Best Mysteries & Detectives Books for 8 Year Olds

Here are the top 30 mysteries & detectives books for 8 year olds. Please click Read Review to read book reviews on Amazon. You can also click Find in Library to check book availability at your local library. If the default library is not correct, please follow Change Library to reset it.

1. Bunnicula in a Box: Bunnicula; Howliday Inn; The Celery Stalks at Midnight; Nighty-Nightmare; Return to Howliday Inn; Bunnicula Strikes Again; Bunnicula Meets Edgar Allan Crow (Bunnicula and Friends)

by: James HoweC. F. Payne
Release date: Aug 27, 2013
Number of Pages: 1136
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Lock up your veggies and get out your garlic—the complete Bunnicula collection is now available as a boxed set!

Something wicked this way hops… Join Harold, Howie, Chester, and of course, Bunnicula for seven thrilling adventures—all together for the first time in one fur-raising boxed set!

This complete collection includes paperback editions of Bunnicula, Howliday Inn, The Celery Stalks at Midnight, Nighty-Nightmare, Return to Howliday Inn, Bunnicula Strikes Again, and Bunnicula Meets Edgar Allan Crow.

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Rabbits

2. Mini Pie the Spy

by: Libby LaMannaGemma Halliday
Release date: Jul 31, 2014
Number of Pages: 89
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It’s finally summer break, and eight-year-old Meggie Malone is ready to zoom around sticking hilarious Post-Its on Grandma’s behind and eating nothing but lime-green cupcakes.

However, when Mother receives a mysterious phone call, Meggie, AKA Mini Pie the Spy, uses her fabulous detective skills to eavesdrop and soon finds herself wrapped up in the case of the Disappeared Keys.

Meggie tags along to clean houses with Mother and soon realizes she is in way over her head. How can she expect to solve a mystery when she’s constantly interrupted by tickly feather dusters and slippery egg yolks? Meggie fears she’s not cut out for the house cleaning business—so she sticks to what she does best: solving mysteries.

Mini Pie the Spy to the RESCUE!

tags:

Children’s Books > Literature & Fiction > Chapter Books & Readers > Chapter Books

3. Chase For Home: Chase Manning Mystery #2 (Chase Manning Mystery Series)

by: Steve Reifman
Release date: Nov 21, 2014
Number of Pages: 149
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Book Synopsis

Riding high in fifth grade, Chase Manning joins the Apple Valley baseball team, and his clutch hitting leads the squad to within two victories of the school’s first league championship. Confidence is high—until Chase’s lucky batting glove turns up missing the day of the semifinal game. Unsure whether the theft represents a personal attack or an attempt to derail the entire baseball team, Chase must track down the culprit and find the glove before the team boards the bus at 3 o’clock. Surprising and suspense-filled plot twists fill the pages of this single-day, real-time mystery thriller.

About the Chase Manning Mystery Series

The Chase Manning Mystery Series features single-day, real-time thrillers that occur on an elementary school campus. Written for readers 8-12 years of age by National Board Certified Teacher Steve Reifman, the series launched with the award-winning Chase Against Time, in which fifth grader Chase Manning must investigate the mysterious disappearance of the cello that the school plans to auction off to save its prestigious music program. Chase Against Time has enjoyed rave reviews from children, parents, and teachers. Young readers love the book’s fast-paced, action-packed format while parents and teachers appreciate the book’s kid-friendly tone and content. Chase is now back in the eagerly anticipated sequel, Chase for Home.

