People do not like to read boring books. Children are people, too. They love books with action, suspense and tension. That is the reason there are so many mystery books for children.

Mystery books for children draw the reader’s attention. Many children are unable to stop reading until the last page. Parents of children who would not pick up a book now have to beg them to stop and go to sleep.

The child, tween or teen is drawn to the characters and locales. The reader identifies with the hero or heroine. First graders identify with Junie B. Second graders like the children in the Young Cam Jansen series. Third graders identify with the children in the Blast to the Past series. This continues to teens with new driver's licences. The enjoy the freedom in the Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys mystery books.

The subject matter for mystery books for children vary over a wide range. This is excellent because children can find a chapter book which matches their interests. There are books where the hero skies, hikes, cycle, swims or just hang out with his buddies.

The locale changes from one mystery book for children to another. This allows children to travel to different places. There are mystery books where the heroine is in Hawaii, Alaska, California or Wisconsin. In fact, American children can travel to places anywhere on the planet. Don’t forget about space travel. A good author describes the place and inhabitants without slowing the story’s pace.

Children mystery books are good for those who do not like to read. Look for books where the action is driven by talk not text. Books with descriptive text bore children. Find books that are two hundred pages or less. This is so the mystery book does not intimate the child, tween and teen reader.





Series and Sequels Books for Children

Young Detective Books


I always imagined Paradise to be a....library. - Jorgelius Borges

Drop in the forum. Share your favorite Mystery book! Sign up to receive the Children's Books Review newsletter. Do not miss any future articles.

Picture Books for Children

More Children Books

List of Dr. Seuss Books
Don Freeman's Books
Stan Berenstain's Books
List of Magic Tree House Books
Chronicles of Narnia Books
A Series of Unfortunate Events Books