Looking for mystery books for kids? Mystery books offer kids a fun and exciting reading experience that encourages critical thinking, creativity, and re-reading. Therefore, children’s mystery books are a fantastic way to help children develop strong literacy skills!
Below is a list of the best mystery books for kids of all ages, including young children, kids in third grade, fourth grade, and more. Whether your child loves detective stories, fun mystery books, mystery book series, short stories, or even spooky Halloween mysteries, this list has it all! In addition, our educators discuss the benefits of mystery stories for kids and what to look for in a mystery book.
Ready to discover a list of good mystery books for kids? Let’s check it out!
The 10 Best Mystery Books for Kids
What are some good children’s mystery books? Look no further. These stories are some of the best mystery books for kids!
Our list of mystery books includes stories for children of all ages, including kids in preschool, kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, and more.
To help you find the perfect mystery book for your child, we’ve organized the list into categories, including detective mystery books, fun mystery books, mystery book series, short mystery stories, and spooky Halloween mystery books. Many of these stories are also available as read along books on Booka!
Detective Mystery Books for Kids
Does your child love detective stories? If so, they’ll love these detective mystery books.
1. Detective Daisy
By Laurie Friedman
Detective Dasiy is a series of detective mystery books for kids. In these stories, friends, family, teachers, neighbors, and peers turn to Daisy to solve puzzling mysteries. Daisy cracks every case with the help of her detective hat, pen, notebook, magnifying glass, detective skills, and determination!
Detective Daisy books include:
- The Mystery of the Lost Library Book
- The Mystery of the Moving Desks
- The Mystery of the Stolen Snacks
- The Mystery of the Missing Stapler
- The Mystery of the Secret Notes
- The Mystery of the Spooky Sounds, and more!
Additional Educational Features: guiding questions (for parents and caregivers) are included to promote reading comprehension.
These mystery books for kids are suitable for children ages 6 - 8 (Grade 1 - 3).
Detective Daisy books are available as read aloud stories on Booka.
2. Secret Agent Josephine in Paris
By Brenda Ponnay
Secret Agent Josephine in Paris is a mystery book that follows super spy (and super mom) Josephine. In this story, Josephine travels to Paris to track down and stop an art thief. Will she be able to find the thief and stop them without being detected?
Secret Agent Josephine in Paris is part of a series of children's mystery books. This series of mystery books for kids also includes:
- Secret Agent Josephine's Colors
- Secret Agent Josephine's Secret Spy Numbers
- Secret Agent Josephine's ABC’s
Secret Agent Josephine in Paris is suitable for children ages 6 - 8 (Grade 1 - 3).
This mystery book is available as a read aloud story on Booka.
Fun Mystery Books
Are you looking for some intriguing and light-hearted mystery books? These stories are some of the best fun mystery books for kids.
3. The Chickentown Mystery
By Albert Arrayás
The Chickentown Mystery is a fun story about missing chickens. Just days before the Golden Feather competition, where one chicken will be crowned Chicken of the Year, hens start to go missing in Chickentown! Each time a hen vanishes, a new clue appears. Will these clues reveal who’s behind the chaos? And will the mystery be solved before the big competition? This fun and intriguing picture book will keep your child guessing until the very end!
This children’s mystery book is suitable for ages 3 - 8 (Preschool - Grade 3).
The Chickentown Mystery is available on Booka as a read aloud book.
4. Ick and Crud: Who Did It?
By Wiley Blevins
In Ick and Crud: Who Did It?, Miss Puffy’s toy mouse goes missing. Mrs. Martin, the next-door neighbor, and Miss Puffy’s mom, blames Ick and Crud for the disappearance. Can they solve the mystery of the missing mouse and clear their names?
Additional Educational Features: a “Meet the Characters” page at the beginning of the story introduces all the characters to help support reading confidence and comprehension.
This mystery book for kids is suitable for ages 5 - 8 (Kindergarten - Grade 3).
Ick and Crud: Who Did It? is available as a read aloud book on Booka.
5. Ick and Crud: Mystery in the Barn
By Wiley Blevins
Ick and Crud: Mystery in the Barn is a fun-filled mystery story with exciting twists and turns. When Miss Puffy, the cat, tells Ick and Crud that something big is about to happen in Mrs. Martin’s barn, they set out on a mission to figure out what is is. When they arrive at the barn, they hear the animals making a fuss. What is going on in there? They enter the barn and start asking the animals what’s about to happen - but no one will tell them. Will they find out what big thing is about to happen before it’s too late?
Additional Educational Features: this mystery book for kids starts with a “Meet the Characters” page that introduces all the characters. This extra feature helps support reading comprehension and confidence.
Ick and Crud: Mystery in the Barn is suitable for ages 5 - 7 (Kindergarten - Grade 2).
This story is available as a read aloud story on Booka.
Children’s Mystery Book Series
If your child likes solving mysteries, they’ll love this children’s mystery book series!
6. Jesse Steam Mystery Series
By Ken Bowser
The Jesse Steam Mystery Series follows a young girl named Jesse as she and her cat, Mr. Stubbs, solve mysteries using science, technology, engineering, art, and math! These engaging mystery books for kids will keep your child guessing as they help Jesse solve each mystery.
Jesse Steam Mystery Series books include:
- The Riddle of the Spinning Sycamore Seed
- The Clue in the Painted Pattern
- The Case of the Clicking Clock
- The Conundrum of the Crooked Crayon
- The Secret in the Jelly Bean Jar
Additional Educational Features: the mysteries in the Jesse Steam Mystery Series books for kids are solved with the help of science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) concepts, helping to promote STEAM-related skills and knowledge. Each book also includes a hands-on activity to help kids solve their own STEAM-based questions.
