Little Detectives:
Mystery Books for 6- to 8-Year-Olds
by Dena McMurdie
Every time I read a mystery with my kids, I’m surprised at how much they pick up. Often, my kids will stop me halfway through a book to tell me their hypothesis (yes, they use that word) and make predictions about the rest of the story. Mysteries get kids to think differently and pay attention to details they might not otherwise notice.
You can help your little detectives hone their sleuthing skills with these mysterious reads.
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The Milo & Jazz Mysteries Series
Buy from:Milo and Jazz are two amateur detectives who put their heads together, follow clues, and solve mysteries. Whether they’re tracking down the thief who stole a high school pitcher’s lucky socks or finding out who is behind a Fourth of July jinx, the kids solve a dozen fun and age-appropriate mysteries. With hidden pictures, quizzes, and puzzles included in every story, this series will become a favorite for young sleuths.
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The Sleepover Mystery
Buy from:Send your young reader to the museum for a sleepover with an adorable group of kittens. One kitten gets into an argument with her friends and then disappears, leaving the rest of the furballs to wonder what happened. Follow the clues and find out where this little feline is hiding!
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The Underdogs Catch a Cat Burglar
Buy from:Kids who enjoy their mysteries with a hefty helping of humor will go wild for The Underdogs series. With crime rates skyrocketing, and a notorious feline bandit on the loose, the floundering Underdog Detective Agency has its paws full. Readers will be in stitches over the misadventures of these animal sleuths.
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The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case
Buy from:This series opener is set in Africa and follows a young girl as she learns to follow clues, ask questions, and solve mysteries. In the first book, a piece of cake goes missing from her classroom, and Precious must figure out who took it. With classmates pointing fingers and making accusations, Precious must wade through the evidence to find the facts.
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Nate the Great Series
Buy from:Nate the Great, the protagonist of this highly entertaining series, takes solving mysteries very seriously. Growing readers will love following along as the boy detective — accompanied by his trusty dog, Sludge — collects clues and applies his problem-solving skills to solve cases of disappearing books, pets, notes, and more.
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The Case of the Missing Cheetah
Buy from:A secret spy society, a missing pet cheetah, and three best friends come together in this highly illustrated chapter book series for young readers. With codes to break and clues to follow, the friends have their work cut out for them. Kids will love this adventurous mystery series!
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The Broom Room Detective Agency: The Muffin Mystery
Buy from:From the creator of Disney’s animated show, Fish Hooks, comes a quirky, humorous mystery series for growing readers. In this series opener, Piper and her assistant, Fred, set out to uncover who or what is behind the muffins that mysteriously appear in their classmate’s pockets.
(On sale: 10/20/2026)
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King & Kayla and the Case of the Lost Library Book
Buy from:If your kid loves mystery stories with animal sidekicks, they’ll love this series about a young girl and her dog solving mysteries in her neighborhood. In this book, Kayla can’t find one of her library books. She retraces her steps and pieces together the clues to find the missing book. With 10 titles in the series, kids will have plenty of reading material to work through.
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The Haunted Library Series
Buy from:When a gust of wind separates a ghost boy named Kaz from his family, he takes up residence in a library and meets Claire, a girl who can see him (and other ghosts too). Despite their differences, they become friends and join forces to find Kaz’s family in this not-too-scary series.
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Squirrel Lock Holmes #1: The Pet Rock Mystery
Buy from:If you’re looking for a good graphic novel to bridge the gap between picture books and chapter books, this is it! When Dwayne (aka “The Rock”) goes missing from Pet Rock Obedience School, detective Squirrel Lock Holmes and her partner, Mole Watson, take the case. Puns, humor, and energetic illustrations make this early graphic novel a delight for young mystery lovers.
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Young Cam Jansen and the Baseball Mystery
Buy from:For kids who are moving up in their reading, this level three reader has full color artwork and easy to understand sentences. It shows kids that the key to solving a mystery often lies in seemingly unrelated details.
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Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective
Buy from:This sweet picture book is about anxiety, first-day jitters, and friendship. On the first day of school, Hattie Harmony uses her detective tool belt and social-emotional smarts to get to the bottom of what’s worrying her best friend, Pearl. Likewise, when Hattie’s anxiety acts up, she relies on Pearl’s advice to conquer her fears.
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Max and Chaffy: The Great Cupcake Mystery
Buy from:Newly independent readers will love this colorful graphic novel about a missing cupcake. Just before a surprise party, the cake goes missing! Max and Chaffy search every corner of Animal Island, interview friends, and follow the clues to find the cupcake. Full-color illustrations, simple dialogue, and humor-drenched pages make this charming graphic novel a fan-favorite.
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Ballpark Mysteries Series
Buy from:Cousins Kate and Mike must work together to solve mysteries at ballparks across the United States from Los Angeles to New York City. This early chapter book series from Kelly and Meyers is loads of fun — a true home run for baseball fans and mystery readers alike.
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Judy Moody, Girl Detective
Buy from:Judy Moody is a staple for early chapter book readers, and this mystery story is an excellent choice. When a canine detective-in-training vanishes, Judy jumps at the chance to solve a real-life crime. She and her friends follow the trail of missing chocolate chip cookies, collect clues, and get scared senseless in this sweet and funny mystery novel.
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Detective Stanley and the Green Thumbed Thief
Buy from:Pooch-loving sleuths will enjoy this adorable comic book mystery featuring a dog detective. When rare and valuable plants go missing from the Narlybone Gardens, Detective Stanley and his sidekick, Parker Pine, must figure out who is behind the burglaries.
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A to Z Mysteries Super Edition 1: Detective Camp
Buy from:Young mystery solvers who want a super-long book series to dive into will want to read the A to Z Mysteries series. Whether going to detective camp or scoping out zombies, best friends Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose tackle each case with courage. With one book for each letter of the alphabet, kids have plenty of reading material to keep them occupied.
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Super Detectives! (Simon and Chester Book #1)
Buy from:Fans of Bad Guys will love this hilarious early graphic novel series starring two best friends — one boy and one ghost. The duo put on their detective caps in their first book and set out to solve a mystery. They follow the clues, dodge chores, and snack their way to a satisfying resolution.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2026.