The Case of the Missing Lunch

by Oliver Drake

Zara is a detective! Can she solve a tricky school mystery?

Grade 1: Early readers10 pages

A child detective investigates who's been stealing lunches from the classroom, uncovering an unexpected culprit

Characters

Zara

Tommy

+2 more

Golden Books Classic

Story Arc

Zara walked into her classroom. She saw many lunchboxes. Then she saw an empty spot. A lunch was gone!

Ms. Lily looked worried. “Someone took Leo’s apple and sandwich!” she said. Many eyes looked at Tommy.

Tommy’s shoulders drooped. “It wasn’t me,” he mumbled. Zara saw his sad face. She decided to look for clues.

Zara carefully looked on the floor. Near the empty spot, she found a tiny, sparkly nut shell. It was very small.

Zara walked slowly to the classroom door. She saw another tiny nut piece by the doorframe. The trail went outside!

Out on the sunny path, Zara spotted more shells. They led under a big green bush. A flash of brown fur zoomed past.

Zara knelt and peered under the bush. Two bright eyes looked back. Squeaky the squirrel quickly munched an apple core.

Zara hurried inside. “I found the lunch!” she told Ms. Lily. “It was Squeaky!” Ms. Lily smiled at Zara.

Ms. Lily put up a sign by the door. “Please keep lunches inside!” it said. Tommy watched, looking surprised.

Zara smiled at Tommy. He smiled back. Everyone knew the real lunch thief was just a hungry little squirrel.

Make one of your own next.

worried: Feeling a little sad or scared because something might be wrong.; Ms. Lily looked worried.
drooped: Fell down or hung lower, like when someone is sad.; Tommy’s shoulders drooped.
mumbled: Said something softly and not very clearly, like when you are shy or sad.; “It wasn’t me,” he mumbled.
clues: Little hints or signs that help you figure out a mystery.; She decided to look for clues.
carefully: Doing something in a slow, safe way so you don't make a mistake.; Zara carefully looked on the floor.
sparkly: Shining with many little bright lights.; she found a tiny, sparkly nut shell.
doorframe: The wood or metal part that goes around a door.; She saw another tiny nut piece by the doorframe.
spotted: Saw something, especially something you were looking for.; Zara spotted more shells.
zoomed: Moved very fast.; A flash of brown fur zoomed past.
knelt: Got down on your knees.; Zara knelt and peered under the bush.
peered: Looked closely at something, often with difficulty.; Zara knelt and peered under the bush.
munched: Chewed food in a noisy way, usually because you are enjoying it.; Squeaky the squirrel quickly munched an apple core.
hurried: Moved or acted very quickly.; Zara hurried inside.
surprised: Feeling or showing that you did not expect something to happen.; Tommy watched, looking surprised.
thief: Someone who steals things.; Everyone knew the real lunch thief was just a hungry little squirrel.