In our series celebrating the work of cartoonist Charles Addams, we remember his life and art on the 30th anniversary of his death on September 29.

A successful cartoonist for The New Yorker, Addams's collections have sold more than 460,000 copies. He's best known, however, for his cartoons of the creepy, kooky family that bears his name, from the page to your TV to the big screen.  

Both children and adults can enjoy the dark-yet-campy humor of the Addams Family cartoons and their various adaptations, and we've previously published blog posts on Addams-inspired books for kids, and similarly macabre works for teens and adults. Now we cater to the younger kids, with 13 picture books that embody Addams's quirky playfulness and gothic sentiments, guaranteed to get your little monster-in-training as well-rounded as possible.

As mentioned in previous posts, the Addams legacy is set to continue with a new animated film scheduled for release in October 2019. Until then, check out our series of Addams-esque recommendations for elementary and middle school kids, as well as YA and adults. (Descriptions adapted from publisher summaries.)

 

Mysterious and spooky picture books

Frankenstein: A Monstrous Parody by Rick Walton (a.k.a Ludworst Bemonster), illustrations by Nathan Hale
Frankenstein is the scariest of all the monsters in Miss Devel's castle. He can frighten anything—animals, parents, even rocks. Until one night, Miss Devel wakes up and runs downstairs to find that Frankenstein has lost his head!

Zombelina by Kristyn Crow, illustrations by Molly Idle
Zombelina loves to dance. She moonwalks with mummies and boogies with bats. She spins like a specter and glides like a ghost and loves to dance for her family the most. When Zombelina enrolls in a ballet class for real girls, her dancing gives everyone the chills!

But when her first recital brings on a case of stage fright, her zombie moans and ghoulish groans scare her audience away. Only her devoted family's cheers, in their special spooky way, help Zombelina dance the ballet debut of her dreams.
 

Goodnight Goon: A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex
It's bedtime in the cold gray tomb with a black lagoon, and two slimy claws, and a couple of jaws, and a skull and a shoe and a pot full of goo. But as a little werewolf settles down, in comes the Goon determined at all costs to run amok and not let any monster have his rest.

 

Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters by Jane Yolen, illustrations by Kelly Murphy
Creep, gurgle, crawl, tumble! Meet two young monsters who are far from scary—they’re too busy having fun. They go to school, play outside with their friends, and eat after-school snacks. But they also have a bedtime, whether or not they’re ready for it! 

Fright Club by Ethan Long
Each year, on Halloween eve, Fright Club meets to go over their plan: Operation Kiddie Scare. Only the scariest of monsters can join Fright Club. They've been practicing their ghoulish faces, their scary moves, and their chilling sounds. But when a band of cute little critters comes along asking to join in the fun, the members of Fright Club will find out who really is the scariest of all!
 

At the Old Haunted House by Helen Kettemen, illustrations by Nate Wragg
There are all kinds of creatures in the house: a big Ma monster and her wee monsters two, a scrawny black cat and her wee kittens three, a green Pa goblin and his wee goblins four, and more! Count along as the creatures prepare for the Halloween Fright.

There’s a Nightmare In My Closet by Mercer Mayer
A young boy decides to fight the monsters in his closet.

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrations by Alex Scheffler
The witch and her cat are happily flying through the sky on a broomstick when the wind picks up and blows away the witch's hat, then her bow, and then her wand! Luckily, three helpful animals find the missing items, and all they want in return is a ride on the broom. But is there room on the broom for so many friends? And when disaster strikes, will they be able to save the witch from a hungry dragon?
 

Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds, illustrations by Peter Brown
The carrots that grow in Crackenhopper Field are the fattest and crispiest around and Jasper Rabbit cannot resist pulling some to eat each time he passes by, until he begins hearing and seeing creepy carrots wherever he goes.

The Very Thirsty Vampire: A Parody by Michael Teitelbaum, illustrations by Jon Apple
As the vampire drinks his way through a variety of bartenders, baristas, wine stewards, soda jerks, and other vendors of fine beverages who try to quench his thirst, he pines for something of more substance, finally finding it in a blood bank, where an unsuspecting technician finds out she's just his type!
 

Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler, illustrations by S.D. Schindler
Ghost tries to help Skeleton get rid of the hiccups.

Leo: A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett, illustrations by Christian Robinson
Leo is a friendly house ghost—but when a family moves into his house, and tries to get rid of him, he leaves and roams the city looking for a friend.

Edgar and the Tattle-Tale Heart by Jennifer Adams, illustrations by Ron Stucki
What will Edgar do when he accidentally breaks a statue sitting on a dresser? Will his sister, Lenore, tattle on him? Will Edgar tell his mother the truth?

Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart, little lit lovers will delight in this new adventure with characters illustrated in a most “poe-etic” way.

For any titles unavailable through our catalog, check out Interlibrary Loan!

For recommendations of other gothic titles, check out our Goth Day blog post!