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The Boxcar Children Books In Order

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Publication Order of Boxcar Children Books

By: Gertrude Chandler Warner, Anthony VanArsdale
The Boxcar Children (1942)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Movie Star Mystery (1948)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Surprise Island (1949)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Yellow House Mystery (1952)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Mystery Ranch (1957)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Mike's Mystery (1960)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Blue Bay Mystery (1961)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Woodshed Mystery (1962)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Lighthouse Mystery (1962)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Mountain Top Mystery (1964)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Schoolhouse Mystery (1965)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Caboose Mystery (1966)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Houseboat Mystery (1967)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Snowbound Mystery (1968)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Tree House Mystery (1969)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Bicycle Mystery (1970)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Mystery in the Sand (1971)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Mystery Behind the Wall (1973)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Bus Station Mystery (1974)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Benny Uncovers a Mystery (1976)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Animal Shelter Mystery (1991)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Haunted Cabin Mystery (1991)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Deserted Library Mystery (1991)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Old Motel Mystery (1991)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Disappearing Friend Mystery (1991)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery Girl (1992)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Singing Ghost (1992)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Hidden Painting (1992)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Amusement Park Mystery (1992)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Mixed-Up Zoo (1992)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Camp-Out Mystery (1992)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery Cruise (1992)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery in the Snow (1992)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Castle Mystery (1993)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Pizza Mystery (1993)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery Horse (1993)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery at the Dog Show (1993)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Lost Village (1993)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Canoe Trip Mystery (1994)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Purple Pool (1994)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Ghost Ship Mystery (1994)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Hidden Beach (1994)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Missing Cat (1994)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery on Stage (1994)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Dinosaur Mystery (1995)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Stolen Music (1995)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Chocolate Sundae Mystery (1995)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Hot Air Balloon (1995)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery Bookstore (1995)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Stolen Boxcar (1995)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery in the Cave (1995)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Lost Mine (1996)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Secret Message (1996)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery on the Train (1996)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Lost Mine (1996)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Guide Dog Mystery (1996)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Hurricane Mystery (1996)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Secret Message (1996)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Boxcar Children Bookshelf (1996)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery in San Francisco (1997)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Outer Space Mystery (1997)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery at the Alamo (1997)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Firehouse Mystery (1997)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Soccer Mystery (1997)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Growling Bear Mystery (1997)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Cereal Box Mystery (1998)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery at Peacock Hall (1998)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Panther Mystery (1998)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Black Pearl Mystery (1998)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Lake Monster (1998)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Stolen Sword (1998)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery in the Mall (1999)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Basketball Mystery (1999)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Gymnastics Mystery (1999)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Pirate's Map (1999)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Ghost Town Mystery (1999)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Wild Ponies (2000)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Empty Safe (2000)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery at the Crooked House (2000)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Poison Frog Mystery (2000)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Great Bicycle Race Mystery (2000)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery in the Computer Game (2000)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Hockey Mystery (2000)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Copycat Mystery (2001)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Midnight Dog (2001)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Summer Camp Mystery (2001)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Haunted Clock Tower Mystery (2001)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Disappearing Staircase Mystery (2001)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Mummy's Curse (2002)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Stuffed Bear Mystery (2002)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Spider's Clue (2002)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery on Blizzard Mountain (2002)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Star Ruby (2002)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery at Skeleton Point (2002)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Mystery of the Fortune Cookie (2003)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery in the Fortune Cookie (2003)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Midnight Mystery (2003)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Ice Cream Mystery (2003)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Tattletale Mystery (2003)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Comic Book Mystery (2003)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Radio Mystery (2003)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Clue In The Corn Maze (2004)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery Of The Haunted Boxcar (2004)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Runaway Ghost (2004)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Finders Keepers Mystery (2004)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Ghost Of The Chattering Bones (2005)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Sword of the Silver Knight (2005)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Game Store Mystery (2005)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Orphan Train (2005)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Giant Yo-yo Mystery (2006)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Creature in Ogopogo Lake (2006)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Vanishing Passenger (2006)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Rock 'n' Roll Mystery (2006)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Secret of the Mask (2007)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Ghost in the First Row (2007)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Seattle Puzzle (2007)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Box That Watch Found (2007)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Great Detective Race (2008)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
A Horse Named Dragon (2008)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Ghost At The Drive-In Movie (2008)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery Of The Traveling Tomatoes (2008)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Boxcar Children Mysteries Dog Lovers' Special (2009)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Superstar Watch (2009)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Spy Game (2009)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Dog-gone Mystery (2009)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Vampire Mystery (2009)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Spy in the Bleachers (2010)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Amazing Mystery Show (2010)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Pumpkin Head Mystery (2010)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Cupcake Caper (2010)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Clue in the Recycling Bin (2011)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Zombie Project (2011)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Soccer Snitch (2014)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Legend of the Irish Castle (2016)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Election Day Dilemma (2016)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Mystery at Camp Survival (2020)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Skeleton Key Mystery (2020)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Trouble on the Wild West Express (2020)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Raptor Rescue (2023)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle

