May is Zombie Awareness Month, so deemed by the Zombie Research Society, whose aim is to bring awareness and education in case of a zombie apocalypse. The CDC joined in, creating a fictional comic on the topic that shares useful information about how to prepare for any emergency. 

Don't want your patrons and students to have their brains eaten by the undead? Sharing this list of picture books, early readers, MG, and YA titles just might save their lives.

Picture Books & Early Readers

There Was a Young Zombie Who Swallowed a Worm by Kaye Baillie. illus. by Diane Ewen. Kane Miller. ISBN 9781684645787. 
PreS-Gr 2–Using the template of the classic song “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly,” this tale chronicles an adorable young zombie as he tries to solve the problem of a worm he ate that is making him squirm. VERDICT This lighthearted read-aloud is a good choice for parents and librarians seeking a Halloween story that will leave youngsters giggling and eager for tales more silly than spooky.

The Great Zombie Pumpkin Parade! by Robert Burleigh. illus. by Wendell Minor. Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano. ISBN 9780316331975. 
K-Gr 4–Just scary enough to please those looking for a mild fright, this story leads young readers on an annual Halloween romp of pumpkin-headed zombies. “Welcome to the Great Zombie Pumpkin Parade!” Burleigh brings out the silly side of the undead with rhymes. VERDICT A natural fit for Halloween-themed read-alouds and activities.

Brains!: Not Just a Zombie Snack by Stacy McAnulty. illus. by Matthew Rivera. Holt. ISBN 9781250304049.
K-Gr 2–A zombie chef decides to give up her favorite food: brains. Since she has decided not to eat human brains anymore, the chef tries to look for a substitute, but animal brains aren’t nearly as tasty. Brains are extraordinary, so if she can’t have them, she won’t have anything at all. This picture book takes a fascinating deep dive into everything about the brain. The book is informative and shares fun facts in an understandable way. VERDICT This exploration of brains and all they have to offer will be an informative and fun addition to library collections.

Once Upon a Zombie: Tales for Brave Readers by Deborah Underwood. illus. by Kaley McCabe. Random. ISBN 9780593571408.
Gr 1-3–This engaging early reader harkens back to old fables to entice young zombie fans. In “Little Red Zombie,” the wolf attempts to manipulate Red Zombie, but Red sets the big bad wolf up for a smart and terrifying surprise. In “Hansel and Gretel Zombie,” the witch flees when zombie Hansel and Gretel mess with her cauldron for the worst. In “3 Little Zombies,” the big bad wolf blows the houses down in a quest for the little pigs, but instead finds zombies! VERDICT A sure pick for good-humored zombie enthusiasts.

Middle Grade

Creepy Classroom by François Gravel. tr. from French by David Warriner. Orca. ISBN 9781459839809. 
Gr 4 Up–If there ever was a time for Matt not to fall asleep, it would be in French class. Poor Matt’s punishment is to help librarian Victor Leclerc in the basement library, a former dark and dingy chapel. It is only after he loses track of time browsing through the tomes that Matt discovers zombie students as prisoners of the librarian, and he’s next in line! VERDICT A gentle horror perfect for reading aloud, and for fans of Charles Gilman’s “Tales from Lovecraft Middle School” series.

Night of the Living Ted by Barry Hutchison. illus. by Lee Cosgrove. Delacorte. ISBN 9780593174289. 
Gr 3-7–On Halloween, stepsiblings Lisa-Marie and Vernon found a store that was giving away free teddy bears. Little did Lisa-Marie and Vernon know, there was an evil plot behind these bears. The main characters try to defeat the evil villains and save not only their neighborhood but the entire world. Who will win: the children or the zombie teddy bears? VERDICT Readers who are interested in funny and absurd action-packed stories will be entertained by this title. Fans of series such as “Goosebumps,” and “Last Kids on Earth,” will enjoy this story’s zaniness.

Zombie, Or Not to Be by Kyle Sullivan. illus. by Derek Sullivan. Hazy Dell. ISBN 9781948931137. 
Gr 3-7–Zombies run amok in Deadmark. Protagonist Edda is a scientist who flees to Ignorway in pursuit of the virus that triggered a zombie outbreak. The virus spreads rapidly, so zombies attack increasing numbers of humans to satisfy an insatiable appetite for brains. Edda and her two loyal friends tackle the virus and wipe out the zombies. VERDICT Highly recommended for a middle-grade collection that caters to fans of the paranormal genre. Middle graders hungry for the next zombie book will devour this one.

YA

Hearts Still Beating by Brooke Archer. Putnam. ISBN 9780593698327. 
Gr 7 Up–In this distinctive new take on the zombie apocalypse genre, best friends Mara and Aurora, who are in the middle of a budding romance, are separated when the Letalis Tichnosis virus ends the world as they know it. VERDICT A riveting, unique, and delightfully queer adventure. Recommended for all libraries.

Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly deVos. Razorbill. ISBN 9780593204825. 
Gr 8 Up–When six teens arrive at Camp Featherlite, touted as a fat camp where campers lose weight unusually quickly, in the middle of a fierce Arizona blizzard, they know right away that something isn’t right. The six teens soon find themselves in the midst of a zombie apocalypse and may be humanity’s only hope of exposing the camp’s secrets—if they can survive the thin zombies trying to eat them. VERDICT A perfect blend of government conspiracies, relatable characters who develop beyond their initial stereotypes, and zombie-kicking action, this is recommended for all YA collections.

Zombie Apocalypse Running Club by Carrie MacCrown. ISBN 9781524771041. 
Gr 9 Up–Twins Eira and Soren are planning to run from their survivalist, very conservative father, and the remoteness of the Washington State mountains when rumors of a new virus outbreak in Alaska begin. It quickly becomes apparent that the virus’s victims do not remain dead, but instead reanimate as very fast zombies. VERDICT Hand to fans of Jonathan Maberry’s “Broken Lands” series, Jeff Hart’s Eat, Brains, Love, and Ash Parsons’s Girls Save the World In This One.

[Read: Two New YA Books That Put a Unique Twist on Zombie Stories: Burn Down, Rise Up and The Undead Truth of Us]

Girls Save the World in This One by Ash Parsons. Philomel. ISBN 9780525515326. 
Gr 9 Up–June loves zombies, and her friends have bonded over their passion for the undead. To June’s surprise, Zombie Con is going to be held in her boring town. But things at Zombie Con are weird—there are real zombies there. Now June and her two best friends must take them on to save the town, and maybe even the entire world. VERDICT For those who love zombies and action-packed books, as well as reluctant readers.

Ever After by Olivia Vieweg. illus. by author. Lerner. ISBN 9781541583924. 
Gr 7 Up–Weimar, Germany, is protected from raging hordes of zombie by a barricade; those assigned to work shifts must keep the fence in working order. Teenage Vivi is assigned to Eva’s team. When the barricade is breached, Eva and Vivi try to make it to the allegedly safer town of Jena. First published in Germany, with a film adaptation, this is a unique addition to the zombie apocalypse genre. VERDICT Both thoughtful and terrifying, and an unexpected take on a familiar premise.

Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear by Robin Wasley. S. & S. ISBN 9781665914604. 
Gr 9 Up–Seventeen-year-old Sid Spencer is an awkward teen living in Wellsie who is trying to navigate high school, adoption, and romance. Wellsie is located on a fault line that has sealed away magic. But when the fault line is ruptured, it releases zombies, and her brother, Matty, goes missing. VERDICT Fans of zombie fiction and Buffy the Vampire Slayer will enjoy the gore and pacing of this novel. Recommended.