Books for Independent Reading
VERY EASY
Young Cam Jansen and the Lost Tooth- by David A. Adler
Viking 1997 (32p)
When Annie's tooth falls out and disappears, it is up to young Cam Jansen and her photographic memory to find it.
- The Mud Flat Mystery
- by James Stevenson
Greenwillow 1997 (56p)
Duncan is not home when a special-delivery box is left on his front porch, and his Mud Flat neighbors just get more and more curious about what could be inside.
- The Camp Knock Knock Mystery
- by Betsy Duffy
Yearling 1997 (48p)
Willie must use the clues in his friend Crow's knock-knock jokes in order to find his missing joke book.
- Young Cam Jansen and the Missing Cookie
- by David A. Adler
Viking 1996 (32p)
With her amazing memory, Cam sets out to discover who took Jason's chocolate chip cookie.
- Young Cam Jansen and the Dinosaur Game
- by David A. Adler
Viking 1996 (32p)
Cam and her friend Eric investigate the mysterious happenings at a birthday party.
- Pirate Plunder's Treasure Hunt: A Pop-Up Whodunit
- by Iain Smyth
Dutton 1996 (16p)
The reader joins six suspicious characters in search of gold treasure that has disappeared.
- Emily Eyefinger and the Lost Treasure
- by Duncan Bell
Simon 1994 (96p) also paper
Emily travels to Egypt and tours an upside-down pyramid in her efforts to find a lost treasure.
- Aunt Eater's Mystery Christmas
- by Doug Cushman
Harper 1995 (64p)
In her latest adventure, Aunt Eater's plans for a relaxing vacation at the Hotel Bathwater are interrupted by a series of baffling events.
EASY
- Detective Donut and the Wild Goose Chase
- by Bruce Whatley and Rosie Smith
Harper 1997 (40p)
The bumbling Detective Donut and his clever sidekick, Mouse, have their hands full with a case that involves a stolen statue, a missing archaeologist, and a villainous suspect named Goose.
- Cam Jansen and the Scary Snake Mystery
- by David A. Adler
Viking 1997 (64p)
Cam needs her photographic memory to help her locate her mother's missing video camera--and a missing snake!
- Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Schoolhouse
- by Eth Clifford
Houghton 1997 (48p)
When Flatfoot Fox and Secretary Bird go to the aid of Principal Porcupine, two culprits confess to making the schoolhouse disappear.
- Nate the Great and the Christmas Crunch
- by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Craig Sharmat
Delacorte 1996 (48p)
Nate the Great and his dog Sludge must find out what has happened to the missing Christmas mail.
- Sam Sunday and the Mystery at the Ocean Beach Hotel
- by Robyn Supraner
Viking 1996 (32p)
When Detective Sam Sunday realizes his friends have forgotten his birthday, he decides he might as well investigate the mysterious events at the Ocean Beach Hotel.
- The Great Castle Mystery
- by Nick Denchfield and Philip Ardagh
Harper 1996 (24p)
Using a pop-out castle model and press-out figures, the reader must solve the mystery at Baron Swarthy's Castle before the king arrives.
- Cam Jansen and the Ghostly Mystery
- by David A. Adler
Viking 1996 (64p)
In her latest adventure, Cam Jansen uses her photographic memory to help nab a thief, dressed as a ghost, who stole money from a concert hall.
- Detective Dinosaur
- by James Skofield
Harper 1996 (48p)
Detective Dinosaur and his sidekick Officer Pterodactyl solve several cases despite the the detective's clumsiness.
- Cam Jansen and the Triceratops Pops Mystery
- by David A. Adler
Viking 1995 (64p)
Cam Jansen's fifteenth adventure finds her trying to
discover what happened to music store's CDs by her
favorite group, the Triceratops Pops.
- The Eye of the Pharaoh: A Pop-Up Whodunit
- by Iain Smyth
Dutton 1995 (12p)
Pop-ups, flaps, and secret labels help to provide
the clues needed to determine which of seven suspects
stole the Pharaoh's priceless jewel.
- Nate the Great and the Tardy Tortoise
- by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Delacorte 1995 (48p)
In his latest caper, Nate the Great must find out who
is eating the flowers from his garden.
AVERAGE
- Einstein Anderson, Science Detective: On-Line Spaceman and Other Cases
- by Seymour Simon
Morrow 1997 (92p)
Einstein Anderson, a twelve-year old whiz kid, uses science to solve a number of mysteries.
