I know it isn't on your preference list, but have you thought about magic tree house series. My kids also liked boxcar children and a wrinkle in time in 3rd grade.
My kids loved them.
My 11yo is listening to me reading The Secret Garden right now, and the 14 year old is listening to me reading The Once and Future King.
I also read at dinner every night.
My kids also liked Calling on Dragons, which is a silly story about a princess that runs away to the dragons because she wants the freedom the dragons afford her. It is hilarious.
My daughter (going into 2nd grade, 2-3rd grade reading level) loves listening to the Wings of Fire book series. If you both love dragons you may like it as well!
Ooo, Zoey and Sassafras series fits a lot of those themes! It's about a girl who sees magical creatures and helps them with problems. Science and mysteries. She works with her cat. Lots of cute illustrations. https://share.libbyapp.com/title/3886277
* Nancy Drew is the OG girl detective for a reason!!! There are so many to choose from, but I think some of the specific book lines (The Nancy Drew Notebooks or Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew) are specifically geared towards younger readers
* I also echo the commenter who said Encyclopedia Brown because I read those RELIGIOUSLY
* I've heard good things about the Dragon Girls series (first book is Azmina the Gold Glitter Dragon). Regular girls who can turn into dragons and have to help protect a magic forest, aka, what would have absolutely been my jam as a child
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From\_the\_Mixed-Up\_Files\_of\_Mrs.\_Basil\_E.\_Frankweiler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_the_Mixed-Up_Files_of_Mrs._Basil_E._Frankweiler) is one of my favorite books of the detective type young stories.
Since you are travelling overseas, consider busting out "Voyage of the Beagle" by Charles Darwin and see if you can make a map of the locations; talk about how long it takes to travel then vs now, and perhaps cover some of the easier natural history. Yes, this requires "homework" for you, but for a curious kid her age - such a treasure.
Speaking of which, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
And crazy as it sounds, Animal Crossing video game. There's an entire museum of art based on real classic artworks, with fossils, fish and insects. Pick one each time you play and spend 10 minutes learning about it - and teaching her good research skills and critical thinking about the internet and sources.
It might be the tippy top of her reading range but one of my FAVORITE series at that age was Fabelhaven and Into the Land of the Unicorns
Fabelhaven is about siblings who find out the property their grandparents live on isn't just an extravagant land-piece; but a fully supported and dangerous refuge for magical creatures. Its 5 books long, but each book is a fairly thick thing and not something you'll be able to chunk through in less than a week or two of serious reading out loud lol.
Into the land of the Unicorns is just 👌😮💨, you've got family ties, heartbreak, magic, unicorns of course, some other magical denizens, and a quest to right a wrong that started millennia ago. Ends up being about 6 books long but its a great series.
Probably (if i may be so bold) because a large chunk of us are not only actively reading several dozen books a month or that those of us making suggestions in the libby app and MustReads are actually retaining large chunks of plot and relevant info for a series
One of my first chapter books for example was Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher; a boy of about 11-13 is given birthday money and while trying to decide what he wants ends up in a strange Gremlins -esque shop and sold a dragon egg to raise
The end of the book has him reluctantly but *responsibly* getting ahold of the shopkeeper again to send his now over-large dragon to her homeland with others of her kind
It was my first experience with a bittersweet ending and also a book i have not touched since i was??? 9? 10? And i'm 26 now lol
I really enjoyed the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley. Flavia is an 11 year old aspiring chemist who consistently finds herself in the middle of a mystery.
Maybe the Hank the Cowdog series?
Dog that fancies himself the Head of Ranch Security (he's not very good at it) and solves little mysteries with the help of other animals on the ranch.
It's definitely available through the MWR Libby. The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog is book #1 in the series.
Nancy Drew. There’s lots of books and series. I think there’s at least one series geared toward younger readers.
Spiderwick Chronicles
Charlie Bone has a mystery element to it and has a boarding school element.
Harry Potter
Percy Jackson would be a good choice. They are funny and there’s a mystery element. Plus she could learn about Greek mythology.
My niece and I loved reading the [Geronimo Stilton books](https://geronimostilton.com/US-en/home/), Lots to look at but still good for a higher reading level.
Detective, Author, all around funny books
The Magic Treehouse series is super fun about siblings who travel to other time periods and some have ocean themes. All of them have companion nonfiction books for more info. My kids loved the Dolphin one, but there is a Narwhal one, and Sea Serpent one.
