You just spent twenty minutes reading your child the most adorable Halloween story. You did all the voices, made spooky sound effects, the whole nine yards. Your little one was totally into it—giggling at the funny parts, gasping at the scary bits.
Fast forward to the next morning. You ask, “Remember that cute story about the friendly ghost we read last night?”
Blank stare.
“The one where he helped the lost kitten find its way home?”
“Can I have cereal for breakfast?”
Ugh. It’s like the story went in one ear and out the other, right? And you’re left wondering if story time is just… I don’t know, background noise to them?
Here’s the thing though—kids DO love stories. They’re not just pretending to be interested. But there’s a big difference between enjoying a story in the moment and actually getting something out of it. That’s where I come in with something that’s been a total game-changer in our house: my Halloween story collection that comes with simple questions to ask after each story. Trust me, it’s not as complicated as it sounds, and the difference it makes is pretty amazing.
Why Should We Even Care If They “Get” the Story?
Look, I’m not trying to turn story time into school time. But here’s what I’ve learned: when kids really understand what they’re hearing (not just zone out while we read), some pretty cool stuff happens in their brains.
Think about it this way—when your kid asks “Why did the monster do that?” after a story, their little brain is working hard. They’re connecting dots, figuring out emotions, making sense of cause and effect. It’s like a workout for their thinking skills.
And the memory thing? When they actually process what happens in a story instead of just letting the words wash over them, they remember it better. They can tell grandma about it later. They might even bring up something from the story when they’re dealing with their own problems.
Even your three-year-old can do this stuff. I know they seem like tiny tornadoes who can barely sit still, but their brains are actually perfect for this kind of thinking. Every time they ask “why” (and oh boy, do they ask why a lot), they’re showing you they’re ready to dig deeper into stories.
Okay, But Why Is Story Time So Hard Sometimes?
Can we just be real for a minute? Story time doesn’t always go like those perfect Instagram posts suggest.
There’s my friend Sarah’s daughter who flips through books like she’s trying to set a speed record. “Next page! Next page!” before Sarah can even finish reading the first sentence.
Or my neighbor’s son who starts out snuggled up nicely but somehow ends up hanging upside down off the couch by the time you get to page three, asking if he can have a snack.
And then there’s the worst part—when you finish reading and ask “What did you think?” and get absolutely nothing. Or worse, they launch into a completely random story about their friend at daycare or that weird thing they saw on TV yesterday.
I used to feel so lost after reading stories to my kids. Like, I knew I should be asking questions or something, but “Did you like it?” felt pretty lame. And honestly? I had no idea what else to ask. I didn’t want to kill the fun mood by turning into a teacher, but I also felt like we were missing out on something.
How My Halloween Stories Actually Fix This Mess
So here’s what I did. I got tired of winging it and created a set of Halloween stories that come with the questions already figured out for me. And let me tell you—it’s been a lifesaver.
Each story is written specifically for kids aged 3 to 8. They’re fun and just the right amount of spooky (think friendly ghosts and silly witches, not nightmare fuel). But here’s the best part: every single story comes with a sheet of questions I can print out and keep right next to me while we read.
No more scrambling to think of something smart to ask. No more awkward silence after I close the book. I just grab the question sheet and boom—I’ve got five really good questions that actually help my kids think about what we just read.
And I’m not talking about boring school-style questions here. These are fun conversation starters that get kids talking about why characters made certain choices, how they think someone felt, or what they would do in the same situation.
The whole thing takes maybe an extra five minutes after reading, but the difference is huge. My kids actually remember these stories. They bring them up days later. They connect what happened in the stories to real stuff in their lives.
Plus, the stories have great messages about being kind, brave, and a good friend—but wrapped up in Halloween fun so kids don’t feel like they’re getting a lecture.
What Kind of Questions Are We Talking About Here?
Let me give you some real examples so you know what I mean.
For the younger kids, there are simple questions like “What did the little witch lose in the forest?” or “Who helped the pumpkin find his smile?” These are easy wins that help kids feel confident about remembering details.
But then there are the deeper ones that really get them thinking: “Why do you think the black cat was afraid of the ghost at first?” or “How do you think the monster felt when no one wanted to be his friend?”
My favorite questions are the ones that connect to their own lives: “Have you ever felt scared like the little vampire did?” or “What would you do if you found a magic wand?”
The cool thing is that each set of questions has some easy ones and some harder ones, so whether I’m reading to my 4-year-old or my 7-year-old (or both at the same time, which happens a lot), everyone can jump in and share their thoughts.
How to Actually Use These Questions Without Ruining the Fun
Here’s what I’ve learned about making this work: don’t overthink it.
First, slow down when you’re reading. Pause at the end of pages, especially if something important just happened. Give your kid a second to think about what they just heard before you rush to the next part.
When you ask the questions, remember there are no wrong answers. If your kid gives you a totally weird response, just go with it. Ask them to tell you more about their thinking. Some of the best conversations I’ve had with my kids started with answers that made no sense to me at first.
If your little one struggles to put their thoughts into words (hello, three-year-olds), let them draw you a picture or act out their favorite part. My youngest once “showed” me how brave the little ghost was by marching around the living room with a superhero cape. It was perfect.
And please, keep it light. This isn’t a test. Think of it like you’re just chatting about a movie you watched together. The goal is to have fun and maybe learn something along the way, not to make sure they “pass” some imaginary comprehension exam.
Ready to make storytime smarter this Halloween? Click below to get your copy of 15 Halloween Stories — with 5 comprehension questions for each tale. Your kids will laugh, learn, and actually remember what they read.
[Get Your Halloween Story Set Now]
No more wondering what to ask after story time. No more stories that disappear from their memory five minutes later. Just better conversations, better connections, and way less guessing on your part.
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