Chapter Books for Kids Who Love Puzzles & Riddles

Do your kids (or students) enjoy being challenged by entertaining brain teasers? Do they appreciate the joys of getting absorbed in an engrossing story? If so, then they will be delighted by these chapter books for kids who love puzzles and riddles!

**Links in this post may be affiliate links. This means that if you click that link and purchase the product, I may receive a small compensation. I am, however, committed to honestly assessing the products mentioned. Please read my disclosure policy for more details. **

I love puzzles of all kinds and I love books. So books that include puzzles and riddles to solve? Yes, please! This is especially true when the puzzles are literary or lexicological in nature.

Do your kids enjoy a good puzzle to solve, as well? There are some fantastic children’s chapter books out there that will work their brains while entertaining them with engaging storylines and colorful characters. To get you started, I’ll share my favorite chapter books for kids who love puzzles and riddles.

Do you have suggestions to share? I’d love to expand my list, so be sure to give me your recommendations in the comments at the end of this post!

Chapter Books For Kids Who Love Puzzles & Riddles

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, by Chris Grabenstein

I read this one in a day and a half, I enjoyed it so much! It was fun, it was mysterious, it had subtle lessons about teamwork and character, and it was filled with delightful literary references.

And be sure to continue with the series! I enjoyed the second one as much as the first – they’re such great fun! They give off definite Charlie and the Chocolate Factory vibes, but with books, instead of candy. I loved all the literary references, the riddles and games delighted me, and the library nerd in me was tickled by all the research methods and Dewey Decimal trivia.

Book Scavenger, by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

If your kids have read (and enjoyed) the Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series, they need to put Book Scavenger on their TBR list! Full of intriguing mystery, curious ciphers, and even a little bit of danger, these books are perfect for middle grade readers who love adventure, puzzles, and books.

This is the first book in a three-book series. Though I’ve only read the first book so far, I would love to read the rest at some point!

Want to help your kids keep track of the books they’ve read? I love this reading journal for kids!

The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart

I LOVE this book series for kids! The plot is captivating and mysterious, and the writing is delightfully quirky and clever. It’s gripping, but not overly scary, and would prompt some terrific conversations.

After your kids have read the books, check out the television series on Disney+! We haven’t watched them yet (I’m waiting until we read the books together — hopefully this summer!), but I’ve heard excellent reviews!

The Westing Game, by Ellen Rankin

If your kids love puzzles and riddles, but are ready for something a little more advanced than the books I mentioned above, you need to introduce them to The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin. I devoured this book! It was suspenseful, the characters intrigued me, and all the puzzles and wordplay challenged my brain.

Try Audible Premium Plus and Get Up to Two Free Audiobooks

Winterhouse, by Ben Guterson

The wordplay and code-breaking throughout this book delighted me, and I was tickled by all the references to books I’ve read and loved. I would heartily recommend this for all my fellow (preteen and older) book and language lovers, or kids who love puzzles and riddles.

Heads-up: there is some magic – both good and evil, a character who gets involved in witchcraft (it’s not described in detail, and is certainly not celebrated), and a few sinister/suspenseful scenes. I, personally, am quite cautious when it comes to my kids and the occult, but I’d be fine recommending this to them once they were old enough/mature enough/discerning enough to handle it. For one thing, it’s not overly scary or fear-inducing (it won’t cause nightmares), and for another, the magic has clear delineations between “good” and “bad” (i.e. the witchcraft is presented as dangerous and evil, not fun or virtuous). As ALWAYS, though, use your own parental discernment and discretion!

SHARE WITH US: Can you recommend any other chapter books for kids who love puzzles and riddles? I’d love to expand my list! Tell me about them in the comments below!