In celebration of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Birthday, on May 22, start your children collecting mysteries. A mystery book collection will move your child into summer reading and begin a life long passion with mystery books that can last throughout their lives.

Sir Doyle wrote A Study in Scarlett which appeared in Beeton's Christmas Annual for 1887 and featured the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes. Holmes mysteries were so loved that when Doyle killed him off in December 1893, public outcry, however, led Conan Doyle to bring the character back; in "The Adventure of the Empty House". We all love a good mystery story, and they can help motivate your child in the wonderful world of book collecting.

It's important for children to maintain their reading skills over the summer and one of the best ways to accomplish this is to find a series of books that they enjoy. Finishing one often leads to a child wanting to read the next...to see what their favorite hero or heroine will do next. Among the best books to excite your child are mysteries as they allow them to get involved and to try to figure out twists and turns of plots.

An old tent or simply a corner of a bedroom, family room or, basement can be a perfect place for a mystery reading corner.

Ask parents, grandparents, neighbors or friends if they have an old trunk, large briefcase or piece of luggage your child can create into a mystery case. Set it up in their room with an old overstuffed chair, bean bag, or group of pillows.  A recycled lamp and old gently–ticking clock.  Everything should be found, not bought; cast-off with a memory attached.  Encourage your child to create a corner they can have free mystery reading time.

Then they can start collecting things to arrange in their mystery case.  A journal that they can divide into sections: Ideas for original stories, traits of great detectives, suspects, witnesses, settings, clues, investigative techniques, and drawings of the best disguises.

A “Top Secret” folder, file or envelope to put important papers, work, or notes to parents, remember great pens too!  Maybe way back in dad’s desk is an old magnifying glass?

Finally, the best part books: rouse their interests in reading with an intriguing mystery children book. Children books with a mysterious event or code to decipher can keep your child reading for years to come once he/she gets started.

Grab your child's imagination by a suspenseful book. Win their hearts and minds over video games. Many children don't realize the intense thrills of reading mystery books because they've never really tried it. Set them up a special corner of mystery.

Show them by reading mysteries and make your child's imagination run wild. In place of having all the characters and facts presented to them mystery books allow for imaginative thoughts. Your child can imagine what the characters look like - their hair color, eye color, clothing, facial expressions, etc. Your child will also be able to imagine places and events, and put together pieces of the puzzle as the mystery unfolds in detail.

Here are just a few mystery series to get your little sleuth started:

Hank the Cowdog Seriesby John R. Erickson

Clue Jr. Seriesby Ella Rowland

Wishbone Mysteriesby Anne Capeci

Jigsaw Jones Mystery Seriesby James Preller

Detective Zack Seriesby Jerry D. Thomas

Baker StreetMystery Seriesby Jake Thorne

Einstein Anderson Science Detective Seriesby SeymourSimon

American Girl History Mysteriesby Holly Hughes

Internet Detectives Seriesby Michael Coleman

Enjoy the suspense with your young detectives!

R.RCratty