Every time I read a mystery with my kids, I’m surprised at how much they pick up. Often, my kids will stop me halfway through a book to tell me their hypothesis (yes, they use that word) and make predictions about the rest of the story. Mysteries get kids to think differently and pay attention to details they might not otherwise notice.<\/p>\n
You can help your little detectives hone their sleuthing skills with these mysterious reads.<\/p>\n
no no 9781664340268 The Sleepover Mystery<\/i> by Holly Webb, illustrated by Sarah Lodge <\/p>\n
Send your young reader to the museum for a sleepover with an adorable group of kittens. One kitten gets into an argument with her friends and then disappears, leaving the rest of the furballs to wonder what happened. Follow the clues and find out where this little feline is hiding!<\/p>\n
9780593526965 The Underdogs Catch a Cat Burglar<\/i> by Kate Temple and Jol Temple, illustrated by Shiloh Gordon <\/p>\n
Kids who enjoy their mysteries with a hefty helping of humor will go wild for The Underdogs series<\/a>. With crime rates skyrocketing, and a notorious feline bandit on the loose, the floundering Underdog Detective Agency has its paws full. Readers will be in stitches over the misadventures of these animal sleuths.<\/p>\n 9780385730174 Nate the Great<\/i> Series by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, illustrated by Marc Simont <\/p>\n Nate the Great, the protagonist of this highly entertaining series<\/a>, takes solving mysteries very seriously. Growing readers will love following along as the boy detective \u2014 accompanied by his trusty dog, Sludge \u2014 collects clues and applies his problem-solving skills to solve cases of disappearing books, pets, notes, and more.<\/p>\n 9780593204351 The Case of the Missing Cheetah<\/i> by Veronica Mang <\/p>\n A secret spy society, a missing pet cheetah, and three best friends come together in this highly illustrated chapter book series<\/a> for young readers. With codes to break and clues to follow, the friends have their work cut out for them. Kids will love this adventurous mystery series!<\/p>\n 9781682632154 King & Kayla and the Case of the Lost Library Book<\/i> by Dori Hillestad Butler, illustrated by Nancy Meyers <\/p>\n If your kid loves mystery stories with animal sidekicks, they\u2019ll love this series about a young girl and her dog solving mysteries in her neighborhood. In this book, Kayla can\u2019t find one of her library books. She retraces her steps and pieces together the clues to find the missing book. With eight titles in the series<\/a>, kids will have plenty of reading material to work through.<\/p>\n 9780448462424 The Haunted Library<\/i> Series by Dori Hillestad Butler, illustrated by Aurore Damant <\/p>\n When a gust of wind separates a ghost boy named Kaz from his family, he takes up residence in a library and meets Claire, a girl who can see him (and other ghosts too). Despite their differences, they become friends and join forces to find Kaz\u2019s family in this not-too-scary series.<\/p>\n 9781575658667 A Fishy Mystery<\/i> by Lisa Harkrader, illustrated by Cary Pillo <\/p>\n Math and mystery combine into an educational and entertaining story for kids. When a fishbowl disappears from her classroom, amateur detective Thea wants to crack the case. Using her math and sleuthing skills, she follows the clues to reveal what happened. Back matter includes math vocabulary, activities, and comprehension questions.<\/p>\n 9780593093498 The Case of the Nibbled Pizza #1<\/i> by Tadgh Bentley <\/p>\n Growing readers will love this humorous story about aspiring sibling detectives tracking down a mysterious pizza-chomping culprit. Full-color illustrations, simple text, and short chapters make it an excellent choice for newly independent readers. The sleuthing fun continues in the second book, The Case of the Missing Socks<\/i><\/a>.<\/p>\n 9780141311067 Young Cam Jansen and the Baseball Mystery<\/i> by David A. Adler, illustrated by Susanna Natti <\/p>\n For kids who are moving up in their reading, this level three reader has full color artwork and easy to understand sentences. It shows kids that the key to solving a mystery often lies in seemingly unrelated details.<\/p>\n 9781603094764 Johnny Boo Finds a Clue (Johnny Boo Book 11)<\/i> by James Kochalka <\/p>\n Readers who can\u2019t get enough of Johnny Boo will obsess over this hilarious mystery adventure starring the goofy ghost and his friends. When his ice cream vanishes without a trace, Johnny knows who took it \u2014 the mountain! He enlists his friends\u2019 help to tackle the mountain and get his ice cream back. Series fans and new readers alike will love this rib-tickling story.<\/p>\n 9780593351444 Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective<\/i> by Elizabeth Olsen and Robbie Arnett, illustrated by Marissa Valdez <\/p>\n This sweet picture book is about anxiety, first-day jitters, and friendship. On the first day of school, Hattie Harmony uses her detective tool belt and social-emotional smarts to get to the bottom of what\u2019s worrying her best friend, Pearl. Likewise, when Hattie\u2019s anxiety acts up, she relies on Pearl\u2019s advice to conquer her fears. <\/p>\n 9781524767518 Ballpark Mysteries<\/i> Series by David A. Kelly, illustrated by Mark Meyers <\/p>\n Cousins Kate and Mike must work together to solve mysteries at ballparks across the United States from Los Angeles to New York City. This early chapter book series<\/a> from Kelly and Meyers is loads of fun \u2014 a true home run for baseball fans and mystery readers alike.<\/p>\n 9781536200799 Judy Moody, Girl Detective<\/i> by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds <\/p>\n Judy Moody is a staple for early chapter book readers, and this mystery story is an excellent choice. When a canine detective-in-training vanishes, Judy jumps at the chance to solve a real-life crime. She and her friends follow the trail of missing chocolate chip cookies, collect clues, and get scared senseless in this sweet and funny mystery novel.<\/p>\n 9780375835346 A to Z Mysteries Super Edition 1: Detective Camp<\/i> by Ron Roy, illustrated by John Steven Gurney <\/p>\n