Enjoying this book? Help it get discovered by casting your vote!
Loved it! 😍
Young readers are encouraged to put on their "thinking caps" and join the protagonists in this light and fun “whodunit." Charming!
Dylan’s summer just got more exciting. Can he catch the mail thief before they strike again?
Join 8-year-old Dylan, his talkative little sister, and his adorable dog as they kick off a summer they’ll never forget. Armed with his detective kit, Dylan is ready to solve any crimes in the neighborhood. All he needs is a case to get started. Luckily for Dylan, his neighbor has realized that her mail is missing! Can Dylan and his trusty sidekicks collect the clues and solve the mystery?
Parents: Detective Dylan books are packed full of reading-level appropriate text, interesting content, and fast moving plots to engage reluctant readers. Each story includes 20+ illustrations to keep readers engaged.
Educators: Look inside for a QR code with ELA/Math classroom resources or visit the author’s website for more information.
When a neighbor’s mail goes missing, a determined young detective is on the case in this lively and engaging children’s story by MJ Murray.
It’s the first week of summer break. Eight year-old Dylan is bored. Especially following two days of rain. Dylan is waiting for his “deluxe detective kit” to arrive in the mail. It’s sold by his favorite TV show, Youth Sleuths. The show encourages kids to solves mysteries and develop their deductive skills by using clues to solve a crime no one else could.
When a neighbor’s mail suddenly goes missing, Dylan springs into action. Along with his kid sister Emily and their faithful canine sidekick Theodore, “Detective Dylan” launches an investigation to track down the missing missives. Besides. There’s a ten dollar reward in the mix if he can find the elusive mail. So Dylan the Detective & Company are on the case! They’re a bit stumped until they notice some unique clues that appear in the mud following that unwelcome rain.
What follows is a light and fun “whodunit” that encourages young reader to put on their “thinking caps” and join Dylan and pals as they try to find out what happened to their neighbor’s mail.
Scene stealer: Theodore the dog.
At roughly sixty pages, the length of this book is just right. There’s adequate time and space to flesh out the plot as well as introduce and develop main characters. But it’s not so long that young readers will tire and lose interest. Chapters are relatively short. The writing is upbeat and lively and will keep the target audience of young readers engaged. The tone is bright and sudsy. The text encourages readers to “join in” as Dylan and Emily hunt for clues and try to piece them together to solve the mystery. It’s just fun!
This book also includes some “bonuses” following the end of the story. This includes sections on Meet the Characters, ELA & Math Resources and Classroom Prompts and Vocabulary for Grades K and 1.
Detective Dylan and the Case of the Missing Mail is Book 1 in the Youth Sleuths chapter book series. Book 2 is reportedly due out in Spring 2024. So keep an eye out! I sure will!
Reviewed by
Lifelong bibliophile. Library Board Member. Select book reviews featured on my blog and Goodreads, etc. I'm a frank but fair reviewer, averaging 400+ books/year in a wide variety of genres on multiple platforms. Over 1,500 published reviews. Still going strong!
Synopsis
Dylan’s summer just got more exciting. Can he catch the mail thief before they strike again?
Join 8-year-old Dylan, his talkative little sister, and his adorable dog as they kick off a summer they’ll never forget. Armed with his detective kit, Dylan is ready to solve any crimes in the neighborhood. All he needs is a case to get started. Luckily for Dylan, his neighbor has realized that her mail is missing! Can Dylan and his trusty sidekicks collect the clues and solve the mystery?
Parents: Detective Dylan books are packed full of reading-level appropriate text, interesting content, and fast moving plots to engage reluctant readers. Each story includes 20+ illustrations to keep readers engaged.
Educators: Look inside for a QR code with ELA/Math classroom resources or visit the author’s website for more information.
About the author
MJ Murray is a California-based writer whose first chapter book series, which includes free downloadable curriculum-aligned classroom resources, is available online wherever books are sold. She is often found with a dog in her lap, even though she tells people she isn't an animal person. view profile
Published on November 01, 2023
5000 words
Worked with a Reedsy professional 🏆
Genre: Children's
Reviewed by
Discover more books like Detective Dylan and the Cas...
Create your free account to help this book get discovered and decide on the bestselling stories of tomorrow.
or
Or sign up with an
Or sign up with your social account