Mysteries for Early Elementary Students

Looking for mysteries for primary grade students, whether for shared or independent reading? Check out this selection of beginning reader, early chapter book, and graphic novel mysteries! Many books are the first in a series.

Updated August 21, 2025
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The case of Piggy's Bank
Archer, Dosh
Paper Book
Together, Detective Paw and Patrol Officer Prickles can crack any case. When they're called to Piggy's Bank, all the money has vanished! Who could have taken it? Solve the mystery alongside this delightful duo in this rollicking new series.
The birthday party mystery
Manushkin, Fran
Paper Book
It's nearly Katie's birthday, and she learns she will be getting a special present. She's too excited to wait patiently for the gift to arrive, so she decides to investigate ahead of time. The clues might lead her to her present, but is it better to let this mystery go unsolved?
Inspector Flytrap
Angleberger, Tom
Paper Book
A funny and clever illustrated early chapter book series in the Flytrap Files universe, from New York Times bestselling author Tom Angleberger and Newbery Honor winner Cece Bell!   Meet Inspector Flytrap! He's a Venus flytrap and world-class solver...
The case of the nibbled pizza
Bentley, Tadgh
Paper Book
Meet Dino Detective and Awesome Possum- the sister-and-brother duo who are on the hunt for the next big case! Designed to engage early readers, this story combines charming characters with simple text, lively illustrations, and laugh-out-loud humor to help boost kids' confidence and create...
The big race lace case
Jacobs, Paul DuBois
Paper Book
Mack Rhino is a private detective--who just so happens to be a rhinoceros--in this silly, fun-to-read Aladdin QUIX chapter book that's perfect for emerging readers! Mack Rhino is a private eye who has just finished solving his 99th case. With his trusty sidekick, Redd Oxpeck by...
The case of the strange splash
Winkler, Henry
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling creators--Emmy Award-winning actor Henry Winkler, children's book author Lin Oliver, and Caldecott Medal-winning author-illustrator Dan Santat--comes Detective Duck: The Case of the Strange Splash, a hilarious, full-color...
Catastrophe
Winston, Sherri
Paper Book
Can Wednesday and her service dog, Woof, sniff out Mrs. Winter's missing cat before her big trip This is the first book of a fun full-color early chapter book series about the best detectives in the Midwest! Detective Tip #1 Try not to jump to conclusions. Wednesday and her...
Simon and Chester : super detectives!
Atkinson, Cale
Paper Book
Welcome to the world of Simon and Chester, ghost and boy duo extraordinaire. They like to kick butt and take names. They don't like chores. They are best friends. And they are about to solve the MYSTERY OF A LIFETIME. (Oh, and eat some snacks probably.) Join Simon and Chester in their first...
The great puptective
Tysoe, Alina
Paper Book
A Junior Library Guild Selection A set-in-his-ways housecat has his routine upended by an enthusiastic new puppy with a nose for solving mysteries in this first "effervescent" (Publishers Weekly) book in a graphic chapter book series perfect for fans of InvestiGators...
The case of the golden bone
Varon, Sara
Paper Book
Can Detective Sweet Pea sniff out the suspect and crack the case? From the creator of Robot Dreams, now an Oscar-nominated feature film, comes a new graphic novel series for young readers! Sweet Pea's got a pretty sweet life. The animals in her hometown of Parkville...

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