From ferociously friendly to ghoulish, books at a variety of age levels give young readers the chance to experience the spirit of Halloween.

Even toddlers can participate in the season through the board book “Sheep Trick or Treat” (Houghton Mifflin Co., $5.95), which is more funny than frightful. Written by Nancy Shaw with illustrations by Margot Apple, the durable volume can be re-examined many times for all the festive details. Sheep dress up, donning mummy, dinosaur and monster suits, looking thoroughly ludicrous in the process.

But all’s well that ends well. They get treats in the barnyard, manage to scare wolves with their get-ups, and ultimately sit down with their goodies, just as human trick-or-treaters do.

There are enough thrills to excite 3-year-olds, but plenty of reassuring moments so no one gets nightmares. The rhyme scheme is bouncy and inventive, the pictures alternately zany and cozy.

“Trick or Treat?” (Aladdin Paperbacks, $6.99) will give early graders the chance to play with the sounds of words as they go out with a boy dressed as Dracula for his night on the town. As he receives treats from costumed neighbors, he carefully relates their tongue-twisting names: Teeter Totter, Pumper Pickle, Thimble Thamble, and other assorted characters.

Written by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson, and illustrated by Paul Meisel, the book revels in tricks, too. Midway through, a wizard casts a spell that transforms treats in novel ways. There are Belly Jeans and Drangerine Tops, among other things, and the resulting items are startling, to say the least.

Impressively, the tricks/treats all make sense, whether in proper form or in reverse. And there’s as much enjoyment to be gotten from the tricks as from the treats – a sure sign the story is a success. Reading it aloud will make Halloween a hoot.

For teenagers, “Vampire Kisses 2: Kissing Coffins” (Katherine Tegen Books, $15.99) is just bizarre enough to be beckoning. Ellen Schreiber’s novel is about a Goth-girl who falls for a handsome young vampire. There’s nothing realistic about heroine Raven’s life, but that’s exactly what makes it a delectable read.

Even teens who wouldn’t ordinarily pick up a book will bite into this. Its breezy, hip style makes it so easy to devour that once they start, they won’t want to stop.

The tongue-in-cheek narrative is catchy. For example, Raven writes a list that shows she’s not always serious about the situation. “Positives of Dating a Vampire: 1. He’ll be around for eternity. 2. He can always fly for free …”

Visiting a Goth club, she provides plenty of juicy details, like pale mannequins with huge bat wings hanging from the ceiling.

It’s off-the-wall but entertaining. And while the romance is serious enough to be engrossing, it’s so fantastic that no reader will be seduced by it.

Spooks and things that go bump in the night always have intrigued kids, and these books are a good chance to celebrate in ways that go beyond a brief candy splurge.