Visual and textual puzzle activity "you solve the mystery" stories for the 5-10 year old crowd, with a special emphasis on the lower grades and beginning readers.
Extra points for votes in picture book format.

Related lists are:
Activity Books - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Picture Puzzle Books - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
Find and Seek - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
and for the next age range,
Sleuthing with Ciphers for Kids - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
1

by
4.38 avg rating — 42 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
1

by
4.15 avg rating — 33 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
3

by
4.14 avg rating — 7 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
3

by
4.83 avg rating — 6 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
5

by
4.40 avg rating — 57 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
5

by
4.71 avg rating — 7 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
7

by
4.45 avg rating — 40 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
7

by
3.88 avg rating — 2,821 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
9

by
4.08 avg rating — 568 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
9

by
0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
11

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 16 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
11

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 14 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
13

by
4.10 avg rating — 10 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
13

by
4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
15

by
0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
15

by
4.14 avg rating — 14 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
17

by
4.27 avg rating — 82 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
17

by
3.99 avg rating — 1,352 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
19

by
4.33 avg rating — 9,563 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
20

by
it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
21

by
4.56 avg rating — 325 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
22

by
4.27 avg rating — 23,060 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
23

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 93 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
24

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
25

by
3.68 avg rating — 53 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
26

by
3.69 avg rating — 103 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
27

by
3.74 avg rating — 96 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
28

by
4.27 avg rating — 11 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
29

by
3.50 avg rating — 22 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
30

by
4.25 avg rating — 12 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
31

by
4.29 avg rating — 41 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
32

by
4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
33

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 9 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
34

by
4.17 avg rating — 6 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
35

by
4.06 avg rating — 83 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
36

by
4.50 avg rating — 12 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
37

by
4.29 avg rating — 24 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
38

by
4.19 avg rating — 21 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
39

by
4.33 avg rating — 6 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
40

by
3.76 avg rating — 71 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
41

by
3.80 avg rating — 123 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
42

by
3.86 avg rating — 22 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
43

by
4.29 avg rating — 56 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
44

by
4.14 avg rating — 7 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
45

by
4.17 avg rating — 12 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
46

by
3.50 avg rating — 2 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
47

by
4.05 avg rating — 40,224 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
48

by
4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
49

by
4.10 avg rating — 156 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
50

by
4.12 avg rating — 24 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
51

by
3.88 avg rating — 24 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
52

by
it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 1 rating
Rate this book
Clear rating
53

by
0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
54

by
4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
55

by
3.94 avg rating — 94 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
56

by
4.29 avg rating — 79 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
57

by
4.62 avg rating — 52 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
58

by
4.17 avg rating — 18 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
59

by
4.85 avg rating — 13 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
60

by
0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
61

by
4.41 avg rating — 17 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
62

by
4.12 avg rating — 8 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
63

by
4.50 avg rating — 6 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
64

by
0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
65

by
3.95 avg rating — 19 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
66

by
it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 1 rating
Rate this book
Clear rating
67

by
3.73 avg rating — 154 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
68

by
4.33 avg rating — 9 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
69

by
4.03 avg rating — 33 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
70

by
3.96 avg rating — 73 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
71

by
3.87 avg rating — 30 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
72

by
4.43 avg rating — 35 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
73

by
3.71 avg rating — 82 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
74

by
4.05 avg rating — 2,921 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
75

by
4.05 avg rating — 821 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
76

by
4.04 avg rating — 865 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
77

by
4.20 avg rating — 175,602 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
78

by
3.75 avg rating — 152 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
79

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 5 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
80

by
4.08 avg rating — 132 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
81

by
4.03 avg rating — 129 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
82

by
4.15 avg rating — 110 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
83

by
3.79 avg rating — 135 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
84

by
3.73 avg rating — 44 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
85

by
3.77 avg rating — 44 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
86

by
3.84 avg rating — 68 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
87

by
3.70 avg rating — 23 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
88

by
0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
89

by
4.15 avg rating — 20 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


People Who Voted On This List (2)

Capn 9528 books
106 friends
Sem 7697 books
35 friends



Comments Showing 1-9 of 9 (9 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Sem (new)

Sem Do jigsaw puzzle books count? I came across a bunch the other day.


message 2: by Capn (new)

Capn I don't even know what they are... sure! :D


message 3: by Sem (new)

Sem Capn wrote: "I don't even know what they are... sure! :D"

A book - a board book, I assume - for ages 3+ where the illustrations are assembled from jigsaw puzzle pieces. I'd never seen them before. I'll add them.


message 4: by Sem (new)

Sem Capn wrote: "I don't even know what they are... sure! :D"

Upon reflection, I won't add them. I don't think they're quite what you're looking for. Jigsaw books should have a list of their own.


message 5: by Capn (new)

Capn Now I have to look these up - I can't quite guess! :D


message 6: by Capn (last edited Dec 26, 2025 01:41PM) (new)

Capn Oh, aha! A book of physical jigsaw puzzles to snap into place! Yes, The Jolly Postman or Other People's Letters has one in it - I'm forever frantically trying to find THAT ONE PIECE so that book isn't rendered usless (already had to reprint part of it from a kind soul who scanned their loose bits! Erm, that doesn't sound right.. you know what I mean. Untethered content. Yes).

Yeah, I think they sort of warrant their own category. I'm looking for logic problems and ciphers and search-and-find and spot-the-clue stuff primarily, but a jigsaw component would be very fitting!


message 7: by Sem (last edited Dec 26, 2025 01:50PM) (new)

Sem Capn wrote: "Oh, aha! A book of physical jigsaw puzzles to snap into place! Yes, The Jolly Postman or Other People's Letters has one in it - I'm forever frantically trying to find THAT ONE PIECE s..."

There are an awful lot of jigsaw puzzle books but I haven't seen any where the jigsaws are clues. What you seem to be looking for is books with a through narrative in which puzzles help the reader progress to a grand solution.


message 8: by Capn (new)

Capn Yes, exactly! Although I'd happily accept a themed book which lacks a central narrative as well (not sure that exists, but just in case - makes sense to have a Grand Unifying Theory to me as well!)


message 9: by Sem (new)

Sem Capn wrote: "Yes, exactly! Although I'd happily accept a themed book which lacks a central narrative as well (not sure that exists, but just in case - makes sense to have a Grand Unifying Theory to me as well!)"

I've added a few for the 8-12 age group. Haven't seen any 3+ but then so many puzzle books are samey with AI art covers that I'm reluctant to even look at them. :D


back to top



Related News

Looking at 2026—and the amazing year of reading ahead of us—we’ve done a bit of sorting based on author trends and news. Which big hitters are...

Anyone can add books to this list.