Many of the mysteries that are highlighted here are a part of a series. Worcester doesn't own all of the titles listed in the series but we are more than happy to help you get them from another library!

While filming a movie outside of her Aunt Bee’s house, a trained lion named Teddy escapes! Will Precious survive the African bush to track down Teddy and bring him back? Check out more Precious Ramotswe Mysteries here: 

*Precious Ramotswe's First Cases series:

Book 1: The Great Cake Mystery

Book 2: Precious and the Mystery of Meerkat Hill

Book 3: The Mystery of the Missing Lion (Also available in eBook and audiobook formats)

Book 4: Precious and the Zebra Necklace

(Books 2 and 4 are currently unavailable in Worcester)

Fabio the Flamingo and his partner in crime Gilbert the giraffe, are taking a vacation on the Ostrich Express train when all of a sudden the conductor announces that a ruby necklace has gone missing! Who could have stolen it? Fabio and Gilbert are on the case!   

*Fabio, The World's Greatest Flamingo Detective series:

Book 1: The Case of the Missing Hippo

Book 2: Mystery on the Ostrich Express

Book 3: Peril at Lizard Lake

(Books 1 and 3 are currently unavailable in Worcester)

Who is stealing Scaredy-Pants Wolf’s pies! Join Princess Pink, Moldylocks, and the rest of the gang to solve the mystery and save the bakery!

*Princess Pink and the Land of Fake Believe series:

(Books 1, 2, and 4 are currently unavailable in Worcester)

Book 1: Moldylocks and the Three Beards

Book 2: Little Red Quacking Hood

Book 3: The Three Little Pugs

Book 4: Jack and the Snackstalk

Eleven year old Neela was given a veena, her grandmother’s precious stringed instrument from India. One day while Neela is caught in the rain walking home from school, she finds shelter in a church. She is wary about going anywhere without her veena but the church staff member Hal promises it will be safe in the little hall closet. Not so! When Neela leaves to go back home the veena is gone! Is it cursed? Will it ever reappear? 

Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are in charge of their school’s detective society but the only case they’ve ever gotten to solve was finding a stolen tie. When Hazel unexpectedly stumbles upon the dead body of her science teacher Miss Bell, they are now suddenly in charge of solving a murder. A jolly good historical mystery!

Have you checked out this month's escape room: The Case of the Missing Time Capsule! Find it here!

In honor of The Case of the Missing Time Capsule (and all its mysteriousness) we would love to highlight our favorite mysteries! 

Look out for Mystery Books Part 2!

The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter by Aaron Reynolds

When Rex’s new pet chicken dies a little over an hour after getting him, he is suddenly able to see and understand the ghosts of dead animals. Although this mystery has a creepy plot, it is also quite funny much like some of Aaron Reynolds' other books!

A diamond has gone missing from the Louvre and it is up to nine-year-old Julieta to prove her father’s innocence and find the real thief.

Johnny, Dizzy, and Charlie are lost in the woods at nightfall and must work together to find a way out!

This murder mystery takes place at the haunted Barclay Hotel! JJ and Penny must figure out which of the invited guests killed Mr. Barclay.

ZeeBee believes her dog, Barney, was murdered and just about everyone is a suspect. She enlists the help of Keenan to help solve the mystery but they uncover a lot more than they planned!

*Notorious also available in Playaway (digital media player with headphone jack) format

Sally lives in Sunnyside Plaza, a group home for adults, and happily works in the kitchen doing chores. When one of her friends dies, Sally tries to crack the case.

When Marzana’s parents are needed to help solve a kidnapping, she and her best friend, Nialla, secretly try to solve the case with the help of a group of kid detectives.

*The Thief Knot also available in eAudio and audiobook formats

*The Thief Knot is Book 4 of the Greenglass House series and according to the author it is not necessary to read the books in order. Worcester Public Library does have them though so be sure to check them out!

Book 1: Greenglass House (also available in eBook and eAudio formats)

Book 2: Ghosts of Greenglass House (also available in eAudio format)

Book 3: Bluecrowne

-Stacy

Grace Lin's The Last Marshmallow is a great early math book. Two girls come in from playing outside and decide to warm up with hot cocoa. There are two girls, the two cups of cocoa, and three marshmallows. The girls must problem solve what to do with the uneven number! They quickly decide to pull it in half. Both girls are happy. The simple story and basic introduction to fractions is just right for the preschooler in my life. There are a few other books in the "Storytelling Math" series (Check out our blog post "Storytelling Math" series for the other titles).

We've also been enjoying: 

The Blue House written by Phoebe Wahl shows the tranquil familiarity of a father and son who live in a very loved, old, worn out house. When the family is forced to move, the son goes through a range of tough emotions. His dad is there for him, offering security and a safe space to be with his feelings. The book offers a chance for children to explore difficult emotions, different kinds of families, and process change. It has beautiful illustrations and a relatable story.  

Have you checked out WPL's monthly virtual cooking program 5-ingredient Cooking with Kids? 

You can practice your kitchen skills with simple, yummy recipes using mostly pantry staples!

A new cooking video will be posted on our website in January and February (check out December's class for Overnight Oats here).

It's recommended for ages 7-11.

January's video will be all about making a delicious and healthy smoothie.

Are you wild about cooking and can't wait to make some more yummy recipes at home? Check out our list below! We guarantee that you've never before seen recipes like these!

Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck: A Sesame Street Celebration of Food by Heather E. Schwartz

The Gross Cookbook: Awesome Recipes for (Deceptively) Disgusting Treats Kids Can Make by Susanna Tee

The author promises that these recipes are actually really tasty. You just have to have a strong stomach and be brave enough to open up the book and look at the pictures!

Mermaid Cookbook by Barbara Beery and Kirsten Shultz (Photographer)

Kid Chef Junior Bakes: My First Kids Baking Cookbook by Charity Mathews and Marija Vidal (photographer)

The Worcester Public Library is thrilled to announce the start of the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten reading program! This program is designed to encourage reading to children at even the youngest of ages, and, in the process, encourage parent and child bonding time. The program is for newborns through age five.

Reading 1,000 books before kindergarten will stimulate your child’s imagination, improve listening and communication skills, foster a love of reading, and has indicated academic success in the future (to read more information about this click here).

Completing the 1,000 books program will help prepare children for kindergarten and for beginning to read on their own! Along the way, your child can earn prizes and receive recognition for their milestones!

We realize 1,000 books is a lot! If you and your child read even one book a night, the challenge can be completed in just under three years. It is a commitment, but it certainly can be done! It is free and easy to participate! Register and track all of the books you read together, and those your child has shared with others at storytime, daycare, or preschool.

Click here for more information and the opportunity to register online.   

Questions? Feel free to reach out to any of the Youth Services librarians at 508-799-1671.

-Stacy