Sometimes the scariest places spark the brightest courage.

👻 Safely Facing Fears

Ages 5-8

What’s spooky during the day… and even spookier at night? Take a tour through the same haunted house twice, once in daylight and once after sunset, to discover how shadows shift, details emerge, and imaginations run wild.

Haunted House Day & Night invites readers to explore visual storytelling in a playful, suspenseful way. With rhyming text and richly layered illustrations, this rhyming picture book heightens awareness of sensory details while encouraging children to think critically about what they see.

As readers move through the story, they begin to uncover multiple themes woven throughout, including bravery, curiosity, empathy, and perspective. By comparing what feels frightening with what is actually there, children build confidence, strengthen observation skills, and learn that courage often begins with understanding.


👉 8-Time Award-Winning Picture Book

✨ Buy on Amazon

  • Who Is This For

    • Children ages 5–8
    • Kids who enjoy spooky themes in a fun and safe way
    • Curious readers who like to explore details and ask questions
    • Families and classrooms looking to build confidence and critical thinking

  • What This Story Helps With

    • Building bravery by understanding what feels scary
    • Encouraging curiosity and exploration through observation
    • Strengthening critical thinking and attention to detail
    • Developing empathy by seeing situations from different perspectives
Blog Post

  • Digital Flip Book

    Enjoy the story in a whole new way with this free flip book, perfect for
    independent reading time or cozy story moments together.

    😊 Read Now for FREE! 

👻 Bravery Begins with Understanding

Free Resources to Extend the Story

  • Lesson plan for children's picture book 'Haunted House Day & Night' by Jaybie D.

  • Lesson Plan

    Download this free lesson plan to spark discussion, build comprehension skills, and help young readers make meaningful connections as they explore the story.

    😊 Free Download 

  • Coloring Page

    Bring the haunted house to life with this free downloadable coloring page. Kids can explore the silly, spooky details in their own favorite colors.

    😊 Free Download 
✨ Download Press Release

Author’s Quote

"It's easier to explore what feels scary when someone you trust is right there beside you."

- Jaybie D.

Example Reviews

  • Haunted House: Day & Night was a visual masterpiece! Jaybie D.'s graphic design skills knocked my socks off. Each illuminated object captured my attention, and it will capture your child’s too. Oh, they should read the story!

    - Kameron Brook, Reedsy

  • Colorful picture book you won't want to put down. Haunted House is a treat for kids who love all things spooky. I absolutely loved the illustrations.

    - Pikasho Deka, Readers Favorite

  • Intended to demystify the scary part of the experience and show that most scary things are not real. Jaybie D. did not disappoint with the vivid images.

    - Ann Linus, Readers Favorite

  • As someone who works in early childhood education, I was impressed by how this story layers multiple themes: bravery, curiosity, critical thinking, and even empathy. It invites children to think about how and why things work, the foundation of scientific thinking. The writing is minimal but meaningful, and the illustrations carry so much emotion and detail that even young children can "read" the story through pictures. This is storytelling at its finest. I've recommended it to every parent i know who has a child nervious about Halloween or bedtime fears.

    - John Butler

  • As a parent of a child with mild sensory processing challenges, I deeply appreciate how this book handles sensory details. The noises, lights, and smells of a haunted house can be overwhelming, but the author explains them in a way that helps kids understand and process those sensations safely. The emphasis on empathy and awareness is subtle but powerful. It validates kids' feelings without downplaying them. I wish more picture books were this thoughtful. It's fun, inclusive, and calming all at once.

    - Priscilla Williams

  • This book is cinematic. The use of light, shadow, and texture in the illustrations is breathtaking. You can tell it's designed with both children's imagination and sensory awareness in mind. Beyond that, the emotional arc from fear to curiosity to empowerment is genuinely moving. Mandy's growth is subtle but powerful. You can feel her courage grow as the pages turn. As a children's librarian, I'm always impressed when a picture book delivers both artistry and substance. Haunted House Day & Night does exactly that. It's the kind of book that sparks conversation long after the story time ends.

    - T. Favour

  • We read this as a family the night before visiting a local haunted attraction, and my son said afterward, "That book made me brave." Honestly, I couldn't ask for more. The author captures the playful side of fear, that giggly, tingly energy kids feel when they're excited and scared at the same time. Seeing Mandy go through that helped my kids see fear as something you can explore safely. It also gave us a way to talk about what's real and what's pretend, and that lesson carried over into real life. The ending, with the double mask reveal, was such a fun twist! Highly recommend for family reading nights.

