Mystery books for 1st graders

This is a great introduction to the world of mysteries for a proficient beginning reader. In each of these four chapters, Aunt Eater delights in solving mysteries for her friends. Fun illustrations throughout help provide the clues.

Perfect for: Kids who like mysteries.

Find Aunt Eater Loves a Mystery at your local library.

In this installment of the popular Minnie and Moo cow series, a jelly donut is missing and all that’s left behind is a blue feather. Well, the only things around on the farm with feathers are chickens! And so it goes that Minnie and Moo disguise themselves as chickens to get that jelly donut back.

Perfect for: Kids who like mysteries.

Find Minnie and Moo and the Case of the Missing Jelly Donut at your local library.

Leon the chameleon didn’t come home for dinner last night and his wife is worried! Private I. Guana is on the case. After searching high and low, talking to lizards and salamanders, there’s only one place left to look — the wild and crazy Lizard Lounge. Could that chameleon in the dress on stage be Leon?

Perfect for: Kids who like mysteries.

Find Private I. Guana: The Case of the Missing Chameleon at your local library.

The Young Cam Jansen Series is another excellent beginning book series. This series features Cam, a young detective whose real name is Jennifer. She gets her nickname, Cam, because she has a photographic memory, like a camera. In this story, Cam’s friend has lost a tooth in art class and to her dismay the tooth disappears. Will Cam be able to use her photographic memory to help solve this mystery?

Perfect for: Kids who like mysteries.

Find Young Cam Jansen & The Lost Tooth at your local library.

Take a trip down memory lane while introducing your child to this classic tale. The kids in Room 207 continually take advantage of their teacher’s kindness until the day a mean, witch-like substitute name Viola Swamp shows up. Your child will enjoy getting to the bottom of this mystery while at the same time learning the importance of the golden rule. 

Perfect for: Kids who like stories about school.

Find Miss Nelson Is Missing! at your local library.