Spooky coloring books for adults

If your favorite part of October is a smiling ghost, not a scary one, this guide is for you. Saemi Oliveira drew three spooky coloring books for us: Spooky Halloween, Spooky Things and Spooky Christmas. They're cute first and creepy second, full of cozy little scenes with a twist.

All three are made for teens and adults, and they have a lot in common: 112 pages, a square 8.5-inch format, black and white pages waiting for your colors, and bold, easy lines for every skill level. What changes is the mood. Here's what's inside each book, who it suits, and how to pick yours.

Spooky Halloween: haunted houses and friends in costume

This is the classic Halloween night, made cozy. Mischievous ghosts, friendly black cats, grinning pumpkins and whimsical haunted houses fill the pages, with puppies in costume and trick-or-treaters at the gate. On the cover, two little witches fly on their broomsticks past a full moon.

What's inside: whole scenes with a little story in them. Three friends in costume stop in front of a haunted house. More friends gather by a "Keep out!" sign, with a cauldron and pumpkins. A bunny and a cat run through the graveyard under the moon.

Who it's for: anyone who loves the full Halloween picture: houses, graveyards, costumes and a big moon. The pages are printed on one side, with a blank back, so markers are welcome too.

Spooky Things: potions, tarot cards and cute ghosts

If you like the magical side of Halloween, start here. Spooky Things is full of cute ghosts, magical objects and creepy-sweet designs: spooky tea, potion bottles, pumpkins, friendly skeletons, bats and magical night skies. It's spooky-sweet, made to bring joy, not fright.

What's inside: a kitten in a witch hat peeking out of a pumpkin, "The Moon" tarot card, a table of pumpkins and potions, and a ghost reading a book of spells with a cat on its back.

Who it's for: fans of witchy, cozy things, from potions to tarot cards to ghosts in jars. Like Spooky Halloween, it's printed on one side, with a blank back.

Spooky Christmas: when Halloween meets the holidays

Who says spooky season ends on October 31? Spooky Christmas carries the same spirit into the holidays, with 50 creepy-cute scenes: skeletons in Santa hats, haunted gingerbread houses and ghosts wrapping presents. A pumpkin-headed Santa checks his gift list, a reindeer knits by the fire, and a ghost reads by the Christmas tree.

Who it's for: anyone who keeps a little Halloween in their heart all winter, and anyone looking for a quirky Christmas gift for a teen or an adult. It's a square 8.5-inch book, easy to carry and lovely to give.

Good to know: unlike the other two, Spooky Christmas isn't printed on one side, so colored pencils are the best match for it.

Which one to pick

• Love haunted houses, costumes and full scenes? Pick Spooky Halloween.
• Into potions, tarot cards and cute ghosts? Pick Spooky Things.
• Want spooky season to last until December, or need a quirky Christmas gift? Pick Spooky Christmas.
• Coloring with markers? Go for Spooky Halloween or Spooky Things: both are printed on one side.
• Can't choose? All three belong to our Spooky & Playful series, drawn by the same hand, so they make a matching set.

Looking for more? See all our Halloween books.

Tips for coloring spooky pages

Pencils or markers. Colored pencils work on every page and are the easiest start. For markers, pick Spooky Halloween or Spooky Things, where each design has a blank back, and slip a thick sheet underneath to prevent bleed-through.

Pick a spooky palette. Orange and purple are the classic Halloween pair: a warm color next to a cool one, so each makes the other stand out. Add green for the grass and a bright yellow for the moon and the lit windows. For Spooky Christmas, start with red and green, then add one spooky color, like purple or pumpkin orange.

Start big, finish small. Color the biggest shape first, like the moon or a pumpkin, then move on to the small details.

Make it glow. Leave a few small spots white on the moon, the stars or a candle flame, or add white gel pen dots at the end. More ideas in Color theory: how to make colors pop and 5 tips for smooth color with markers and gel pens.

Color a page and join our contest

Our Halloween coloring contest is open until October 31, 11:59 p.m. ET, and a page from any of these three books can be your entry. Color it your way, then share it with #SpecialArtHalloween and our tag, @specialart_coloring on Instagram or @specialartbooks on TikTok, or add it to the pinned contest post in our Facebook group, Special Art - Artwork. The contest is for grown-ups, 18 and older, and you don't need to buy anything. All the steps and the rules are on the contest page.

Don't have a book yet? Start with our Halloween coloring pages for grown-ups: six pages from Saemi's three spooky books, on us, ready to print at home. They count for the contest too.

New to coloring as a grown-up? Read Coloring for grown-ups: how to start, and how to keep going.

Questions about the spooky books

Are these coloring books for adults or for kids?

They're made for teens and adults, 13 and up. The style is cute rather than scary, with bold, easy lines for every skill level, so you don't need any experience to start.

Can I use markers?

Yes, in Spooky Halloween and Spooky Things: each design is printed on one side, with a blank back. Slip a thick sheet underneath to prevent bleed-through. Spooky Christmas isn't printed on one side, so colored pencils are the better choice there.

How big are the books?

All three are square paperbacks, 8.5 by 8.5 inches, with 112 pages each.

Where can I get them?

Each book has its own page on our site, with a button that takes you to Amazon.

Can I enter the contest with a page from these books?

Yes. Any page from Spooky Halloween, Spooky Things or Spooky Christmas counts. Post it by October 31, 11:59 p.m. ET, as the contest page explains. The contest is for grown-ups, 18 and older.