Are your kids Wild about Wednesday?

Tim Burton’s Addams Family spin-off series for Netflix Wednesday is #1 most-watched English-language series in Netflix history. It has been praised from high heaven to red-hot Hades for its glorious Gothicism, quirky comedy and deadpan delivery, with Wednesday Addams on the cusp of coming-of-age as a teenager. 

For fans of the series, and fans of Tim Burton’s unique aesthetic, we have curated a batch of brilliantly spooky books that’ll keep them reading well past the witching hour.

Written and illustrated by Tim Burton himself, the youngest fans of spooky, kooky comedy will adore The Nightmare Before Christmas picture book. Jack Skellington’s journey from scaremonger to sharer of Christmas cheer is an utter joy — bringing Christmas to Halloween is, quite frankly, an ingenious idea — and Burton’s illustrations are to die for.

For 7+ year-olds, we’re huge fans of Angie Sage’s Araminta Spook series . Araminta’s adventures while living in a haunted house with her Uncle Drac and Aunt Tabitha are packed with invention, curious creatures, and much mystery. What’s more, the characterful illustrations and short chapters make it ideal for newly-independent readers.

For quirky creepiness with added friendship, it doesn’t get better than Marcus Sedgwick’s Elf Girl and Raven Boy books, and his Raven Mysteries series. Also illustrated and aimed at 7+ year-olds, these are funny, thrilling and beautifully written to boot.

Mention must also be made of Lemony Snicket (whose wry, dry, deliciously dark Series of Unfortunate Events is an addictive delight), and Neil Gaiman’s Coraline and The Graveyard Book.

Both multi-award-winning, modern classics, there’s no disputing Gaiman’s storytelling majesty and flair for surreally gothic invention.

Caleb Crisps’s Ivy Pocket series is superb for readers who relish adventure and peril with period atmosphere and gadgets. And, if you know a 10+ year-old who loves school settings, show them The School for Good and Evil, and How to Be Brave.

In between her own sleuthing, Wednesday Addams is also a keen writer penning macabre gothic mystery novels on her ancient typewriter. We've picked out our favourite five literary themed quotes from Wednesday...

 “I know I’m stubborn, single-minded, and obsessive. But those are all traits of great writers. Yes, and serial killers — what’s your point?”

“This story is about to take a dark turn. Usually I love dark turns, like when the carousel brakes mysteriously failed at my eighth birthday party.”

“Sartre said, ‘Hell is other people.’ He was my first crush.”

“I’ve read serial killer diaries with better punctuation.”

“I know. She’s both my literary hero and nemesis. And I have two years and 364 days to beat her.” (on Mary Shelley)

So why not bury yourself in one of these delicously supernatural stories....

Fans of all things eerie might also be mysteriously drawn to our collection of books for Kids Who Love Stranger Things.

And older, teen readers should head over to our sister site LoveReading for a darkly intriguing collection of 60+ Novels With A Gothic Influence