Children's Book Week

Children's Book Week is the national celebration of books and reading for youth. This year it is May 2-8 and I hope your library or school is participating.



Since 1919, Children's Book Week has been celebrated countrywide with author & illustrator appearances, parties, storytelling, and other book-related events in schools, libraries, bookstores, clubs -- anywhere where kids and books connect.


It all began with the idea that children's books can change lives. In 1913, Franklin K. Matthiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, began touring the country to promote higher standards in children's books. He proposed creating a Children's Book Week, which would be supported by all interested groups: publishers, booksellers, and librarians.


Visit the website for more information: http://www.bookweekonline.com/about


I think that mysteries are great for children. Mysteries encourage using analytical skills, cause and effect thinking, and logic.


I loved the Three Investigators growing up. Everyone knows of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Let's see what else is out there.

I found Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett that features a pair of precocious kids on an artful quest full of patterns, puzzles, and the power of blue M&Ms.

Next is Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach featuring a search for the missing "Murphy Diamond," a precious jewel that supposedly disappeared from a neighbor's house.

I stumbled across an intriguing premise of an orphan who is recruited to be a spy of sorts in The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart.  There are a few in the series so far.

Then there is the 39 Clues (11 books that I know of in the series) that starts with The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan. The story line is that a brother and sister follow clues left by a deceased relative to a treasure. This is reported to be filled with "suspense, peril and puzzles in a fast-paced read." Each book in the series in written by one of seven or so authors.

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler b y E.L. Konigsburg we have siblings Claudia and Jamie caught up in the mystery of an angel statue that the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York purchased at an auction for a bargain price of $250. The statue is possibly an early work of the Renaissance master Michelangelo, and therefore worth millions. Is it? Or isn't it? Claudia is determined to find out.

Of course there is the book Holes by Louis Sachar that was made into a movie.

How about the Enola Holmes mysteries by Nancy Springer. There are about six in the series that I know of, starting with The Case of the Missing Marques. This series features the intriguing, much younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes.


The Theodosia series has Theo Throckmorton, a combination of Nancy Drew and Indiana Jones. I believe there are four so far in this series.


Please share what mystery novels you have found for children.