Mystery Podcasts for Young Kids (Ages 4–8)

Mystery Detectives! A Podcast for Kids

Ages 6–10Solve it yourself

This one puts your child in the detective’s seat. Each ten-minute episode is a complete case, like The Case of the Disappearing Pies or The Case of the Midnight Chimes, and the clues are laid out one by one so listeners can work out the answer before the detective does.

Because every episode stands on its own, there’s no need to start at the beginning. It’s a great one for the car, where everyone can shout out their guesses, and with more than 40 cases there’s plenty to get through.

Dogood Detectives

Ages 6–9Sibling detectives

Siblings Nora and Trey solve cases in the seaside town of Sunshine Bay, from The Mystery of the Melted Mint Chip to The Mystery of the Treasure in the Trash. The show is built for listeners to follow the clues and chase suspects right alongside them, and the plot twists are just big enough to surprise without being scary. New episodes are still coming out.

The Upside Down Story

Ages 5–9Guess the storyteller

A clever twist on story time. Most stories tell you who’s narrating at the start, but here you don’t find out until the very end, unless your child figures it out first. Listening for hints about the mystery storyteller makes it a fun game for the whole family.

Sam Archer

Ages 5–11Third-grade detective

Sam Archer is the best detective in the whole third grade, and with her sidekick JT she finds the clues, tracks down leads, and cracks the case every time. The mysteries are just right for this age: a strange howl in the night, a puddle of mysterious blue goo, things that feel big to a kid without ever turning frightening.

It’s a short series of ten episodes at around 15 minutes each, which makes it a great first detective show. If your child loves it, they’re probably ready for Opal Watson in a year or two.

Keyshawn Solves It

Ages 5–8Neighborhood mystery

Ten-year-old Keyshawn inherits a set of keys that can unlock almost any door. When bikes start disappearing from his North Minneapolis neighborhood, he and his friend Kiki use them to track down the thief before the community’s Juneteenth bike parade.

It’s one story told in eight episodes, so start at the beginning. Warm and funny, with a real sense of neighborhood, it’s one of the best kid mysteries we’ve heard.

Snoop and Sniffy

Ages 5–10Dog detectives

Snoop is a top detective from the streets of London who gets reassigned to the small town of Pflugerville, where his new partner turns out to be Sniffy, an over-eager puppy who hasn’t quite finished his training. Together they solve cases up and down Bark Street, with help from a groundhog, a Dalmatian, a neighborhood-watch duck, a squirrel, and a raccoon.

There are more than 180 episodes, which makes this a show your child can live in for months. Each case wraps up within an episode or two, and the animal characters give it the feel of a cartoon for the ears.

Ruby, Tooth Fairy Detective

Ages 5–10Fairy detective

Ruby is a tough-as-enamel detective at the Tooth Fairy Bureau of Investigation, and Wren is the nervous tech fairy she’s forced to team up with. Their mission is to find the stolen Wishing Tooth, an ancient relic that could reshape reality, before anyone makes a wish with it.

The case takes them from New York City all the way to the lost tomb of Queen Nefertiti, with plenty of gadgets and magic along the way. It’s one continuous story, so play it in order. It’s especially fun for a child with a wiggly tooth.

Gem Sisters

Ages 5–9Sister detectives

Giselle, Evangeline, and Mercedes, the sisters from the GEM Sisters YouTube channel, use teamwork to solve mysteries around their community, with plenty of music and dancing between clues. A good pick for kids who already know the sisters from YouTube.

Hank the Cowdog

Ages 5–10Ranch dog detective

Matthew McConaughey voices Hank, the self-appointed Head of Ranch Security on a Texas cattle ranch. Hank always claims to know the answer and is always the last to realize he doesn’t, which is exactly why kids find him so funny. Based on the long-running book series, it’s a nice one for grown-ups to enjoy too.

Sound Detectives

Ages 5–10Missing sounds

All over the world, sounds are going missing. Waves have stopped crashing, crickets have stopped chirping, and nobody can hear the ice cream truck anymore. Detective Hunch and his sidekick Audie, a talking ear, set out to find out where they went and track down the dastardly Sound Swindler, with a little help from LeVar Burton.

Episodes run about half an hour and are packed with real sounds to listen for, which turns your child’s ears into part of the investigation. It’s silly, smart, and great for a longer drive.

Love, Diana

Ages 3–6Musical mysteries

Diana from the Love, Diana YouTube channel heads to the Land of Play for mysteries full of clapping, stomping, and singing. The gentlest pick on this list, and a sweet way to introduce preschoolers to the idea of solving a mystery.

5 Minute Mysteries with Kiddy Casey

Ages 5–10Real-world mysteries

Detective Kiddy Casey investigates real mysteries in about five minutes each, from the Bermuda Triangle to why a watermelon might explode. Perfect for the drive to school.