Note for Elementary School Teachers and Parents

Chase Against Time and Chase for Home are Level Q on the Fountas & Pinnell scale. Both books are ideally suited to be used as read alouds and mentor texts during Reading Workshop and Writing Workshop units on mystery and “edge-of-seat” fiction because they include numerous examples of end-of-chapter cliffhangers, red herrings, suspects, motives, and other important mystery elements. If you are interested in teaching children how to craft their own mysteries, check out Steve’s e-book, The Ultimate Mystery Writing Guide for Kids.

tags:

Children’s Books > Mysteries & Detectives

4. Howard Wallace, P.I.

by: Casey Lyall
Release date: Sep 06, 2016
Number of Pages: 272
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“…Lyall’s debut is a winner.”Publishers Weekly

“What’s with the get-up? Is that the company uniform or something?”
“This? All P.I.s wear a trench coat.”
“Dude, that’s a brown bathrobe.”
I shrugged and straightened out my sleeves. “First rule of private investigation, Ivy: work with what you’ve got.”

Twelve-year-old Howard Wallace lives by his list of rules of private investigation. He knows more than anyone how to work with what he’s got: a bathrobe for a trench coat, a makeshift office behind the school equipment shed, and not much else—least of all, friends. So when a hot case of blackmail lands on his desk, he’s ready to take it on himself . . . until the new kid, Ivy Mason, convinces him to take her on as a junior partner. As they banter through stakeouts and narrow down their list of suspects, Howard starts to wonder if having Ivy as a sidekick—and a friend—is such a bad thing after all.

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Friendship, Social Skills & School Life > Friendship

5. The Lost Celt

by: A. E. Conran
Release date: Mar 15, 2016
Number of Pages: 264
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Written in the voice of Mikey, a fourth-grader who believes that eating crunchy things will get your neurons to fire, The Lost Celt follows Mikey’s adventures after a chance encounter with what he thinks is a time-traveling Celtic warrior.

With the help of his best friend Kyler, and clues from his military history book, Mikey tracks down the stranger, and in the process learns about the power and obligations of friendship.

Full of heart, The Lost Celt throws a gentle light on some of the issues facing our veterans and their families, but it’s the humor and infectious camaraderie throughout this book that makes it so memorable.

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Fiction

6. Escape Velocity (H.I.V.E. Book 3)

by: Mark Walden
Release date: Apr 19, 2011
Number of Pages: 357
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Now in paperback, a riveting installment in an action-packed series.

Students and staff at H.I.V.E.—the Higher Institute of Villainous Education—are horrified to discover that Dr. Nero has been captured by the forces of H.O.P.E.—the Hostile Operative Prosecution Executive—the world’s newest and most ruthlessly efficient security force. Otto decides that the only way to find Nero and the truth behind the lies is to escape H.I.V.E. But he’s also struggling with some newfound abilities: Can he really unconsciously interface with computers without physical contact? And if he can, what exactly do his new powers mean? In his search for answers, Otto must flee H.I.V.E., and take the risks that come with being a rogue agent. Then he just has to break into MI6…..

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life

7. The Fairy Swarm (The Imaginary Veterinary)

by: Suzanne SelforsDan Santat
Release date: May 03, 2016
Number of Pages: 240
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“Ten-year-olds Ben Silverstein and Pearl Petal have had quite a busy summer as apprentices of Dr. Woo, veterinarian for imaginary creatures. When a swarm of sugar fairies escapes into Buttonville, Ben and Pearl must protect the townspeople, keep the fairies safe, and outsmart the dangerous poacher, Maximus Steele”–
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals

8. Cul-de-sac Kids Boxed Set

by: Beverly Lewis
Release date: Apr 01, 1997
Number of Pages: 480
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This is an exciting and lighthearted chapter book series for young readers that centers on the often humorous escapades of a group of endearing neighborhood friends.
tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life > Values

9. The Lost Cipher

by: Michael Oechsle
Release date: May 15, 2016
Number of Pages: 272
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Lucas’s father has recently died in Afghanistan, and to help him cope, his grandmother sends him to Camp Kawani, a camp for kids who have lost a parent. While there, he hears about the local legend of Thomas Jefferson Beale. Beale supposedly hid a hoard of gold in the mountains 200 years before. The location is encrypted in a set of codes no one has ever been able to decipher. When Lucas and his newfound friends decide to track down the treasure, they embark on a mission that could be too dangerous to survive.
tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Difficult Discussions > Death & Dying

10. The Mysterious Visitor (Trixie Belden)

by: Julie Campbell
Release date: Aug 26, 2003
Number of Pages: 272
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Trixie and Diana Lynch were friends for years before Di’s family became fabulously rich. So when Di’s long-lost uncle starts ruining her social life, Di turns to her old friend for help. But Trixie thinks Uncle Monty isn’t just an annoying relative–she thinks he’s an impostor!