Publication Order of Boxcar Children Special Books

The Mystery on the Ice (1993)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery in Washington D.C. (1994)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery at Snowflake Inn (1994)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery at the Ballpark (1995)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Pilgrim Village Mystery (1995)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery at the Fair (1996)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Pet Shop Mystery (1996)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery in the Old Attic (1997)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Niagara Falls Mystery (1997)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Windy City Mystery (1998)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Queen's Jewels (1998)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery in New York (1999)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Black Raven (1999)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Home Run Mystery (2000)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Honeybee Mystery (2000)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Tiger's Eye (2001)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of the Screech Owl (2001)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Mystery of Alligator Swamp (2002)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Candy Factory Mystery (2002)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Great Shark Mystery (2003)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Black Widow Spider Mystery (2003)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle

Publication Order of Boxcar Children Graphic Novels

The Yellow House Mystery (2009)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Tree House Mystery (2009)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Surprise Island (2009)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Boxcar Children (2009)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Mystery Ranch (2009)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Blue Bay Mystery (2009)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Mike's Mystery (2009)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Haunted Cabin Mystery (2010)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Amusement Park Mystery (2010)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Pizza Mystery (2010)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Castle Mystery (2010)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Woodshed Mystery (2011)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Lighthouse Mystery (2011)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Mountain Top Mystery (2011)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle

Publication Order of The Boxcar Children Great Adventure Books

Journey on a Runaway Train (2017)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Clue in the Papyrus Scroll (2017)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Detour of the Elephants (2017)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Shackleton Sabotage (2017)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
The Khipu and the Final Key (2017)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle

Publication Order of The Jessie Files Books

By: Gertrude Chandler Warner, Stacia Deutsch
The Friendship Feature (2022)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
Talk of the Town (2022)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle
A Dramatic Disappearance (2023)Hardcover  Paperback  Kindle

The Boxcar Children is an adventure-mystery literary franchise that was originally written by Gertrude chandler Warner, an American first grade school teacher. Warner only wrote the first nineteen stories. The rest were written by other authors, though they always feature the by-line “Created by G. Chandler Warner”. Its original publisher was Rand McNally in 1924 though Albert Whitman & Company reissued it later in 1942 in a short revised form. Today, this series includes over 100 titles. Whereas recent novels in this series are set within the present day, most of its original novels were actually set in the 20s and 30s. The Box Car Children is suitable for 2nd and 3rd grade readers.

The Boxcar Children is the story of 4 orphaned children, Jessie, Henry, Benny and Violet. The four make a home for themselves inside an abandoned box car in the forest. Eventually, they meet their grandfather, a wealthy and kind person (although they initially believed he was cruel). The four children decide to start living with their grandfather, who even moves their beloved boxcar into his backyard so that they could use it as their playhouse.

