As a lifelong mystery lover who now has kids of my own, something that can be a bit challenging at times is finding age-appropriate mystery reads for elementary schoolers that tick all the boxes: attention-grabbing, a true mystery at play, nothing too scary or nightmare fuel. And of course, major bonus points for having funny bits, I’d personally put forward that that aspect is an absolute must.
Some children’s mysteries can still be a bit too intense for some young readers, especially ones that involve violence. Below are some suggestions that can be great ways to get kids ages 6-10 hooked on reading detective novels, whodunit short stories, and thrilling crime reads without turning them off from the genre due to overly frightening content.
Clue Junior Series
During the 90’s, the Clue Junior series were beloved by many elementary schoolers via Scholastic book orders and still hold up splendidly today for this age group. Based on the Clue Junior board game, the mysteries feature the primary gameplay characters, renamed with monikers such as Mortimer Mustard and Samantha Scarlet. The mystery gang tries out neighborhood quandaries, such as items stolen from a clubhouse or figuring out who left a restaurant without paying first. Each book contains several cases for young detectives to puzzle over.
Cookie McCorkle and the Case of the Crooked Key
The sweet Cookie McCorkle series features spunky young sleuth Cookie McCorkle and her friend Walter investigating an old unsolved case in a mansion with creepy sounds. This book can be a fun one for kids to introduce them to this particular trope of mystery tales: the mystery that’s been lying dormant for decades on end.
Part of the beloved British classic Swallows and Amazons series detailing children’s adventures boating, sailing and camping, this book is the only one of the series that has a strong mystery focus. The protagonists come under suspicion by their local community that they are the culprits of setting boats illegally adrift. Determined to clear their names and prove their innocence, the children form a detective club to figure out who the real criminals might be and garner good evidence to show their accusers whodunnit. Although the book was written in the 1930’s and therefore has a lot of anachronisms and at times somewhat more challenging vocabulary than today’s young readers might be used to, it’s still a fantastic option for introducing a love for mysteries alongside outdoor and independent adventuring.
Best suited for upper elementary school readers (think ages 9+) this is an ideal introduction to the murder mystery genre for this age range. Without involving intense violence or blood and gore, it still has some thrills and suspense involved. It’s written exceptionally well, by Ellen Raskin, involving word puzzles, humor and lots of fun characters, who are written into the will of a millionaire (the murder victim; killed ostensibly by one of the characters) and must solve his murder to inherit his cash prize.
This cozy, timeless series focused on four orphaned siblings who initially set up a home in an abandoned boxcar before being discovered and taken in by their wealthy grandfather continues to be a favorite in the children’s mystery genre for good reason. The books are simple yet engaging to read, the characters get to be independent and adventurous, and elementary schoolers particularly identify with the two younger school-aged siblings Violet and Benny. Though all the books have been ghostwritten following the original 19 mysteries, the Boxcar Children solve mysteries on remote islands, in Washington D.C., on a houseboat, and in numerous other exciting locales.
Another excellent pick for upper elementary school readers, as well as one that their parents are likely to enjoy, this Sherlock Holmes-esque tribute book contains beautifully illustrated mystery tales about the brilliant insect detective Inspector Mantis and his trusty companion Doctor Hopper. Wonderfully fun on its own, this story collection may also give young readers a taste for the classic “detective and their loyal sidekick” archetype to be found in Conan Doyle, Christie and Marsh.