This mystery book series is suitable for ages 8 - 10 (Grade 2 - Grade 5).
Jesse Steam Mystery Series books are available on Booka as read aloud stories.
Looking for more children’s mystery book series? Detective Daisy by Laurie Friedman and Secret Agent Josephine by Brenda Ponnay are two more popular mystery book series for kids.
Short Mystery Books for Kids
These short mystery books for children will capture your young reader's attention and help promote early literacy skills at home.
7. Caillou: The Sock Mystery
By Rebecca Klevberg Moeller
Caillou: The Sock Mystery is a short and simple mystery book that encourages kids to help Caillou solve an everyday mystery - a missing sock. One morning, while getting dressed, Caillou notices that one of his socks is missing! Caillou goes to the laundry room in the basement to see if he can find his sock. No luck! But when he tries to go upstairs, he finds the doorknob is broken. He’s stuck! Caillou’s dad tries to help him - but they both get stuck in the basement! Who will save them, and will they ever find Caillou’s missing sock?
Additional Educational Features: this mystery book includes simple vocabulary and sight words to help promote early reading skills. The book also contains a picture dictionary to help reinforce word-meaning connections and teach new vocabulary.
This mystery book is suitable for ages 3 - 4+ (Preschool - Kindergarten+).
Caillou: The Sock Mystery is available on Booka as a short read aloud story.
8. Pako the Pigeon Disappears
By Tukupashya Ally Kasongo
Pako the Pigeon Disappears follows Namwayi, Dairine, and their cat on a search to find their friend Pako. One day, Namwayi and Dairine notice that Pako is missing. Where could she be? They look in the garden, but she’s nowhere to be found. Will they find Pako? Where could she be?
Additional Educational Features: this children’s mystery book includes simple vocabulary to help promote early reading skills. At the end of the book, parents and caregivers will also find questions they can use to discuss the story with their children. These questions focus on empathy and helping.
This mystery story is suitable for ages 4 - 6 (Kindergarten - Grade 1).
Pako the Pigeon Disappears is available as a read along book on Booka.
Spooky Halloween Mystery Stories
Spooky mystery books are fun to read year-round. These spooky Halloween mysteries will keep your kid on the edge of their seat!
9. The Vampires Next Door
By Sigi Cohen
In The Vampires Next Door, kids follow along as Lee, a curious young girl, tries to uncover the mystery of missing children in her neighborhood. Lee is suspicious of her next-door neighbors, Horace, Drusilla, and Shane, who she thinks might be vampires! Could she be right? And are they responsible for the missing kids? One night, she feels a bite on her neck and sees Horrace appear. Vampires are living next door! Will she be able to stop them?
Additional Educational Features: this spooky Halloween mystery book uses rhyming words to promote phonemic awareness and reading fluency.
This story is suitable for ages 3 - 6 (Preschool - Grade 1).
The Vampires Next Door is available as a read along book on Booka.
10. The Secret Halloween Costume
By Sophie Vaillancourt
In The Secret Halloween Costume, a young witch named Charlotte is preparing for Halloween. Her family insists that she wears something spooky - but that’s not what Charlotte wants! With the help of her friends Elena and Ruby and her grandmother, Charlotte devises a plan to create the perfect costume. What will she dress up as? Can your young reader guess?
Additional Educational Features: this mystery book uses bright illustrations to support reading comprehension and fluency.
This story is suitable for ages 4 - 6 (Kindergarten - Grade 1).
The Secret Halloween costume is available as a read along story on Booka.
Find More Mystery Books on the Booka Reading App for Kids
If you’re looking for children’s mystery books, check out Booka!
Booka offers some of the best mystery books for kids, including mystery book series, short stories, Halloween mysteries, and more! Best of all, many of these mystery books are available as read aloud stories. So, even when you don’t have time to read aloud to your child, Booka can help!
Get Booka today to promote early reading skills at home.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Mystery Books for Kids
Do you have questions about mystery books for kids? Check out the answers to some of the most common questions below.
What is a mystery book?
Are you wondering what makes a book a mystery? Mystery stories for kids are books that involve suspense and an attempt to answer an unanswered question. For instance, the main characters in a mystery book for kids may be trying to solve a puzzle or explain a strange event, looking for clues, or attempting to find out who did something. In any case, a mystery book should have your child on the edge of their seat until the very end!
Are mystery books good for kids?
Yes, mystery books are great for kids! Children’s mystery books are fun and engaging and encourage re-reading. This is beneficial because re-reading a familiar story can help young readers develop reading fluency, comprehension, and, most importantly, confidence!
Mystery books for kids can also help children develop critical thinking skills, encourage them to pay attention to fine details and introduce new vocabulary. This genre may even pique their interest in topics like crime and justice.
What makes a good mystery book for kids?
Not sure what to look for in a mystery story? Here’s what makes a good mystery book for kids.
- Suspense - mystery books for kids should be suspenseful but not so intense that they’re scary!
- Relatable characters - your child will enjoy a story more when they can identify with the main characters. So, look for mystery stories with characters your child can connect with.
- Interactive elements - the best mystery books for kids encourage reader participation. This might be through direct questions, illustrations with hidden clues, or the use of technology. Interactive elements are great because they enhance engagement, further promoting the development of strong reading skills.
- Developmentally-appropriate puzzles - look for children’s mystery books that incorporate mysteries and puzzles that are challenging enough to keep your child intrigued but not so complex that they become frustrated.
- Positive themes - good mystery books for kids also promote positive values like teamwork, friendship, curiosity, problem-solving, and perseverance. These lessons are often subtly woven into the plot, helping to teach important lessons.
Learn more about the characteristics of a good children’s book here - What Makes a Good Children's Book.