The Boxcar kid mysteries have one on Sea Turtles.
A-Z Mysteries are books with second and third grade detectives.
Yes there were many. I owned a ton. Called Magic Treehouse Fact Trackers by Mary Pope Osborne. Look it up. My son (who is now an engineer) needed to know everything. They helped a ton in the years before Google!
We'd read a story, and by the end, he'd have a dozen wuestions he wanted answers to. His 4th grade teacher got him a notebook so he could write all his questions down. She once offered to pay him to stop asking questions. He refused.
my very favorite book at that age that I still go back and re read sometimes and always holds up is Ella Enchanted, not super on theme to your list but I have to give it a little recommendation
I thought Invisible Inkling by Emily Jenkins was just the cutest little chapter book involving school type problems and a mysterious creature.
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker is another good one, somewhat on the outskirts of your topics but I loved the neurodivergent representation!
I agree with all the suggestions you’ve had, so I’ll just add a few oldies-but-goodies that skew a *little* younger:
Ramona the Pest — and *anything* else written by Beverly Cleary
Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace
Miss Bianca series by Margery Sharp
No Flying in the House by Betty Brock
Freddy the Detective series by Walter R Brooks
Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel
Paddington series by Michael Bond
Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Anne of Green Gables series by LM Montgomery
I loved From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. The idea of sleeping in a museum seemed fun and scary.
Harriet the Spy
The Mysterious Benedict Society
And I cried buckets but I loved The Secret of Nimh
Edited to add
In case nobody has mentioned it what your niece means by “bad kitty” is probably a series by Nick Bruel that’s called that! But also it may be fun to do the “I Spy” books with her those were fun to do with my parents when I was a kid
It's to of the level, but "the mysterious Benedict society"is a fun mystery series.
My kid would vote for "spy school "series.
Since she likes the "bad kitty"books, maybe introduce her to "the bad guys"series
This didn't tick many of the boxes, but I'd also pitch "princess hamster' series (and "castle hangnail" series is the same author). I'll also throw in Gaimen's "fortunately the milk"as being scavenger hunt like
I assume this is a bit too young but birthday detective immediately reminded me of [The Secret Birthday Message By Eric Carle](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/628205).
I was a huge reader as a kid and really enjoyed The Sister's Grimm.
“After their parents disappear, sisters Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are sent to live with their grandmother, Relda Grimm in the town of Ferryport Landing. As soon as the sisters arrive, they learn they are descendants of the Brothers Grimm, who were actually detectives of the magical phenomenon perpetrated by the Everafters, a parallel race of magical beings. They soon discover it is the Grimm family's legacy to keep the Everafters in line and the two sisters are the sole heirs to this challenge. Working as detectives in their family business, the sisters Grimm solve mysteries possibly connected to the disappearance of their parents. While following their family traditions, they also must deal with Puck, a trickster fairy boy who lives with them. Unfortunately for the sisters, the Scarlet Hand, an evil group of Everafters, seeks to escape from the town and take over the world.“
Bad Kitty is a book series!
In late elementary school I loved *The Doll People* by Ann M. Martin. It's about 2 dolls who are alive (think Toy Story). One of the doll's aunt went missing, so the majority of the book is the two dolls playing detective and trying to locate the aunt doll.
I know it isn't on your preference list, but have you thought about magic tree house series. My kids also liked boxcar children and a wrinkle in time in 3rd grade.
Endorse all these. Great choices!
My kids loved them. My 11yo is listening to me reading The Secret Garden right now, and the 14 year old is listening to me reading The Once and Future King. I also read at dinner every night. My kids also liked Calling on Dragons, which is a silly story about a princess that runs away to the dragons because she wants the freedom the dragons afford her. It is hilarious.
gotta love me some DRAGONS i think i heard this one sounds like the descendant of those female protagonists i grew up with thanks
My daughter (going into 2nd grade, 2-3rd grade reading level) loves listening to the Wings of Fire book series. If you both love dragons you may like it as well!
YAAAASSSSS all the greatest hits
When I was a kid, I liked Cam Jensen and Encyclopedia Brown books. Both kid detectives solving little mysteries for friends and family.