From the Hardcover edition.

tags:

Children’s Books > Literature & Fiction

11. Alvin’s Secret Code (Puffin Novel)

by: Clifford Hicks
Release date: Jul 01, 1998
Number of Pages: 160
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The Alvin Fernald books have delighted children for close to forty years. These funny, fast-paced mysteries featuring inventor and ace detective Alvin are just right for fans of Encyclopedia Brown and Homer Price–and, now, a new generation of readers. When Alvin and Shoie find a secret message, they first try to break the code themselves. Then, they visit a man who knows more about codes and ciphers than anyone in town: Mr. Link, a former spy. He teaches them–and readers–how to be ace decoders. Soon they’re using their skill to solve a dangerous mystery! Clifford B. Hicks originally wrote the Alvin Fernald stories for and about his three sons. The books were the basis of two Disney television specials. Clifford Hicks and his wife live in Brevard, North Carolina.
tags:

Children’s Books > Humor

12. Clayton Stone, At Your Service

by: Ena Jones
Release date: Jul 17, 2015
Number of Pages: 192
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Twelve-year-old Clayton Stone is shocked when a top-secret government organization recruits him as a decoy in a kidnapping sting. Instantly, he gets drawn into the dangerous world of covert operations. Clayton’s new life is full of excitement, with elaborate disguises and classified debriefings, but soon enough there’s a gun against his neck. Clayton’s transformation from middle-school lacrosse star to Special Service agent is full of suspense, humor and heart — a thrilling undercover debut!
tags:

Children’s Books > Action & Adventure

13. Secrets of a Ghost’s Diary

by: Dawn Clifton
Release date: Apr 28, 2014
Number of Pages: 128
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Keeping a secret is like having an active volcano inside. It’s only a matter of time.
Every summer Carson settles into the island routine at his grandparents’ lighthouse, but this summer is different. Lured by a rumor that the lighthouse is haunted, Carson begins an investigation with his friend Levi and cousin Emma. Soon, they encounter the ghost. Hand-picked by the ghost to guard a diary from the 1800s, the trio begins investigating the old entries. Along the way, every uncovered secret produces more questions. But they aren’t the only ones on a quest for answers. After the final diary entry is stolen, they learn it contains the answer to why the ghost has been haunting them. What if it’s too late? What will the trio risk to reclaim the secret to their destiny?
Author and Novelist Dawn Marie Clifton, has created a fresh style in the mystery genre for kids and tweens. Readers who enjoy a range from laughing to thrilling suspense, are in for a treat!
tags:

Children’s Books > Mysteries & Detectives

14. Chase Under Pressure: (Chase Manning Mystery #3) (Chase Manning Mystery Series)

by: Steve Reifman
Release date: May 08, 2015
Number of Pages: 99
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Book Synopsis
With huge prizes on the line at the state hamster race, the Apple Valley Elementary science team has been working overtime to prepare. Dash, the school’s little speedster, is in the best shape of her life, and confidence is high—until the hamster turns up missing the morning of the event. Fifth-grader Chase Manning must overcome an unsupportive principal, the visiting members of a rival school, and even his own teammates to identify the thief and find Dash before the competition begins. Expect the unexpected on the pages of this single-day, real-time mystery thriller.