- The Soccer Mystery
- by Gertrude Chandler Warner
(Multicultural)
Whitman 1997 (128p)
The Boxcar Children and their cousin Soo Lee enjoy playing soccer until a series of mysterious pranks makes it clear that someone wants the teams in the league to lose.
- The Mystery of King Karfu
- by Doug Cushman
Harper 1996 (32p)
Seymour Sleuth and his assistant Muggs travel to Egypt to find a missing stone chicken that holds the clue to the Lost Treasure of King Karfu.
- The Mystery in San Francisco
- by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Whitman 1997 (128p) also paper
The Boxcar Children arrive in San Francisco to visit their Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy and discover someone wants to put their aunt and uncle's friend out of the fishing business.
- The Hurricane Mystery
- by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Whitman 1996 (128p) also paper
In their latest adventure, the Boxcar Children are in Charleston to help
repair hurricane damage to the house of their grandfather's neighbor,
whose pirate-ancestors may have buried treasure on the property.
- The Mystery of the Eagle Feather
- by Elspeth Campbell Murphy
(Multicultural)
Bethany 1995 (64p) paper
With his cousins Titus and Sarah-Jane, Timothy gets to go to a powwow to meet his pen pal Anthony Two-Trees and help solve the mystery of the disappearing eagle feathers.
- The Mystery in the Cave
- by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Whitman 1996 (192p) also paper
In their latest mystery, the Boxcar Children hunt for rocks and crystals in Dragon's Mouth Cavern and encounter several suspicious people who want them to leave.
CHALLENGING
- The Case of the Goblin Pearls:Chinatown Mystery #1
- by Laurence Yep
Harper 1997 (179p)
When the famous Goblin Pearls are stolen in broad daylight, Lily and her famous action-movie-star aunt, Tiger Lil, become fearless detectives determined to find them.
- What's a Daring Detective Like Me Doing in the Doghouse?
- by Linda Bailey
Whitman 1997 (152p)
Stevie and her friend Jesse must find the prankster who has snatched an opera singer's toupee, stolen the Prime Minister's underwear, and kidnapped the President's dog.
- The Case of the Wiggling Wig: A McGurk Mystery
- by E. W. Hildick
Simon 1996 (154p)
While McGurk recovers from a broken leg, he and his group of detectives investigate the strange happenings in a nearby rented house, in their most challenging case yet.
- Who's Got Gertie? And How Can We Get Her Back?
- by Linda Bailey
Whitman 1997 also paper
Stevie and her friend must find their neighbor Gertie Wiggins, who was supposed to look after them for the summer but who has mysteriously disappeared.
- How Come the Best Clues Are Always in the Garbage?
- by Linda Bailey
Whitman 1996 (176p) also paper
Stevie Diamond and her partner Jesse must find out who stole a thousand dollars from the environmental group that employs Stevie's mother. See others in the series.
- Detective Dictionary: A Handbook for Aspiring Sleuths
- by Erich Ballinger
Lerner 1994 (144p)
Informative and entertaining, this handbook offers
the budding sleuth helpful hints on crime solving.
Now Out of Print
- The Fourth Floor Twins and the Fish Snitch Mystery
- by David A. Adler
- My Dog and the Green Sock Mystery
- by David A. Adler
- Deputy Shep
- by Mary Stplz
Now Available in Paperback
- Cam Jansen and the Triceratops Mystery
- by David A. Adler
Puffin
- Nate the Great and the Crunchy Christmas
- by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Craig Sharmat
Yearling
- Nate the Great and the Tardy Tortoise
- by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Yearling
- Aunt Eater's Mystery Christmas
- by Doug Cushman
HarperTrophy
- Emily Eyefinger, Secret Agent
- by Duncan Ball
Aladdin
- Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Eye
- by Eth Clifford
Scholastic
- Mr. Pin: The Chocolate Files
- by Mary Elise Monsell
Simon
- Surfboard to Peril: A Miss Mallard Mystery
- by Robert Quackenbush
Simon
- The Losers Fight Back
- by Barbara M. Joosse
Dell
Now Available in Spanish
- The Case of the Hungry Stranger (El caso del forastero hambriento)
- by Crosby Bonsall
Harper Arco Iris 1996
Now Out of Print
- Eagle Eye Ernie Comes to Town
- by Susan Pearson
- Surfboard to Peril: A Miss Mallard Mystery
- by Robert Quackenbush