HELL YEAH encyclopedia brown FTW
My second grader liked encyclopedia brown, and also A to Z mysteries!
so many books not enough time what a great problem
Ooo, Zoey and Sassafras series fits a lot of those themes! It's about a girl who sees magical creatures and helps them with problems. Science and mysteries. She works with her cat. Lots of cute illustrations. https://share.libbyapp.com/title/3886277
one look at that cover and im sold thanks so much
Second this! Great series
* Nancy Drew is the OG girl detective for a reason!!! There are so many to choose from, but I think some of the specific book lines (The Nancy Drew Notebooks or Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew) are specifically geared towards younger readers * I also echo the commenter who said Encyclopedia Brown because I read those RELIGIOUSLY * I've heard good things about the Dragon Girls series (first book is Azmina the Gold Glitter Dragon). Regular girls who can turn into dragons and have to help protect a magic forest, aka, what would have absolutely been my jam as a child
time for me to research nancy drew's greatest hits thanx
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From\_the\_Mixed-Up\_Files\_of\_Mrs.\_Basil\_E.\_Frankweiler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_the_Mixed-Up_Files_of_Mrs._Basil_E._Frankweiler) is one of my favorite books of the detective type young stories. Since you are travelling overseas, consider busting out "Voyage of the Beagle" by Charles Darwin and see if you can make a map of the locations; talk about how long it takes to travel then vs now, and perhaps cover some of the easier natural history. Yes, this requires "homework" for you, but for a curious kid her age - such a treasure. Speaking of which, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson And crazy as it sounds, Animal Crossing video game. There's an entire museum of art based on real classic artworks, with fossils, fish and insects. Pick one each time you play and spend 10 minutes learning about it - and teaching her good research skills and critical thinking about the internet and sources.
SAY LESS im down for homework and this is the perfect excuse to actually have an informed opinion on animal crossing thanks
It might be the tippy top of her reading range but one of my FAVORITE series at that age was Fabelhaven and Into the Land of the Unicorns Fabelhaven is about siblings who find out the property their grandparents live on isn't just an extravagant land-piece; but a fully supported and dangerous refuge for magical creatures. Its 5 books long, but each book is a fairly thick thing and not something you'll be able to chunk through in less than a week or two of serious reading out loud lol. Into the land of the Unicorns is just 👌😮💨, you've got family ties, heartbreak, magic, unicorns of course, some other magical denizens, and a quest to right a wrong that started millennia ago. Ends up being about 6 books long but its a great series.
um, yeah. right let's go ahead a put that on the back burner so uncle can do his own "research" you know, for science thanks for the recommendation
No problem! Happy reading no matter what you choose! 🤗
ABSOLUTELY im super surpised how much more helpful this sub is even more than r/suggestmeabook and r/childrensbooks y'all are great
Probably (if i may be so bold) because a large chunk of us are not only actively reading several dozen books a month or that those of us making suggestions in the libby app and MustReads are actually retaining large chunks of plot and relevant info for a series One of my first chapter books for example was Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher; a boy of about 11-13 is given birthday money and while trying to decide what he wants ends up in a strange Gremlins -esque shop and sold a dragon egg to raise The end of the book has him reluctantly but *responsibly* getting ahold of the shopkeeper again to send his now over-large dragon to her homeland with others of her kind It was my first experience with a bittersweet ending and also a book i have not touched since i was??? 9? 10? And i'm 26 now lol
I really enjoyed the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley. Flavia is an 11 year old aspiring chemist who consistently finds herself in the middle of a mystery.
as chemists so oft do
Maybe the Hank the Cowdog series? Dog that fancies himself the Head of Ranch Security (he's not very good at it) and solves little mysteries with the help of other animals on the ranch. It's definitely available through the MWR Libby. The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog is book #1 in the series.
i really appreciate that you know whats in the mwr library this is so great
I checked before I suggested it! :)
Charlotte's Web? My library only has the audiobook version, but maybe yours has the ebook.
will look into thanks, that story only gets deeper as an adult
Nancy Drew. There’s lots of books and series. I think there’s at least one series geared toward younger readers. Spiderwick Chronicles Charlie Bone has a mystery element to it and has a boarding school element. Harry Potter Percy Jackson would be a good choice. They are funny and there’s a mystery element. Plus she could learn about Greek mythology.