About the Chase Manning Mystery Series
The Chase Manning Mystery Series features single-day, real-time thrillers that occur on an elementary school campus. Written for readers 8-12 years of age by National Board Certified Teacher Steve Reifman, the series launched with the award-winning Chase Against Time, in which fifth grader Chase Manning must investigate the mysterious disappearance of the cello that the school plans to auction off to save its prestigious music program. Its sequel, Chase for Home, was released in 2014. Both Chase Against Time and Chase for Home have enjoyed rave reviews from children, parents, and teachers. Young readers love the books’ fast-paced, action-packed format while parents and teachers appreciate the kid-friendly tone and content. Chase is now back in the eagerly anticipated third installment, Chase Under Pressure.

Note for Elementary School Teachers and Parents
Chase Against Time, Chase for Home, and Chase Under Pressure are Level Q on the Fountas & Pinnell scale. All three books are ideally suited to be used as read alouds and mentor texts during Reading Workshop units on mystery and “edge-of-seat” fiction because they include numerous examples of end-of-chapter cliffhangers, red herrings, suspects, motives, and other important mystery elements. If you are interested in teaching children how to craft their own mysteries, check out Steve’s e-book, The Ultimate Mystery Writing Guide for Kids.

tags:

Children’s Books > Mysteries & Detectives

15. The Tiara on the Terrace

by: Kristen Kittscher
Release date: Jan 05, 2016
Number of Pages: 400
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In this funny, clever novel, perfect for fans of Pseudonymous Bosch and Gordon Korman and a companion to The Wig in the Window, tween sleuths Sophie Young and Grace Yang go undercover at Luna Vista’s Winter Sun Festival to catch a murderer before he—or she—strikes again.

Sophie Young and Grace Yang have been taking it easy ever since they solved the biggest crime Luna Vista had ever seen. But things might get interesting again now that everyone is gearing up for the 125th annual Winter Sun Festival—a town tradition that involves floats, a parade, and a Royal Court made up of local high school girls.

When Festival president Jim Steptoe turns up dead on the first day of parade preparations, the police blame a malfunctioning giant s’more feature on the campfire-themed float. But the two sleuths are convinced the mysterious death wasn’t an accident.

Young and Yang must trade their high tops for high heels and infiltrate the Royal Court to solve the case. But if they fail, they might just be the next victims.

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Friendship, Social Skills & School Life > Girls & Women

16. Timmy Failure: The Book You’re Not Supposed to Have

by: Stephan PastisStephan Pastis
Release date: Sep 01, 2016
Number of Pages: 304
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Banishment from his life’s calling can’t keep a comically overconfident detective down in the latest episode by New York Times bestseller Stephan Pastis.

This book was never meant to exist. No one needs to know the details. Just know this: there’s a Merry, a Larry, a missing tooth, and a teachers’ strike that is crippling Timmy Failure’s academic future. Worst of all, Timmy is banned from detective work. It’s a conspiracy of buffoons. He recorded everything in his private notebook, but then the manuscript was stolen. If this book gets out, he will be grounded for life. Or maybe longer. And will Timmy’s mom really marry Doorman Dave?

tags:

Children’s Books > Humor

17. Young Cam Jansen and the Pizza Shop Mystery

by: David A. AdlerSusanna Natti
Release date: Oct 01, 2001
Number of Pages: 32
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At a pizza parlor, Cam Jansen’s jacket disappears. Could someone have taken it? Where could it be? Find out when Cam’s amazing memory clicks into action in the sixth book of the Young Cam Jansen series.

From the Trade Paperback edition.

tags:

Children’s Books > Literature & Fiction > Chapter Books & Readers > Chapter Books

18. Lou Lou and Pea and the Mural Mystery

by: Jill DiamondLesley Vamos
Release date: Oct 18, 2016
Number of Pages: 272
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Perfect for readers outgrowing Ivy & Bean and the Nancy Clancy books!

BFFs Lou Lou Bombay and Peacock Pearl love their PSPP (Post-School Pre-Parents) tea parties on Friday afternoons, where they recap the school week, chat about Pea’s latest fashions, and tend to Lou Lou’s burgeoning backyard garden. But when a series of small crimes crop up around El Corazon, their quaint and quirky town, right before the Dia de Los Muertos Parade, the girls must join forces (horticultural know-how and artistic genius) to solve the mystery.

