Tales of 4th Grade Mysteries: Book 1

By Johnny Copper

In a small town in the Midwest called Pleasantville, lived a special group of kids who attended Mrs. Missledine's 4th grade class. Like most 4th grade students, they spend most of their day learning math, science, history and reading. But sometimes they are called upon for a special task. These are no ordinary students. They belong to a special unit called the 4th Grade Detective Agency. You won't find them working with the police or any other law enforcement agency. Their special skills are sought out by other students and sometimes the teachers they work for. The reader tries to uncover each clue and solve the case. For those that haven't cracked the case by the end, they can turn to the last page of each chapter and see how student solved it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Junior Detective Files
• Release date: Jan 10, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224533848

Book preview

First digital version

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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Print edition produced in the United States of America

This book is dedicated to Cathy Missiledine and her 4th grade students who provided wonderful story ideas.  

Chapters

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I.  The Case of the Missing Cookies

II.  Case of the Sneaky Sibling and the 

Messed-Up Room

III.  The Case of the Missing Hershey 

Kisses

IV.  The Case of the Missing Best

Friend

V.  Whose Toy is it?

VI.  The Bank Robbery

VII.  The Librarian

VIII. The Kidnapping

IX.  Who is the Imposter?

X.  Truth or Lie?

XI.  Is that a G ... Ghost?

Chapter 1

The Case of the Missing Cookies

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In the small town of Pleasantville, lived a special group of kids who attended Mrs. Missiledine’s fourth grade class. Now if you were to meet them you might not think at first there is anything special about these students, but they possess the unique ability to solve crimes.

Like most kids in the fourth grade, they spend their days learning math, science, history and reading. But then there are occasions when they are called upon for a special task. And that is to solve a case.

These students make up a special unit called the Fourth Grade Detective Agency. You won’t find them working with the police or any other law enforcement, but their unique talents are sought after by fellow students and sometimes the very teachers right there in their school. 

These special investigative skills are put to the test by sneaky bandits, shady characters, and smooth criminals. To date, the Fourth Grade Detective Agency cracked every case and solved every crime. So, if you have a case that needs solving, remember! Do not contact the police. Call the Fourth Grade Detective Agency. 

Our first investigation begins on a Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m. in Mrs. Missiledine’s classroom.

I cannot imagine what happened to the chocolate chip cookies, Mrs. Missiledine said. I left them in a tin container right there on my desk yesterday afternoon. The outside of the tin had four-leaf clovers. I wanted to give them to the students this morning as a treat for St. Patrick’s Day. And now the tin is missing. Who stole them?

Ella, one of the many sleuths in the class and the first to arrive this morning looked up at her teacher. Mrs. Missiledine, do you remember who was here in the classroom with you yesterday before you left?

Mrs. Missiledine seemed to consider the question. Why yes. There was the principal, Mr. Snodgrass. Oh, and a student from another class.

Do you remember the student’s name?

McKenzie Callahan.

Ella cringed. McKenzie was feared by all the students because she was the biggest and oldest kid at the school. The twelve-year-old bully had failed the fourth and fifth grade. If trouble was afoot, McKenzie was sure to be close.

Ella pulled out a notepad and pencil from her backpack. She began to take notes and write down any clues that would help her solve the case. Ella knew from experience that placing McKenzie at the scene of the crime was not enough to prove the bully pulled off the caper. 

What time did you meet with McKenzie and Mr. Snodgrass? Ella asked.

Mrs. Missiledine looked at the desk calendar. We met in my room at precisely 2:35 p.m. and stayed until 3:05 p.m.

Why did you meet with McKenzie?

"She wanted to know how she could earn extra credit. The poor girl tries so hard. So, Mr. Snodgrass and I told her to write a report on the first