Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Beginning readers are introduced to the detective mystery genre in these chapter books. Perfect for the Common Core, kids can problem-solve with Nate, using logical thinking to solve mysteries! 
Somebody has been raiding Oliver's garbage can each night. How can Nate narrow the long list of suspects down to one? Nate the Great might just have to go under cover . . . under cover of the garbage can lid, that is!
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Nate the Great investigates two cases that may be connected, involving a missing valentine and a valentine that came from nowhere.

Nate the Great needs your help. Annie's dog, Fang, is missing! That's what Nate discovers when his friends throw him a surprise Happy Detective Day party. Where is Fang? As you and Nate track down clues—Fang was learning tricks for the party; he was seen running away from two tiny poodles and following a lady wearing fluffy-bunny shoes—Nate will share his expert detective skills with you so you can sharpen your sleuthing talents.

"Nate the Great and his dog, Sludge, would like to take a break from detective work, but new cases--cases they do not want--await them"--

Even a deep snow the week before Christmas can't keep Nate the Great and his dog Sludge from finding the special card sent to Annie's dog Fang by his mother.

When Rosamond's birthday gift for Nate disappears from her sled, the boy detective decides to unravel the mystery.

Nate the Great takes on his first night case and tries to solve the mystery of the garbage snatcher.

On Career Day Santa Claus visits school and tells the children how he was trained for his job by the old Santa.

Tired of being perfect and never using his perfectly matched fangs, Walter the wolf yields to temptation.

Though it means Nate can't get his dog ready for the smartest pet contest, he agrees to search for the missing prize for the contest.