Debut author Jill Diamond weaves a delightful romp, full of colorful characters and gentle intrigue, while artist Lesley Vamos punctuates the story with black-and-white illustrations throughout. Backmatter includes crafting activities and a glossary of Spanish terms!

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Friendship, Social Skills & School Life > Friendship

19. Mike Stellar: Nerves of Steel

by: K. A. Holt
Release date: May 11, 2010
Number of Pages: 272
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What’s going on? Mike is whisked away on a trip to Mars on only eight hours’ notice, and while that sounds kind of cool. . . things aren’t quite right. His parents might be involved in a sabotage plot; the know-it-all, talks-too-much girl in his class seems out of this world; and his sister back on Earth is missing. As if all that weren’t enough, Mike’s teacher seems to come from the Dark Ages of the twenty-first century, and his mom’s assistant is a creepy goon.

What could be worse?

Oh, yeah! The food stinks!

Loaded with laughs and fast-paced action, K. A. Holt’s first novel is set to give summer reading a cosmic blast of fun.

tags:

Children’s Books > Action & Adventure

20. Secret of the Staircase (The Virginia Mysteries Book 4)

by: Steven K. Smith
Release date: Oct 16, 2015
Number of Pages: 166
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Magic Tree House meets Hardy Boys

Something’s lurking beneath the famous staircase at The Jefferson, Richmond’s historic downtown hotel. Back in 1895, when the hotel opened, real alligators roamed free in the courtyard fountains. That was ages ago … or was it? When young brothers Sam and Derek arrive at The Jefferson for an elegant wedding weekend with their parents, they love exploring the old hotel. But when the wedding rings go missing and Sam is blamed, the boys and their friends must hunt down the truth no matter where it leads. If they’re not careful, they might become dinner for the hotel’s most unusual guests. Recommended for ages 8-12.

The Virginia MysteriesAdventures with a twist of history
Book 1 – Summer of the Woods
Book 2 – Mystery on Church Hill
Book 3 – Ghosts of Belle Isle
Book 4 – Secret of the Staircase
Book 5 – Midnight at the Mansion

tags:

Children’s Books > Action & Adventure

21. The Case of the Swirling Killer Tornado (Hank the Cowdog #25)

by: John R. EricksonGerald L. Holmes
Release date: Aug 01, 1998
Number of Pages: 128
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This just in from the Emergency Weather Service: A tornado is headed straight for the ranch! And Hank and Drover are in the worst possible place–trapped inside the house. Can they find a way out–before they get blown away?
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals

22. Murder in the Middle Pasture (Hank the Cowdog)

by: John R. EricksonGerald L Holmes
Release date: Oct 15, 2011
Number of Pages: 120
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Hank faces a baffling new mystery which begins with the death of a calf on the ranch. Hank goes on a very dangerous mission to spy on the coyote village and arrest the murderer. A pack of wild dogs also complicates the plot. It takes all of Hank’s deductive powers to solve this one!
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Dogs

23. Horus and the Curse of Everlasting Regret

by: Hannah Voskuil
Release date: Aug 09, 2016
Number of Pages: 226
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A mystery-adventure in which a boy, a girl, a pet bat, and a mummy embark on a mission to find a kidnapped girl — and reverse an ancient Egyptian curse.
 
