Teaching Mysteries in Grades 2-4

Introducing children to the mysteries in grades 2 through 4 requires us to think abut the characteristics of the genre, have a collection of books we can read aloud and that children can read in small groups, with a partner and on their own.  Below are a few suggestions.

Read Alouds
Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
The Chronicles of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg & various writers
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
Greenglass House by Kate Milford (Edgar winner)
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

Mystery Series


Grade 2
Adam Sharp by George Edward Stanley (Level L)
Aunt Eaters series by Doug Cushman (Level K)
The Calendar Mysteries by Nancy Star (Level M)
Cam Jansen Mysteries by David A. Adler (Level L)
Capita Mysteries by Ron Roy (Level M)
Clues Brothers by Franklin Dixon (Level M)
High-Rise Private Eyes series by Cynthia Rylant (Level K)
Houdini Club Magic Mystery by David A. Adler  (Levels L & M)
Inspector Hopper series by Doug Cushman (Level K)
Invisible Inc. series by Elizabeth Levy (Level L)
Meg MacKintosh series by Lucinda Landon (Level M, O)
Murilla Gorilla series by Jennifer Lloyd (Level M)
Nancy Drew Notebooks series by Carolyn Keene (Level M)
Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat (Level K)
Scooby-Doo Hello Reader Mystery series by James Gelsey (Level J+)
Sly the Sleuth series by Donna Jo Napoli (Level L)
Young Cam Jansen Mysteries by David A. Adler (Level J)



Grade 3
A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy (Level N)
Abracadabra Series series by Peter Lerangis  (Level N)
Agatha: Girl of Mystery series by Sir Steve Stevenson (Levels O & P)
The Babysitters Club Super Mysteries by Ann M. Martin (Level O)
Chet Gecko Mysteries by Bruce Hale (Level O)
Doyle and Fossey Science Detectives series  by Michele Torrey (Level O)
Encyclopedia Brown series  by Donald J. Sobol (Level P)
Jack Russell Dog Detective series by Darrel Odgers (Level N)
Jigsaw Jones Mystery series  by James Preller (Level N)
Meg MacKintosh series by Lucinda Landon (Level M, O)
Mystic Lighthouse Mysteries series by Laura E. Williams (Level O)
Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew series  by Carolyn Keene (Level N)
Pigsticks and Harold series by Alex Milway (Level  P)
Polka Dot Private Eye series by Patricia Reilly Giff  (Level N)
Something Queer series by Elizabeth Levy (Level N)
Third-Grade Detectives series by George Edward Stanley (Level N)
Wild Willie Mystery series by Barbara Joosse (Level N)


Grade 4+
Agatha: Girl of Mystery series by Sir Steve Stevenson (Levels O & P)
American Girl Mysteries series by various authors (Level S+)
Culpepper Adventures series by Gary Paulsen (Levels O-R)
Diamond Brothers series by Anthony Hopkins (Levels P - T)
A Dog and His Girl Mysteries by Jane B. Mason (Level U)
Encyclopedia Brown series  by Donald J. Sobol (Level P)
Half-Moon Investigations series by Eoin Colfer (Level Q)
Hank the Cowdog series  by John R. Erickson (Levels P & Q)
Herculeah Jones Mystery series  by Betsy Byars (Level S)
Jack Russell Dog Detective series by Darrel Odgers (Level N)
Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew series  by Carolyn Keene (Level N)
Precious Ramotswe Mysteries for Young Readers series by Alexander McCall Smith (Level S)
Raven Hill Mystery series by Emily Rodda (Levels N - R)
Sebastian Barth Mystery series by James Howe (Level R)
Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars series by Tracy Mack and Michael Citrin (Level R)
The Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley (Level U)
Spider Kane series by Mary Pope Osborne (Levels O & P)
Two Minute Mysteries by Donald Sobol (Level S)
Ulysses Moore series by Pierdomenico Baccalario  (Level S)
Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs by Sharon Draper (Levels O-R)