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
Lewisville Public Library
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King and Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats
Meyers, Nancy
Paper Book
King & Kayla are back on the case in this laugh-out-loud mystery from the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Award-winning series. Kayla made peanut butter treats for Thor, Jillian's new puppy. But now the treats are missing, and King is under suspicion. Analytical Kayla...
A mystery comes knocking
Sadar, Albin
Paper Book
Hamster Holmes and his firefly sidekick, Dr. Watt, solve mysteries together in this start to a Level 2 Ready-to-Read series! Hamster Holmes and Dr. Watt are the best sleuths in town! So when their friend Corny O'Squirrel has a mystery he needs help solving, he knows just who to...
The case of the missing hippo
James, Laura
Paper Book
'Zany ... Even reluctant readers will have a blast' IRISH TIMES In a small town on the banks of Lake Laloozee lives the world's greatest flamingo detective. His name is Fabio. He's not tall or strong, but slight and pink. And he's very, very clever. ...
The under dogs catch a cat burglar
Temple, Kate
Paper Book
In a city gone to the dogs ... get yourself a cat.​​ The Underdog Detective Agency has a proud tradition of sniffing out trouble (plus sniffing each other's butts). They're on a mission to catch Dogtown's elusive cat burglar ... but if they want to ...
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...
P.I. Butterfly. Case #1, Gone guppy
Kilpatrick, Karen
Paper Book
"Kids will laugh and learn as P.I. Butterfly solves the case!"--Jim Benton, New York Times bestselling author (Dear Dumb Diary, Franny K. Stein, Catwad) This outlandish whodunit will keep readers guessing and laughing...all the way to the surprise...
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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