A list of mysteries for the beginning reader.
This booklist was contributed by Appleton Public Library Children's Services Staff , 11/07
Kidnap at the Catfish Cafe(1998)Assisted by her cat Max, sixth grader Minnie starts up her new detective agency by investigating a kidnapping and a thief who will steal anything, even a hot stove.
The April Fool's Day mystery(1991)The Dixon twins try to discover who put the snake in the school cafeteria flour bin on April Fool's Day, clearing an unjustly suspected classmate in the process.
Batman : the Mad Hatter(2004)Batman meets and defeats the Mad Hatter.
The Berenstain Bears in maniac mansion(1996)When priceless antiques begin to disappear from Squire Grizzly's mansion, the ghost of his ancestor Bad Bart is suspected.
Arthur accused!(1998)Arrthur's friend Buster is searching for a crime to solve, so when the quarters Arthur has collected for Mrs. MacGrady's charity drive disappear, Buster is on the case. Will he be able to prove Arthur's innocence so that he can attend the class picnic?
The Mystery of the stolen bike(1998)When Arthur and his friends ride their bikes to school, Francine is embarrassed by her old hand-me-down bicycle. But when she reports her bike is stolen, her friends rally to find the thief. Will they discover the true fate of Francine's bicycle?
Arthur and the crunch cereal contest(1998)When Arthur hears his sister singing a catchy tune, he wonders if he could call that jingle his own and enter it in the Crunch Cereal Contest.
There are other titles in the Marc Brown Arthur chapter book series.
Sebastian (super sleuth) and the stars-in-his-eyes-mystery(1987)Mysterious attacks on Chummy the Wonder Dog lead canine detective Sebastian to go undercover as a stunt performer in the making of Chummy's new movie. There other mystery titles in the Sebastian, super sleuth series by this author.
Flatfoot Fox and the case of the missing schoolhouse(1997)Flatfoot Fox and his faithful friend, Secretary Bird, help Principal Porcupine solve the mystery of the missing school.
Other mystery titles by this author in the advanced easy reader collection.
The Blanket burglar(1994)A group of multi-ethnic and differently abled children form a club called the Screech Owls to solve mysteries like what happened to Mrs. Kolanski's blanket. Other mystery titles by this author in the advanced easy reader collection.
The Big red detective(2003)"The merry-go-round is missing from the playground! KC enlists Clifford and the gang to help solve the mystery. Together they tail a suspect, sniff out clues, and find a big surprise!"
Critter Sitters(1992)James and his friends start a summer pet-sitting business and are dismayed when their hard-earned cash starts to disappear from the money box.
Bud Barkin, private eye(2003)Howie the wirehaired dachshund tries his paw at writing a new kind of novel, a mystery in which he imagines himself as a private investigator and Delilah as the "mysterious dame."
Ali Baba Bernstein, lost and found(1992)Throughout a series of adventures, ten-year-old David "Ali Baba" Bernstein spends most of his time thinking about becoming a detective and getting a dog.
Wild Willie and King Kyle Detectives(1993)Willie and his best friend, Kyle, who has moved to Ohio, start a detective agency, and their first case is to spy on the girl who has moved into Kyle's old house.
Horrible Harry and the locked closet(2004)Harry and his detective classmates try to find clues relating to a mysterious locked closet in Room 3B.
Binky rules(2000)When Binky is accused of vandalizing school property, Buster and Fern test their detective skills to find the real culprit.
Racetrack robbery(1996)Artie's invisible pet Ghost Dog helps him solve the case of the missing lucky coin.
The Detective Stars and the case of the super soccer team(1994)Young detectives Veronica and Ernest are asked to find out how the worst soccer team has been able to make it to the finals.
A Mammoth mix-up : a Brian and Pea Brain mystery(1995)Brian and his younger sister Penny become involved in a mystery at the science museum where they are working on a woolly mammoth display for a science fair.
A Hare-raising tail(2002)After Fletcher, a salami-loving basset hound, is wrongly accused of eating a pet rabbit, he and his sidekick, Jasper the flea, must find the true culprit before Fletcher is sent back to the dog pound.
The Principal's on the roof(2002)"The principal of Jill and Gwen's school promised to spend the morning on the roof if the kids read one thousand books during their reading marathon--and they did! Now he's on the roof, and he's going to read an original science fiction story Gwen wrote..."
A Fish named Yum : Mr. Pin, vol. IV(1994)Mr. Pin, the rock hopper penguin detective in Chicago, investigates two cases involving a flood and a sinister fishnapping.
Mr. Pin : the chocolate files(1990)Mr. Pin, the rockhopper penguin who has traveled from the South Pole to be a detective in Chicago, investigates two cases involving chocolate. Sequel to "The Mysterious Cases of Mr. Pin." There are other mystery titles by this author.
Smiffy Blue : ace crime detective : the case of the missing ruby and other stories(1996)Famous crime fighter Smiffy Blue blunders his way to solving the mystery of a missing formula and three other cases.
Gus & Gertie and the missing pearl(2000)Arriving for a vacation on Holiday Island, penguins Gus and Gertie stumble into a hotel full of Bad Guys and have a beautiful, valuable deep-sea pearl stolen from them.
The Bogeyman caper(1990)A group of multi-ethnic and differently abled children form a club called the Screech Owls to solve mysteries like what happened to Mrs. Kolanski's blanket.
The Case of the barking dog(1997)"Based on characters from the Parker Brothers game."
Other titles by this author available.
The Spy in the attic(1997)After he sees some unusual late-night deliveries, Martin's active imagination has him and his friends convinced that the man who has recently moved into the attic apartment should be watched.
The Clue of the left-handed envelope(2000)"Everyone loves the new teacher, Mr. Merlin. Mr. Merlin used to be a spy, and he knows all about secret codes and the strange and gross ways the police solve mysteries..."
Deputy Shep(1991)Deputy Jack Shep, the laziest police dog to ever wear a badge, is called upon to investigate a wave of burglaries in the sleepy village of Canoville.
Marty Frye, private eye(1998)Marty Frye, a seven-year-old who likes to read poetry and talk in rhymes, solves three separate mysteries for a classmate, a toy store owner, and his younger sister.