Ever since the first Goosebumps book was published July 1992 the books have been an iconic part of a ton of our childhoods. The title, logo and especially the artwork on each cover.
Those iconic covers were painted by artist Tim Jacobus, who went on to paint each of the 62 covers in the initial run (except Stay out of the Basement and Be Careful What You Wish For…‘s first printings–he later went on to paint the reprints in the 2000s). These covers are forever linked to our childhood and while all of them are fantastic, there are 10 that stand above the rest.
Learn more about these wonderful covers on Episode 204 of the Capes and Tights Podcast on January 1, 2025 with artist Tim Jacobus.
Here is the 10 best Goosebumps covers by Tim Jacobus.
10. Welcome to Dead House (July 1992)
The very first Goosebumps book published. The cover features an old, dark house at night, with the front door slightly ajar, and a strange figure illuminated in the window by an orange light.
READ OUR REVIEW of Welcome to Dead House
9. The Curse of Camp Cold Lake (June 1997)
The cover illustration shows a skull-like ghost emerging from Cold Lake. This is the last book in the original Goosebumps series to not feature a Parachute Press logo on the book cover.
8. Welcome to Camp Nightmare (July 1993)
Both the original and Classic Goosebumps cover illustrations depict a monster that might be Sabre looking through a tent near leafless trees.
7. Monster Blood (September 1992)
Another of Jacobus’ covers that features ordinary illustrations that give off ominous feels such as Welcome to Dead House.
READ OUR REVIEW of Monster Blood
6. Night of the Living Dummy (May 1993)
Both the original and the Classic Goosebumps cover illustrations depict Slappy the Dummy evilly staring at the reader, his mouth agape at a diagonal angle.
READ OUR REVIEW of Night of the Living Dummy
5. Ghost Beach (August 1994)
Both the original and the Classic Goosebumps cover illustrations feature a hooded ghost emerging from a tombstone in a graveyard near a beach.
4. It Came From Beneath the Sink! (April 1995)
The cover illustration shows the Grool looking out from underneath the kitchen sink.
3. One Day at HorrorLand (February 1994)
The cover illustration features a giant Horror that is attached to a billboard that reads: “WELCOME TO HORRORLAND – WHERE NIGHTMARES COME TO LIFE!” A dimly lit amusement park is visible in the background.
READ OUR REVIEW of One Day at Horrorland
2. The Haunted Mask (September 1993)
What might be the most iconic of all Goosebumps covers, The Haunted Mask has become a fan favorite over the years. Features the ghoulish green mask held up to a young girls face.
READ OUR REVIEW of The Haunted Mask
1. Say Cheese and Die! (November 1992)
The original 1992 cover illustration features a family of skeletons (presumably the Banks family) having a picnic. This cover just screams Goosebumps to us and has been one of our favorites for a very long time.