    - F. Mark

  • My 6 year-old daughter loves Halloween, but she's also the kind of kid who hides under the blanket after a spooky cartoon. Haunted House Day & Night gave her a way to experience the thrill without the tears. The moment that sealed it for me was when Mandy realized that the scariest things are often just make-believe. That little momen of recognition mirrorred my daughter's face as she said, "Oh, it's all pretend!" The story guides kids toward that understanding wihtout ever feeling preachy. It's not easy to wite a children's book that's fun for kids and meaningful for parents, but this one does both effortlessly.

    - Alex

  • As a first-grade teacher, I'm always looking for books that combine fun with meaningful learning opportunities, and Haunted House Day & Night hits that sweet spot. It works beautifully for a compare/contrast lesson, daytime vs nighttime, real vs pretend, fear vs understanding. My students were totally engaged from page one, whispering "ooooh" and "wow" at the illustrations. After we finished, we talked about how things can look scarier in the dark but feel safe when we understand them. That turned into a discussion about bravery and even empathy! The education resources on Jaybie D's website were the cherry on top.

    - Dawn Arnold

  • It can help the children to overcome their fears by letting them know that certain things cease to be scary if they explore it with people they trust. In addition, the way Mandy's attitude toward the trip changes over time can encourage children to challenge their comfort zones and try out new things. The vibrance is certainly capable of keeping young eyes glued to the book.

    - a_s_raisa71, LitPick

  • A terrific concept, a useful tool for parents, and just plain fun to read. The imaginative illustrations make this book come to life. "Haunted House: Day & Night" is simply visually stunning. What a great way to open up a conversation with your children about things they may be afraid of. This concept can apply to many of the fears young children have. So don't save this treat for Halloween! Enjoy it all year long.

    - Terri Stepek, Reader Views

  • Jaybie D. approaches the fear of haunted houses from a new and engaging angle. For children who are concerned about their reactions to the frightening sights, the book will give them a way to manage their fears. When the book is read aloud, Jaybie D.'s storytelling skills shine, and her lyrical work will draw the listeners in. My young children hung on to every word as the monsters became less scary and more entertaining.

    - Courtnee Turner Hoyle, Readers' Favorite

  • Perfect for challenging young readers to overcome their fears. The setting in a haunted house is perfect for this purpose, and the images represent this place so well that I consider them as significant as the words to express the concepts. I recommend this book to all young readers who still have some fears to overcome.

    - Astrid Iustulin, Readers' Favorite

  • Such a great book for young readers who are just starting to enjoy spooky stories. The author's talent as a poet really shines through, and they have created a mysterious tale that is just indulgent enough to excite and delight young readers, but not so scary that it's too much for them to handle. The author's writing style is engaging and easy to follow, making this an overall outstanding read!

    - Louise Jane, CEO The Golden Wizard Book Prize

  • Jaybie. D has done a great job of showing how a child's imagination can run wild and cause so many fears that can become bigger problems as they grow older. The story is written in rhyme and I feel this was an excellent choice as it keeps the writing simple and easy to follow, not to mention adding even more thrills to the story. I guarantee children with or without these types of fears will enjoy reading this book and will want to read more.

    - Amy Louise Hill, Readers' Favorite

  • This is a fun book about a haunted house. The illustrations are a bit all over the place, but the rhyme is good and my kids very much enjoyed – especially all the spooky pictures!

    - Kaz 84

  • My 6 year old granddaughter loved to read this with me, only getting help with new words to her. Will read together again.

    - Amary Chapman

  • My haunted-house-loving niece gobbled this book up with lots of oohs and aahs. She had a blast learning about what goes on behind the scenes. Fun and colorful illustrations!

    - Amary Chapman

  • I adore that this book gives a behind the scenes look at how scary sights, scenes, smells, and costumes are created. It gives the reader an inside look at a haunted house which is absolutely fascinating. During the day the mechanics of how things work are showcased and at night there are a ton of spooks! This is my type of Halloween read! Plus giving children a behind the scenes look is a wonderful way to help them process and overcome feelings of fear!

    - Young Family

  • I really enjoyed the way the story was told, especially with the rhymes. The illustrations were cool and unlike any I've seen before.

    - Stephanie R.

  • What really stood out to me is how the book shows "how the magic happens" it's not just about ghosts and monsters, but about the behind-the-scenes effort that creates them. My kids were fascinated by the fog machines, the special smells, and the props. We ended up talking for half an hour afterward about sound effects and lighting! The illustrations are absolutely stunning, moody without being too dark, detailed without being overwhelming. You can practically feel the textures.

    - Juliet Smith

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