27 Not-So Scary Ghost Stories for Kids

Sneakers — Ready for a scary story about a pair of stinky shoes? This not-so-scary story is a great one to tell around the campfire.

The Ball Pit — While those pits full of plastic balls are some parents' worst enemy, this story isn't quite scary, but it has a spooky twist for kids to enjoy.

The Ghost of the Bloody Finger — With blood, fingers and ghosts, you'd think this story is too much for the young camper. But rest assured, it's a great way to introduce scary stories to kiddos.

The Thirteenth Floor — This one is a little bit scarier than others on the list! Find out why most buildings don't have a 13th floor according to this tale of a Halloween party gone wrong. 

The Hairy Toe — What happens when an old woman finds a hairy toe in the woods and then decides to eat it? You'll be surprised and have a laugh too.

The Knife in the Grave — When two friends decide to make a bet about who is most scared, they learn a lesson about how fear is often just in your head.

The Lady with the Emerald Ring — This scary story has a happy ending when a woman returns from the dead because her husband has summoned her back.

The Open Window — A little girl tells a neighbor a spooky story, but the prank is on her.

The Pink Jellybean — How is a story about a pink candy haunted? You'd be surprised to find out about the spooky aspects of where this jelly bean lives.

Cow's Head — This ghost story is a twist on the classic "Cinderella." Young Oksana is tasked by her evil stepmother to go into the woods and find food. She encounters a spirit in a cow's head, and the rest is up to you to read.

The Coffin — This tale is about a haunted coffin that chases a camper. But rest assured, it's defeated in the funniest of ways.

Magic Castle — A very curious woman decides to check out a magic castle at midnight, despite being warned to stay away. Yet she keeps going farther and what she finds is a big surprise.

Fifty-Cent Piece — A couple is traveling home in a carriage when they have to stop at a house for the night. Before leaving the next day, they're given a fifty-cent piece, and what happens afterward is a spooky tale that won't leave kids scared.

Ghost Ship of Captain Sandovate — A group of pirates learn a valuable lesson after they dehydrate their captain to death. After their ship sinks, it becomes haunted and the sailors end up needing water.

Golden Hand — When a man tries to marry a woman with a golden hand, he then decides to poison her to get the gold for himself. It works, but he learns a valuable lesson and pays a price in the process.

The Flying Dutchman — You might recognize the name from "The Pirates of the Caribbean," but there's a real story to be told. Word has it that this ghost ship has b been unable to make port, doomed to sail the seas for eternity. 

The Purple Gorilla — Nothing sounds scarier than a huge purple gorilla that's hunting people. But in reality, this beast isn't that scary after all.

Thing at the End of the Bed — One day, an old man sees something spooky at the end of his bed. But he's surprised to discover what lies at his feet.

Tommy Knockers — The ghosts of California miners are featured in this story that has a twisted and silly ending.

Underpants — This ghost keeps haunting his former wife because he has a very important message for her. But what happens when she's too afraid to talk with him?

Yellow Ribbon — Jane and Johnny fall in love, but Jane can't forget the feeling of a yellow ribbon around her neck. One day, she tells Johnny to untie the ribbon and you won't believe what happens next.

Not-so-Scary Books to Read Together

Leo: A Ghost Story — Leo is a ghost who decides his time has come to leave his home and explore the world. Who will he meet and what adventures will he have?

A Curious Tale of the In-Between — Pram Bellamy is not an ordinary girl. She talks to ghosts and her best friend is a ghost named Felix. Then one day she meets Clarence, and together they go look for spirits and supernatural answers to life's questions.

Babar and the Ghost — Find out what happens when a friendly but mischievous ghost finds Babar and his friends after a visit to a haunted castle.

Dem Bones — A colorful skeleton band and the illustrated book teaches kids about anatomy, rhyme and language through this traditional African-American spiritual song.

Goldfish Ghost — One day, Goldfish Ghost set out to find a friend. He floats through a neighborhood and soon discovers it's full of ghosts.