shapeshifting best pal Low are plunged into a haphazard world of shadowy monsters, bewitched libraries and flying bicycles. The Spellbinding Secret of Avery Buckle is a warm and quirky whirlwind of an adventure, full of magical heart from Kelpies Prize-winner Hannah Foley. An unmissable read!