Peter will do just about anything to escape being bullied by his stepbrothers and go to summer camp. Across town, Tunie and her pet bat, Perch, are working hard at the bakery and the local museum to support Tunie’s ailing father. When a business tycoon’s daughter is kidnapped, Peter and Tunie both decide they could do with some reward money; and after a chance meeting in the Ancient Egyptian Exhibit at the museum, they team up to solve the mystery together.
Things take a turn for the magical when they encounter a mummy called Horus at the exhibit. Together, this unusual trio will find themselves teaming up to rescue the girl and undo a centuries-old curse that just may be the key to it all.
Filled with enchantment, history, and a little bit of luck, Horus and the Curse of Everlasting Regret is a charming adventure and a story of true friendship.
tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Friendship, Social Skills & School Life > Friendship

24. May Leads the Way: Trouble Near Tofino (May the K9 Spy Book 3)

by: KC FrantzenTW Vanya
Release date: Nov 01, 2013
Number of Pages: 184
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Trapped!
May graduates K9 Spy boot camp and returns home to find her archenemy’s plan to destroy the USA is counting down. She leads her family to safety, but suddenly, their haven becomes a trap.
Join Agent May on her first official mission as she learns the secrets of Resolute Mountain, confronts enemy dolphins determined to seize a nuclear submarine, and discovers the trouble near Tofino.
tags:

Children’s Books > Mysteries & Detectives

25. Hank the Cowdog and Monkey Business (Hank the Cowdog (Pb))

by: John R. EricksonGerald L. Holmes
Release date: Aug 01, 1998
Number of Pages: 110
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Hank the Cowdog, Head of Ranch Security, matches wits with an escaped circus monkey.
tags:

Children’s Books > Action & Adventure

26. Hank the Cowdog and Monkey Business (Hank the Cowdog (Quality))

by: John R EricksonGerald L Holmes
Release date: Oct 15, 2011
Number of Pages: 110
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A convoy of circus trucks is passing through the ranch. The last truck in the column hits a bump and a large red box falls off and comes to rest in the pasture. Hank and Drover investigate the box and discover that it contains a circus monkey. Pete advises Hank not to open it, but Hank’s curiosity gets the best of him. What follows is fun and adventure.
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Dogs

27. The Curse of the Incredible Priceless Corncob (Hank the Cowdog)

by: John R. EricksonGerald L Holmes
Release date: Oct 15, 2011
Number of Pages: 127
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What happens when an honest, hard working dog falls heir to a fortune? How is Hank, a steak loving dog, changed so that he would say, “We’d be fools to trade priceless corncobs for a miserable pile of steak scraps”? Hank and Drover fight over “money,” put on airs, even quit their jobs, and leave the ranch.
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Dogs

28. The Team That Couldn’t Lose: Who is Sending the Plays That Make the Team Unstoppable? (Matt Christopher Sports Classics)

by: Matt ChristopherThe #1 Sports Writer for Kids
Release date: Sep 01, 1997
Number of Pages: 96
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A young, inexperienced football team discovers its beginner’s luck is due to a series of mysterious but successful plays anonymously sent to the coach.
tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life > New Experiences

29. Nate the Great and the Big Sniff

by: Marjorie Weinman SharmatMitchell SharmatMartha Weston
Release date: Jun 05, 2008
Number of Pages: 48
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Nate, the great detective, depends on his dog, Sludge, to help him solve all of his cases. But Sludge can’t help him this time — Sludge is lost! Lost inside a big department store on a rainy day. Nate frantically searches for his best friend and trusted helper. Salespeople have spotted a wet, slippery, sloppy dog running about. Is Sludge hiding from them? Nate looks high and low, and in places he’d rather not look at all. But every clue leads to a dead end . . . until Nate realizes that Sludge can help him with this case!
tags:

Children’s Books > Literature & Fiction > Chapter Books & Readers > Chapter Books

30. Pink Orchids and Cheeseheads (The Further Confessions of April Grace Book 1)

by: KD McCrite
Release date: Sep 17, 2015
Number of Pages: 276
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An accident on the road. An unexpected marriage.
A slew of long-term, noisy wedding guests from Wisconsin who prefer sports to romance. A new friend who isn’t what she seems, and another one who is more than April Grace could hope for. The summer of 1987 at the Reilly home is off to a rousing, hilarious start to the further and continuing Confessions of April Grace!
tags:

Children’s Books > Mysteries & Detectives

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Last updated: Monday, December 5, 2016 6:37 AM