Do your kids love to go on top-secret missions? If you have a little Spy-in-Training on your hands, they will love these spy books for kids. There is something here for all kinds of readers, both fiction and nonfiction. Many of the titles presented here will also include lots of historical facts and will teach your child all about the roles spies played during various parts of our history.
Be sure to check out my 20 Children’s Books about Kindness for even more great reading fun.
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Mysterious Spy Books For Kids
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
A classic, Harriet the Spy has been enjoyed by young readers for years since its publication in the 60s. There are four books in the Harriet series for children to enjoy. This is a spy story for seven-year-olds through middle school age. What I love about this book is that Harriet is just a kid who observes those around her. Kids will learn a valuable lesson about friendships when they read about how Harriet’s private observations fall into her friends’ hands. Harriet the Spy is one of the books that got us addicted to spy books for kids.
Code Girls by Liza Mundy
An inspiring and true story for tween and teens, Code Girls tells the story of the thousands of women who became codebreakers for the United States during the second world war. Readers will love learning about the bravery of these people during a truly frightening time in our history.
Olivia the Spy by Ian Falconer
This picture book is a great introduction to spy stories for children and features a loved children’s book character: Olivia the pig. Aimed at preschoolers and young elementary-aged children, this entry in the Olivia series follows Olivia as she spies to learn about her birthday preparations.
Harry Potter and the Art of Spying by Lynn Boughey
Are your kids interested in the Harry Potter book series? Boughey’s book dives into the series to analyze the books and look at the espionage involved. She focuses part of the book on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (book 5) and the other part is a general look at the rest of the series. A perfect companion for the Harry Potter series and for older kids who love spy books.
My Super Official Spy Mission Book by Sammy S.
This interactive spy book for kids gives kids 40 top-secret missions to complete, should they accept them. The missions vary from simple to more challenging and can be done in the house without any special materials. Can your kids complete all the missions successfully? Great for 7-year-olds through 12-year-olds.
Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents: A World War II for Kids Book by Carole P. Roman
This guidebook takes kids through the behind-the-scenes goings-on during the second world war, how spies were involved in the war, and what role they played. Some of the topics include secret codes, spy schools, and the tools that spies use.
I love that this book teaches kids about history and the war while focusing on spies and the art of spying.
How I Became a Spy: A Mystery of WWII London by Deborah Hopkinson
This fiction title is perfect for older elementary and middle school kids. Set in London during World War 2, “How I Became a Spy” follows the main character Bertie Bradshaw as he works with two friends to solve the mystery of a missing woman and decipher the secret code in her notebook. Hopkinson’s novel is fast-paced and an exciting historical read for tweens.
Secret Agent 6th Grader by Marcus Emerson
Brody Valentine is a secret agent. Follow his adventures as he goes from a normal sixth grader to a spy being chased down over the big secret he is keeping. This book series has four titles published and is an appropriate and fun read for kids ages 9 through 12.
Code Cracking for Kids: Secret Communications Throughout History by Jean Daigneau
“Code Cracking” goes through the history of cryptology and also features famous historical figures who used ciphers and codes throughout history. One unique feature of this book is that each chapter contains information about codes and the art of spying as well as a hands-on activity to practice a specific area of cryptology.
Summer of Spies by Abigail Hornsea
Eleven-year-old Isabelle Bright is a tech whiz. Follow her adventures in Summer of Spies as she puts her tech skills to the test to solve the mystery of a spy satellite she and her brother find on the roof of the shed in their yard. Young readers will love the modern setting that includes technology today’s kids will be familiar with. This spy book is recommended for older elementary school through tween-aged kids.
Spies in the American Revolution for Kids: A History Book by Carla Killough McClafferty
While many of the spy books listed so far have focused on the World War II-era, McClafferty’s “Spies in the American Revolution” goes back further in time to the late 1700s. She explores the role that spies played during the war between the American colonists and the British. An engaging read for kids ages 8 through 12.
Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
Ben Ripley dreams of working for the CIA as a secret agent. He gets the chance of a lifetime when a James Bond-esque agent tells him of his acceptance to the Academy of Espionage, a school for junior CIA agents-in-training. A spy book series for kids, there are nine books written so far. Kids ages 8 through 12 will love following Ben’s journey working with the CIA. This book is a New York Times Bestselling series.
How to be an International Spy: Your Top-Secret Guide to Espionage by Lonely Planet Kids
A fabulous guidebook for older kids, “How to be an International Spy” teaches kids the skills needed to be a spy and touches on the roles of spies throughout history. Lonely Planet Kids’ book also highlights modern technology used today by various agencies and secret agents around the world. Perfect for kids ages 8 and up.
Mac Undercover Mac B Kid Spy by Mac Barnett
The Queen of England calls on Mac B when the crown jewels go missing. This witty fast based book is a pageturner that your kids will LOVE reading.
Jada Sly Artist and Spy by Sherri Winston
After living in France for 5 years Jada Sly comes back to New York City where she embarks on her first and greatest spy adventure to unlock the mystery of her mother’s disappearance.
Mac Undercover Mac B Kid Spy by Mac Barnett
The Queen of England calls on Mac B when the crown jewels go missing. This witty fast based book is a pageturner that your kids will LOVE reading.
City Spies by James Ponti
Sara Martinez is a hacker and one of the five city spies that work with a secret MI6 agency. She recently broke into the foster care system to expose her foster parents for who they truly are. This is a great book filled with suspense and mystery with a mission to catch the bad guy.
It’s recommended for grade levels 3-7.
More Spy Activities
The earliest little spies will love to practice their emerging spy skills with “seek and find” books, where they use careful observation to find hidden objects on the page. You can find the popular “I Spy” book series and more in our 20 Seek and Find Books for Kids post.
The Melissa & Doug Secret Decoder Game Book is a great tool for spy-obsessed kids, especially on long car rides or even as a quiet-time activity. There are more books available to choose from as well.
Extend the learning with Spy Mad Libs. Kids will be practicing their parts of speech while using this spy-themed word game.
Related post → Kiwi Co Kids Monthly Box: Become a Secret Agent. Check out this Kiwi Co box all about secret agents!
These spy books for kids are our absolute favorites and I know your kids will love them.
Which spy books will your secret agent check out? With plenty of great fiction and nonfiction titles available, you are sure to find something to engage your reader.
