Reading books is, without doubt, one of the best habits that both kids and adults can develop.
No matter the age, one of the most loved book genres is the mystery genre. This is mainly because mystery feeds the curiosity and need to solve things, that are present in every human being. Mystery also provides a sense of suspense and intrigue that keeps a child engaged and also captivates their minds.
If you want some good mystery books for kids, I have suggested four of the best ones that you can give a try.
Let’s dive in!
Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Silly School Mystery by Chris Monroe
- Monroe, Chris (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages – 01/03/2023 (Publication Date) – Carolrhoda Books ® (Publisher)
This book, which targets readers aged 4 – 8, tells the story of a monkey named Chico Bon Bon who is very handy. He can build or fix just about anything–from a clock for the Clucks or a dock for the ducks.
In this story, Chico Bon Bon has on his tool belt, and in addition to fixing broken things, he wants to solve a puzzling mystery too.
On a specific school day, Chico fixes broken stuff in his school. He fixes Clark’s ripped backpack and repairs the broken chair. He also tweaked the lockers and plugged the leak in the fountain.
However, when the class goes to the library, Chico finds that half the books are missing. His teacher, Mrs. Crabtree can’t find her ruler, and someone has chewed on many of the class’ items.
As the school day continues, more items go missing and get chewed on, and Chico tries to find clues and figure out what was going on. In the end, he uses his tools and wits to find a solution that everyone would love.
In Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Silly School Mystery, Monroe shows young readers through an entertaining venture that there is a smart way out of every problem, provided you have the right tools.
This book is actually one book in the Monkey with a Tool Belt series, which has seven books. You can get the entire series down below:
- Monroe, Chris (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages – 01/03/2023 (Publication Date) – Carolrhoda Books ® (Publisher)
- chris-monroe (Author)
- 01/01/2009 (Publication Date) – Fisical_Book (Publisher)
- Monroe, Chris (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages – 01/03/2023 (Publication Date) – Carolrhoda Books ® (Publisher)
- Audible Audiobook
- Chris Monroe (Author) – Book Buddy Digital Media (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 02/02/2022 (Publication Date) – Lerner Digital ™ (Publisher)
- Hardcover Book
- Monroe, Chris (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 09/07/2021 (Publication Date) – Carolrhoda Books ® (Publisher)
- Hardcover Book
- Monroe, Chris (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 08/04/2020 (Publication Date) – Carolrhoda Books ® (Publisher)
Greenglass House by Kate Milford
- Audible Audiobook
- Kate Milford (Author) – Chris Henry Coffey (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 12/16/2014 (Publication Date) – Recorded Books (Publisher)
This is an enthralling mystery revolving around Milo, a young boy who helps run his family’s inn.
A few days before Christmas when Milo’s family is on holiday, some unexpected guests who couldn’t travel in the cold weather decide to take shelter in the inn.
Milo, who grew tired of the guests’ demands, finds distraction and purpose in a role-playing game shown to him by his new friend, Meddy. One of the guests also gives him a book of folklore.
Unknown to Milo, a weird coincidence connects all the guests to the inn in one way or another. While each guest seeks a treasure in the old inn, Milo is on a mission of his own to find out more about his Chinese heritage.
Milo has to enlist the help of the cook’s daughter to solve the mystery about the guests’ connection to the inn.
Through exquisite storytelling, Milford layers smaller stories within Greenglass House and generously offers clues, all of which tie up in the end.
This book is the first book in the Greenglass House series. You can get the other four books in the series below.
- Audible Audiobook
- Kate Milford (Author) – Chris Henry Coffey (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 10/03/2017 (Publication Date) – Recorded Books (Publisher)
- Audible Audiobook
- Kate Milford (Author) – Liz Pearce (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 10/02/2018 (Publication Date) – Recorded Books (Publisher)
- Audible Audiobook
- Kate Milford (Author) – Sandy Rustin (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 01/14/2020 (Publication Date) – Recorded Books (Publisher)
- Audible Audiobook
- Kate Milford (Author) – Jonathan Todd Ross (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 02/23/2021 (Publication Date) – Recorded Books, Inc. (Publisher)
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney
- Audible Audiobook
- Caroline B. Cooney (Author) – Alyssa Bresnahan (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 10/29/2013 (Publication Date) – Recorded Books (Publisher)
In this book, Cooney tells the story of a high school student named Janie Johnson who discovers that her beloved parents might actually be her kidnappers.
Janie never really paid attention to the kid’s faces that were on milk cartons, but one day, she glanced at a milk carton and saw the face of a three-year-old girl who went missing some time back. On closer inspection, she realized that the girl on the carton was actually her when she was younger.
After this discovery, Janie has a series of flashbacks, which were actually memories of forgotten childhood experiences that makes her begin to think that she might have been kidnapped.
As her world gradually falls apart, she sticks to Reeve, the boy next door, whom she is falling in love with.
Janie’s parent’s explanation does not satisfy her and causes her to collapse emotionally. With the help of Reeve and his sister, Jane is able to face her situation and find out what really happened to her.
The Face on the Milk Carton is a nerve-wracking story that involves the mystery and suspense around family, friendship and love, and is a tale your child would really enjoy.
The Face on the Milk Carton is Book One in the Janie Johnson series. You can get the other books in the series below:
- Audible Audiobook
- Caroline B. Cooney (Author) – Alyssa Bresnahan (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 10/29/2013 (Publication Date) – Recorded Books (Publisher)
- Audible Audiobook
- Caroline B. Cooney (Author) – Alyssa Bresnahan (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 10/29/2013 (Publication Date) – Recorded Books (Publisher)
- Audible Audiobook
- Caroline B. Cooney (Author) – Alyssa Bresnahan (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 10/29/2013 (Publication Date) – Recorded Books (Publisher)
- Audible Audiobook
- Caroline B. Cooney (Author) – Alyssa Bresnahan (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 02/27/2013 (Publication Date) – Recorded Books (Publisher)
The Guggenheim Mystery by Robin Stevens
- Stevens, Robin (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 336 Pages – 10/15/2019 (Publication Date) – Yearling (Publisher)
In this book, Stevens tells the story of twelve-year-old Ted Spark who flies to the United States of America with his fourteen-year-old sister, Kat, and their mother, Faith. They go to vist Ted and Kat’s cousin, Salim, and their weird aunt, Gloria.
When they get there, they all go on a tour, which quickly turns into an investigation when a painting at the Guggenheim goes missing. Aunt Gloria works there so she becomes the prime suspect.
Although he is under pressure from being in a strange city, Ted uses his keen observation skills, wide knowledge and affinity for patterns to prove that Aunt Gloria is innocent. Even though Ted gets confused by figures of speech, he also embraces metaphors and draws parallels between his adventures, Homer’s Odyssey and meteorology.
The Guggenheim Mystery is a fast-paced and suspenseful middle-grade mystery that kids aged 8 – 13 absolutely love.
The Guggenheim Mystery is Book Two in The London Eye Mystery duology. You can get the first book below.
- Audible Audiobook
- Siobhan Dowd (Author) – Alex Kalajzic (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 12/20/2008 (Publication Date) – Brilliance Audio (Publisher)
Wrapping It Up
There are so many great mystery books for kids floating around in bookstores and libraries today, but the ones highlighted above are some of the best ones you’ll find. They’re also perfect if your child is new to the world of mystery books.
If you liked this list, you can check out our other book recommendations as you see fit:
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