12 Best Mystery Books for 5-Year Olds on Epic

Canine best friends Ick and Crud have a knack for zany adventure. In this book, they  wind up investigating some unusual ruckus in the barn. They ask the cows, the chickens and the little pigs, “what’s going on?” None of the animals seem to have any answers. Young readers can join this doggie duo in getting to the bottom of the excitement in this seriously cute children’s book. If they love this, check out the first book in the series, “Ick and Crud: Ick’s Bleh Day” (and the rest)!

It’s a regular shift for Officer Smitty, a night guard at the National Museum of American History, until he gets a note from a kid who’s lost his favorite toy train. With the help of his friend Owl (who sleeps in a museum exhibit by day and comes out at night), he’s on the case. They search the museum high and low, there’s no trace of the lost train. While the pair races from exhibit to exhibit your kid will learn a lot about trains and other vehicles as they help solve the mystery. This compelling story is part of the Smithsonian Museum Mystery book series, a collection designed to inspire wonder and curiosity in children of all ages.

Josephine is one busy secret agent! As a super craft-loving super mom by day and super spy by night, she’s always on her toes. In this installment of the lighthearted mystery series, she’s off to Paris with her daughter (code name: Bug) to shop for crafting supplies. And while she’s at it, she’s hot on the trail of an infamous art thief. Will her crafting skills get her out of big trouble and help her nab her criminal? Busy parents will relate to this multi-tasking heroine, and kids will get a kick out of following her and Bug through the streets of Paris.

“Deductive detective” Duck gets an urgent call at his agency. Someone just stole one of the cakes from the local cake contest! With the help pf Owl, the night watchman, he must question thirteen animal suspects to fund the culprit. As the pair checks off each suspect, they arrive closer and closer to the truth and your kid can pick up some basic principles of subtraction along the way.  

Detective Zebra and his trusty partner Dot are just starting their day at the detective agency on Bakery Street when a family reports that some delicious jam tarts have gone missing. Who could’ve taken them? Was it a magical unicorn? A ravenous tart-eating monster? Zebra and Dot are on it! Your little one will have tons of sleuthing fun following Detective Zebra in this charming and hilarious picture book. It even includes many references to the classic Arthur Conan Doyle series that inspired this book.

Look out, bad guys! With the help of your kid, super sleuth Slylock Fox is on the move, solving 116 crime-busting puzzles. Is Count Weirdly innocent or is he responsible for releasing the monster? Who’s behind the prank calls to Cassandra Cat’s landline? Your kid will flex their logic muscles to find out. This engaging book will challenge your child to get their thinking cap on to solve a series of mysteries in each picture.

Squirrel loves counting the leaves on his colorful tree—red, gold and more. But wait! He discovers one of his beloved leaves has gone missing and must team up with Bird to find it. Who among their friends could be the one who’s taken the leaf? This hilarious, vibrantly illustrated book explores the magic of autumn, and teaches kids about the changing seasons, adapting to change and coping with the anxiety that sometimes comes with it.

In this adorable Read-To-Me book, Violet the mermaid and Wally the narwhal must follow a series of clues to find out why a new playground in Aquamarina seemed to mysteriously fall apart. Let your young reader dive into adventure with Violet and her aquatic friends as they solve the mystery of the disappearing playground.

Here’s another exciting Epic Originals book: “Bark Park!” In this installment in the adorable mystery series, join Scout, a little dog with a huge appetite for solving mysteries on her first case. Who popped Maggie’s favorite red ball? This seriously cute Read-To-Me story is perfect for canine-loving early readers.

Scooby-Doo is back in this series created especially for early readers. The gang is spending a relaxing day at the park when they find a map that leads to pirate treasure. But as they start their hunt, Scooby disappears. Is this the work of a pirate ghost? Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred are about to find out. This fun mystery is the perfect way to introduce your kid to these iconic characters loved by generations of young readers.

Most of us are familiar with Humpty Dumpty and his great fall. But did he really fall? Or was the poor egg pushed? Dun, dun, DUN! So begins this hardboiled take on the traditional nursery rhyme. Humpty’s younger brother Joe Dumpty is determined to find out. He starts off by tracing his brother’s footsteps through Mother Gooseland, then spends the day interviewing characters from popular rhymes and fairy tales. This clever retelling is filled with humor, wit and silly references even adults can appreciate. 

Getting to the bottom of a mysterious letter can be quite a challenge when you’re a dog, especially when it’s written in a code even your human can’t understand. This endearing books takes kids through the process of forming questions and deciphering codes as canine King and his human Kayla work to find out who sent the letter. Your kid will pick up some code-cracking and problem-solving skills, and have lots of fun in the process.