Books About Art Theft

The Best Art Theft Books for Kids

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Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Law and Crime, featuring 15 favorites and recommendations by age.

Looking for excellent children's books about art theft? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

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The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Art Theft

Sale price

$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2023

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

By Nicholas Day, Brett Helquist (Illustrator)

The Mona Lisa vanishes, sparking a mystery that questions its very existence.

Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (2024)Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award (2024)Cybils Award (2023)

288 pages· 40,453 words· Est. 4.5 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 7,488 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: In turn-of-the-century Paris, the Mona Lisa disappears from the Louvre, igniting a whirlwind of intrigue. Was it stolen by a gang, a millionaire, or even Picasso? Journey through the city's shadowy alleys and into Leonardo da Vinci's enigmatic past to uncover the truth behind the world's most famous painting—a masterpiece that perhaps should never have existed. This thrilling tale blends crime, art, and history, inviting young readers to solve a century-old mystery.

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2016

Peril at the Top of the World

By James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein, Juliana Neufeld (Illustrator) · Book #4 in the Treasure Hunters series

Chase stolen art across Russia and the Arctic with relentless treasure hunters.

384 pages· 37,147 words· Est. 4 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 1,959 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Hardcover

Summary: The Kidd family, renowned treasure hunters, seek rest after global adventures. But when priceless paintings vanish in Russia, they're thrust into a high-stakes chase. Racing through St. Petersburg's shadows and the Arctic's wilds, they face relentless foes and unexpected betrayals. Can the Kidds outsmart the cunning thieves and recover the lost masterpieces? Adventure and danger await at every turn.

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2015

Secret of the Forbidden City

By James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein, Juliana Neufeld (Illustrator) · Book #3 in the Treasure Hunters series

A family races to save their mom from pirates by finding stolen Nazi treasures.

448 pages· 37,042 words· Est. 4 hour read

4.4/5 Goodreads · 2,638 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Hardcover

Summary: Bick and Beck Kidd, part of a treasure-hunting family, embark on a perilous quest from China to Berlin. Their mission: secure an ancient artifact to free their mother from pirates. But when forced to hunt for priceless Nazi-stolen paintings, the stakes soar. Can the Kidds outsmart the criminals and save their mom? Adventure, danger, and cunning await as they navigate treacherous paths and unravel secrets. Will they succeed before time runs out?

Sale price

$674

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2014

The Mystery of the Stolen Painting

By Harper Paris, Marcos Calo (Illustrator) · Book #3 in the Greetings from Somewhere series

Twins in Paris race to uncover a secret bakery and solve an art heist mystery.

128 pages· 4,666 words· Est. 36 min read-aloud

4.2/5 Goodreads · 340 ratings

$6.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: In Paris, twins Ethan and Ella embark on a thrilling quest. An email from Grandpa hints at a secret bakery near the Louvre, accessible only with a password. But their adventure takes a twist when a painting is stolen from the museum. Amidst alarms and police, the siblings must solve the mystery and find the bakery without being caught. Can they crack the case and uncover the hidden delights of Paris? Join their journey filled with intrigue and discovery in this captivating chapter book.

Sale price

$1498

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2014

The Case of the Secret Tunnel

By Holly Webb, Marion Lindsay (Illustrator) · Book #5 in the The Mysteries of Maisie Hitchins series

A girl detective uncovers a dangerous mystery beneath London's streets.

176 pages· 17,388 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 211 ratings

$15.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Young detective Maisie Hitchins suspects Mr. Fred Grange, a mysterious lodger, of theft. Her investigation reveals a hidden treasure and a perilous secret in the London Underground. As Maisie and her friends delve deeper, they find themselves entangled in a complex web of intrigue. Can Maisie unravel the truth before it's too late? Discover the secrets lurking beneath the city in this thrilling adventure.

Sale price

$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2016

Framed!

By James Ponti · Book #1 in the Framed! series

A young detective must solve a massive art heist while juggling schoolwork.

304 pages· 55,218 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

4.4/5 Goodreads · 9,891 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Twelve-year-old Florian Bates, a budding detective in Washington, D.C., uses his unique Theory of All Small Things to solve mysteries. When he and his friend Margaret stumble upon clues to a major art heist, they find themselves entangled with the FBI and a dangerous crime syndicate. Can Florian crack the case and still manage his schoolwork? Dive into this thrilling adventure where every small detail counts, and the stakes are as high as the nation's most prized art collection.

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2011

A King's Ransom

By Jude Watson · Book #2 in the The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers series

Siblings race against time to find a lost map or risk losing their family forever.

190 pages· 40,186 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 22,247 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Hardcover

Summary: Thirteen-year-old Dan Cahill and his sister Amy face a harrowing challenge: rescue their kidnapped family from the Vespers. With only days to find a long-lost map, their quest leads them through a web of Nazis, spies, and historical secrets. Each step is fraught with danger, and failure means certain death for their loved ones. Can they outsmart their enemies and uncover the map in time?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2018

The Mona Lisa Key

By Liesl Shurtliff · Book #1 in the Time Castaways series

Three siblings board the wrong subway, landing in a time-traveling adventure to solve a historic art heist.

416 pages· 90,468 words· Est. 10 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 608 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Mateo, Ruby, and Corey Hudson break a family rule and board a subway, only to find themselves on a time-traveling ship in 1911 Paris. As they unravel family secrets, they become entangled in a legendary art heist. With the past, present, and future at stake, can they navigate this magical mystery and uncover the truth? The adventure aboard the Vermillion is just beginning, and the siblings must race against time to solve the puzzle before it's too late.

Sale price

$674

Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2001

The Orange Outlaw

By Ron Roy, John Steven Gurney (Illustrator) · Book #15 in the A to Z Mysteries series

A group of kids try to solve the mystery of a stolen painting.

96 pages· 7,630 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 2,741 ratings

$6.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: In New York City, Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose face a puzzling art theft at Uncle Warren's apartment. With only orange peels and a strand of orange hair as clues, the trio must unravel the mystery and catch the elusive thief. Can they outsmart this cunning crook before it's too late? Dive into this thrilling adventure where every clue counts and nothing is as it seems.

Sale price

$1049

Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2010

Heist Society

By Ally Carter · Book #1 in the Heist Society series

A young thief must reclaim stolen art to save her father from a deadly enemy.

304 pages· 59,221 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

3.9/5 Goodreads · 95,662 ratings

$10.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Katarina Bishop wants a normal life, but when her father's accused of stealing a mobster's art, she's pulled back into the world of thievery. With Interpol closing in and a dangerous adversary looming, Kat has two weeks to assemble a teenage crew and execute the biggest heist of her life. Can she outsmart everyone and save her father, or will the stakes prove too high? Dive into a world of international intrigue, suspense, and unexpected romance as Kat navigates a perilous path to reclaim her life and her family's honor.

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