Books for Treats: A Sweeter Kind of Halloween

When I was little, Halloween wasn’t my favorite holiday. In fact, my only trick-or-treating adventure ended in tears — and a lifelong avoidance of jump scares.

But over the years, I’ve learned that there’s more to Halloween than ghosts, goblins, and ghouls. It can be a celebration of generosity, imagination, and creativity.

And now, thanks to Books for Treats Day, I think I’ve finally found my kind of Halloween.

My one and only childhood Halloween began with high hopes and ended with me — a pint-sized clown — bawling on a stranger’s porch.

My cousin and I had gone trick-or-treating together, and when the man behind the door decided to shout “boo!” to spook the older kids, he got more than he bargained for.

He scared the little one half to death. (Hey! No laughing. I was only two!)

My mother says he was terribly apologetic, but that didn’t matter. I was done with Halloween right then and there. The candy couldn’t make up for the fright.

As a teenager, I discovered that Halloween was much more fun from the other side of the door.

I loved handing out candy — but not just any candy. I’d buy a mix of sweets (chocolate bars, hard candy, suckers…), then fill Halloween-themed bags with one of each to create a grab-bag assortment of treats.

Kids adored it. They’d grin ear to ear when they realized they were getting a bagful of goodies instead of one lonely piece.

Those little bags were my way of bringing joy — a far cry from that first night of fright.

Today, though, Halloween feels different. Less fun. More frightful. Somewhere along the way, it became darker, scarier, and less about laughter and community.

That’s why I love what Books for Treats Day represents: the chance to bring the magic — not the macabre — back to Halloween.

Let’s delve into the observance that swaps sugar rushes for story magic — giving books that feed imagination instead of candy that feeds cavities.

In 1995, California resident Rebecca Morgan started giving out books instead of candy to neighborhood trick-or-treaters.

Her idea was simple but inspired: feed children’s minds, not their cavities. The idea spread quickly through her community, and by 2001, she’d turned Books for Treats into a non-profit organization.

Today, the movement reaches communities across the U.S. and Canada, with volunteers, librarians, and parents all embracing this “sweet” new spin on an old tradition.

The goal? To encourage reading, spark imagination, and remind families that the best stories can last far longer than a chocolate bar.

Here are a few simple, creative ways to launch your own Books-for-Treats tradition — and make it a hit from year one.

Remember, not all kids will understand this new tradition right away. Including candy helps prevent confusion (and possible “tricks”!).

You’re not replacing the fun — you’re expanding it. With one hand, you’re giving sweetness; with the other, you’re offering imagination.

When you think about it, stories have always been at the heart of Halloween — from legends of witches and werewolves to ghost tales told by candlelight.

Books let us explore that world of mystery and magic safely, without fear.

That’s what Books for Treats celebrates — turning Halloween from horror into wonder, from fright into delight.

So this year, maybe let a story sneak into your treat bowl. Because books, just like candy, are meant to be shared.