Encyclopedia Brown is a wholesome classic that teaches critical thinking through interactive mysteries—and it's genuinely safe and educational. The problem? It was written in 1963, and boy does it show.

The mysteries are clever and the solve-it-yourself format is legitimately engaging for puzzle-loving kids. Encyclopedia is a great role model who uses brains over fists, and there's real satisfaction in catching the clues before the solution is revealed. Donald Sobol won awards for good reason.

But let's be honest: this book feels old. The references, the pacing, the Idaville setting—it's all very mid-century suburban America. Some kids won't care and will happily time-travel for a good puzzle. Others will bounce off it immediately because it doesn't feel like their world.

If your kid loves logic puzzles, riddles, and brain teasers, this is worth a shot. If they need contemporary settings and faster pacing, maybe try a modern mystery series instead. It's a solid book that's earned its place in children's literature, but it's not going to work for every kid in 2025.