In subsequent novels, the four children encounter many mysteries and adventures within their neighborhood and at locations they visit accompanied by their grandfather. Most of these novels are set within locations these children visit over holidays such as Christmas break or summer vacation.

Based on an online poll carried out in 2007, NEA (National Education Association) named the original novel of the series among Teachers’ Top 100 Children Books’. And in 2012, a survey carried out by the School Library Journal ranked it among the all time Top 100 Chapter Books’

The first novel.

The first novel of this series was published under the title The Box Car’. This novel begins with the four children, taking shelter in a bakery after they buy bread with some little cash they still have. Just to be allowed to spend their night in the bakery, the four agree to give assistance around the bakery. When they later overhear what the baker has in plan for them, they decide to flee. (In the 1924 edition, the four flee because they overhear the baker saying that he would send to their grandfather, who they think will treat them cruelly. But in the second1942 edition, the reason for fleeing is because they overhear that the baker plans on keeping the older 3 siblings but send the younger sibling Benny to live in children’s home. The most recent prints of this book are based upon the 1942 edition.)

After fleeing, they find an abandoned boxcar, in which they begin a new independent life. Henry begins performing various odd jobs for a young doctor (Doctor McAllister in the original 1924 edition and Doctor Moore in other editions) in Silver City, in order to earn the much needed money to buy food and other necessities. He also starts gardening for this doctor’s mother. Later on, she allows him to take home some carrots and parsnips he had picked as they were very small. The four children’s lives are very pleasant and full of hard work till Violet becomes sick and they have to seek assistance from the doctor.

Earlier in this novel, the doctor had read in a newspaper that a certain man, James Alden (James Cordyce in the original 1924 edition) was giving out a $5,000 reward to anyone who knew the whereabouts of his 4 lost grandchildren. They run away because they believed he was cruel. When the doctor takes sick Violet as well as the other three children to his home, he finally decides to contact their grandfather, who comes to the doctor’s house. Trying not to frighten the four children into escaping again, he decides not to reveal his full names. Not knowing he was actually their “cruel” grandfather, they warm to his kindness. Eventually, they are surprised but delighted after they discover that he was their grandfather. Later on, after moving in with them, James allows them to move their boxcar into his backyard to be used for their enjoyment.

The second novel.

In the second novel titled, Surprise Island, the four children spend summer break in their granddad’s island where they also set up a small home and museum. This is because the girls want to set up the little home while the boys want to explore. The boys then find a small cave which turns out to hold lots of historical significance and belongs to a real museum. They gather together illustrations of all the things they observe in the cave, several shells and plants and take them to their museum. The boys also find arrowheads among other interesting things. They’re kept company by a very intelligent man, Joe who seems to have so much knowledge of history than any normal person can. They then find out this knowledgeable man is their cousin, who for a while, had lost his identity. The boys reunite Joe with Alden, their grandfather and the entire family is very happy being together. After summer, the Box car children leave this island with Grandpa to go back to their home.

The Box Car Children’ animated film.

In April 2014, an animated based on The Boxcar Children’ was released bearing this same title. Grandfather Alden voice is played by Sheen Martin, Doctor Moore by JK. Simmons. Joey King, Zachary Gordon, Jadon Sand and Mackenzie Foy voice Jessie, Henry, Benny and Violet, respectively.

The animated film debuted during the Toronto International Film Kids Festival (TiFF/Kids) in April of 2014. It went ahead to play at fifteen more festivals including the Woods Hole Film Festival, St. Louis Film Festival and Spain’s The Gijon Film Festival. The animated film won Best Animated Film in the 2015 St. Tropez Film Festival.

The animated film was released by e-One Entertainment. It then got a limited theatrical run within North America, before coming out on VOD and DVD on the19th of August 2014. TV and streaming rights were exclusively sold to Netflix in October April, 2014. The animated film was produced and directed by Mark A. Dippe and Daniel Chuba. Maureen Sargent Gorman was its executive producer.

The Box Car Children is an intriguing and fun novel series that can be a great starter read for early or tentative readers.

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