My niece and I loved reading the [Geronimo Stilton books](https://geronimostilton.com/US-en/home/), Lots to look at but still good for a higher reading level. Detective, Author, all around funny books
i hear alot of good things about them ill put it on the list
Harry Potter! I was in 2nd grade when my father started reading the 1st one to me. I was hooked.
classic im thinking of reading the latin translation for myself
I read The Wild Robot to my 2nd grade class recently and they loved it. Highly recommend.
sounds super fun so many possibilities of extra curricular activities and exploration
The Magic Treehouse series is super fun about siblings who travel to other time periods and some have ocean themes. All of them have companion nonfiction books for more info. My kids loved the Dolphin one, but there is a Narwhal one, and Sea Serpent one. The Boxcar kid mysteries have one on Sea Turtles. A-Z Mysteries are books with second and third grade detectives.
TIL there were nonfiction companions to Magic Treehouse books thanks
Yes there were many. I owned a ton. Called Magic Treehouse Fact Trackers by Mary Pope Osborne. Look it up. My son (who is now an engineer) needed to know everything. They helped a ton in the years before Google! We'd read a story, and by the end, he'd have a dozen wuestions he wanted answers to. His 4th grade teacher got him a notebook so he could write all his questions down. She once offered to pay him to stop asking questions. He refused.
i like that guy's style engineer? it's awesome to have these great dreams for my niece
my very favorite book at that age that I still go back and re read sometimes and always holds up is Ella Enchanted, not super on theme to your list but I have to give it a little recommendation
might be fun to do book/firm critic thanx
I thought Invisible Inkling by Emily Jenkins was just the cutest little chapter book involving school type problems and a mysterious creature. Clementine by Sara Pennypacker is another good one, somewhat on the outskirts of your topics but I loved the neurodivergent representation!
I agree with all the suggestions you’ve had, so I’ll just add a few oldies-but-goodies that skew a *little* younger: Ramona the Pest — and *anything* else written by Beverly Cleary Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace Miss Bianca series by Margery Sharp No Flying in the House by Betty Brock Freddy the Detective series by Walter R Brooks Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel Paddington series by Michael Bond Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder Anne of Green Gables series by LM Montgomery
I loved From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. The idea of sleeping in a museum seemed fun and scary. Harriet the Spy The Mysterious Benedict Society And I cried buckets but I loved The Secret of Nimh Edited to add
In case nobody has mentioned it what your niece means by “bad kitty” is probably a series by Nick Bruel that’s called that! But also it may be fun to do the “I Spy” books with her those were fun to do with my parents when I was a kid
and WHERE'S WALDO good times
i've been meaning to get into the spiderwick chronicles nows my chance
It's to of the level, but "the mysterious Benedict society"is a fun mystery series. My kid would vote for "spy school "series. Since she likes the "bad kitty"books, maybe introduce her to "the bad guys"series This didn't tick many of the boxes, but I'd also pitch "princess hamster' series (and "castle hangnail" series is the same author). I'll also throw in Gaimen's "fortunately the milk"as being scavenger hunt like
oooo a Gaimen title me likey
I assume this is a bit too young but birthday detective immediately reminded me of [The Secret Birthday Message By Eric Carle](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/628205).
she's got a little sis and at her last bday she read stories aloud to her cousins sounds like this can go on the list for her to read aloud
Detective style made me think of the A to Z Mysteries series. My third grade teacher read us the Poppy series, which has animal/nature elements.
Nate the Great! I think there is a birthday themed book too. They definitely hit the funny for adults and kids on different levels.
Max Einstein series by James Patterson (Yes, THAT James Patterson)
Max Einstein series by James Patterson
I was a huge reader as a kid and really enjoyed The Sister's Grimm. “After their parents disappear, sisters Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are sent to live with their grandmother, Relda Grimm in the town of Ferryport Landing. As soon as the sisters arrive, they learn they are descendants of the Brothers Grimm, who were actually detectives of the magical phenomenon perpetrated by the Everafters, a parallel race of magical beings. They soon discover it is the Grimm family's legacy to keep the Everafters in line and the two sisters are the sole heirs to this challenge. Working as detectives in their family business, the sisters Grimm solve mysteries possibly connected to the disappearance of their parents. While following their family traditions, they also must deal with Puck, a trickster fairy boy who lives with them. Unfortunately for the sisters, the Scarlet Hand, an evil group of Everafters, seeks to escape from the town and take over the world.“
BROOO this is about to be my new jam
I hope you both enjoy the series!! I'm on the hold list for the first one so I can reread them
Bad Kitty is a book series! In late elementary school I loved *The Doll People* by Ann M. Martin. It's about 2 dolls who are alive (think Toy Story). One of the doll's aunt went missing, so the majority of the book is the two dolls playing detective and trying to locate the aunt doll.