Top Mystery Books for Kids
Among many other things, writing well means reading well. There is nothing like a good book to ignite and crackle the imaginations of young kids, and set the model for crafting fantastic stories themselves.
To tie in with our regular Mystery Mayhem workshop – a class all about decoding the art of whodunits, page-puzzlers and thrillers – our friends at Roaring Stories Bookshop have helped us put together a list of some of the most engrossing mystery reads they have on their shelves.
Swing by the store to pick up a copy or ask children’s book expert Bronwyn for more recommends. There are free delivery options too for those living in Balmain and surrounds.
Mark Anchovy, Pizza Detective
By William Goldsmith
Recommended for ages 9 – 12
Extra pepperoni? No worries. How about a sprinkle of ratbaggy adventures? And a side order of subterfuge?
Mark Anchovy is no ordinary delivery boy. In this hilarious caper, the young and aspiring detective’s amazing memory skills have been picked up by the secret Golden Spatula League. They recruit the kid to solve the whodunit that’s stopped the art world: a missing painting in Rome, most likely stolen by Big Alan Fresco, notorious art thief and pizza addict.
This is the first book in a planned trilogy, and the debut children’s book of William Goldsmith. Goldsmith is a professional artist – with a beautifully quirky style and exhibitions in London, Moscow and Brussels – and his black-and-white drawings fill almost every page of this addictive book.
Perfect for any pre-teen that loves a cheesy slice of fun!
The Famous Five: Five Go to Smuggler’s Top
By Enid Blyton
Recommended for ages 8 – 12
There’s a good chance you might have read this very book when you were young. Published in 1945, and the fourth in the author’s ‘Famous Five’ series, this book is an oldie but a goodie. Blessedly kept in print by Hachette Australia, in this novel the five (four kids plus Timmy the dog) are staying at an old house shrouded in mists. Things start to happen which suggest there still might be smugglers which gave the place its name…
A great book to give an eight-year-old (and for a little saunter down nostalgia street).
The Secret Library of Hummingbird House
By Julianne Negri
Recommended for ages 8+
The Secret Library of Hummingbird House is a real treasure of a read, infused with themes of memory, belonging and place. It follows Hattie Maxwell, who’s home is falling apart in more ways than one. First, there was the Big Split. Then developers begin to encircle the very foundations of her home… Can she preserve what was? What is worth holding onto, and can Hattie learn to let go?
On her quest, there is time travel, a quirky younger sister, and ideas around what it means to be estranged from what you knew and loved. Writes Books+Publishing, the book “takes readers on a journey that involves a hidden library, lost treasure and an unexpected ally. It celebrates standing up for what you believe in and the power of new friendship, with a dramatic climax that will take many by surprise."
The Adventures of Catvinkle
By Elliot Perlman
Recommended for ages 9+
Can a pampered cat and a street dog become friends? It is hard not to fall madly in love with The Adventures of Catvinkle. Since it was published in 2017, this book by Miles Franklin-shortlisted author Eliot Perlman has won adoring praise from mums, dads, kids and reviewers everywhere. Writes Books+Publishing:
Perlman was apparently inspired by a cat lying in a window in Amsterdam and started telling a story to his then-four-year-old niece, who kept reminding him that he ought to write it down. The story that has evolved years later is a charming and whimsical tale of a pampered Amsterdam cat, Catvinkle, who meets an adorable buffoon of a Dalmatian, Ula, and the friendship and appreciation that develops between the unlikely pair. This chapter book is broken up into several narrative chunks, interspersed with lovely simple illustrations, making it an approachable read. Catvinkle and Ula go on adventures, problem-solve and learn together. Along the way, the pair meet a delightful cast of other characters: Mr Sabatini, the barber; ‘Lobbus the brave dog Lobbus’; and Roy Llama, among others. There are gentle lessons in here about empathy, bravery and friendship, but it’s also simply a delightful and easy-to-read story with laugh-out-loud dialogue that doesn’t talk down to its readers. Although the book is aimed at nine- to eleven-year-olds, parents will enjoy reading this book with younger children too.
Jefferson
By Jean-Claude Mourlevat
Recommended for ages 9+
What is not to love about this soft-hearted hedgehog? Falsely accused of murdering his barber, poor Jefferson is forced to go into hiding in the very place most creatures would avoid: the Human Kingdom. Accompanying him to help him track down the real killer is his good friend, Gilbert the Pig.
Written by French author (plus former teacher, actor and touring clown) Jean-Claude Mourlevat, Jefferson has since been translated into over eight languages after scooping up several awards and winning legions of little fans everywhere. A charming adventure with inside illustrations, Jefferson is a story about teamwork, sticking together and animal rights.
The Bigwoof Conspiracy
By Dashe Roberts
Recommended for ages 8+
Another debut children’s book written by a former actor! Dashe Roberts is obsessed with the wild, weird and uncanny, and The Bigwoof Conspiracy brings them together in a deliciously spinetingling tale featuring UFOs, small town disappearances and an enormous hairy thing. Since followed by The Thing at Black Hole Lake, the Sticky Pines series has become a cult sci-fi hit. Recommended for kids who have an affinity with that plucky Stranger Things gang.
Warnings parents: best hide this book before bedtime, otherwise they’ll be reading it with a flashlight under the covers till dawn!
And just a few more other mystery books we love…
