The Bobbsey Twins series was one of the earliest children’s book series produced by the Stratemeyer Syndicate, which created some of the most popular series of the 20th century! It’s about a family with four children, two sets of fraternal twins. The older set of twins are Bert and Nan, who are twelve years old, and the younger set of twins are six-year-olds called Fred and Flossie. Like many other early Stratemeyer Syndicate series, the first books in the series were more general fiction and adventure, but the series gradually became a mystery series.

The Bobbsey Twins is also one of the Stratemeyer Syndicate’s longest-running series. As with Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, it was published in multiple sub-series, updated to reflect changes in culture and technology. The Bobbsey Twins never age throughout their series, also frozen in age, like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Like other early Stratemeyer Syndicate series, early books also contain some inappropriate racial language and attitudes. Around the time of the Civil Rights Movement, the Stratemeyer Syndicate rewrote and reprinted some of these earlier books with the language corrected and updated, so many people who are nostalgic about these books today may not know that the printings they read as children had been edited and that the original printings read differently.

Mr. Bobbsey owns a lumber yard, and the Bobbsey family is upper middle class, able to afford servants (black people who are depicted as caricatures in the early books), their own houseboat, and travel to many exciting places throughout the series. The family lives in the town of Lakeport, which is somewhere in the eastern United States. Like other Stratemeyer Syndicate characters who do not age, the Bobbsey Twins’ interests and talents vary between the books and series in order to fit the plot lines.

The books in the series are credited to Laura Lee Hope, which is one of the pseudonyms used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate for their team of ghost writers. There are multiple sub-series for the Bobbsey Twins, each of which is set during the time when it was written, with changes to pop culture references. In some of the sub-series, Mrs. Bobbsey also has a part-time job in addition to being a stay-at-home mother, but the family is always upper middle class, able to afford travel, summer camp, and various fun and unusual activities for the kids. The parents and other adults are generally permissive in every series, allowing the kids to have a fair amount of independence for their investigations because they consider the children to be pretty responsible. Even when the kids have done something risky or encountered potential danger, they are typically allowed to continue their investigations with little more than a standard warning from the adults to be more careful.

Books in the Original Series

These are the first Bobbsey Twins books published. The series ran from the early 1900s through the 1970s. The first books in the series are more general fiction and adventure, but the series gradually transitions into a mystery series.

The Bobbsey Twins Or, Merry Days Indoors and Out (1904)

This is a Christmas story with a possible ghost sighting.

The Bobbsey Twins of Lakeport (1904, 1961)

In the original version, some valuable items are stolen from the Bobbseys’ neighbor. In the updated version, the Bobbsey Twins search an old house that is about to be torn down for some valuable hidden items.

The Bobbsey Twins’ Adventure in the Country (1907, 1961)

The Bobbsey Twins visit their aunt and uncle’s farm and find their cousins’ stolen bull.

The Secret at the Seashore (1907)

The Bobbsey Twins are at the beach when they find a message in a bottle.

The Bobbsey Twins’ Mystery at School (1913)

Bert is helping to manage the small museum at his school when a statue is stolen.

The Bobbsey Twins and the Mystery at Snow Lodge (1913)

The Bobbsey Twins investigate an old theft and convince an old man that his nephew isn’t guilty.

The Bobbsey Twins on a Houseboat (1915)

Mr. Bobbsey buys a houseboat, and the family travels on it over the summer, encountering strange happenings and a possible ghost.

The Bobbsey Twins’ Mystery at Meadowbrook (1915)

The Bobbsey Twins visit their aunt and uncle’s farm again and try to help a runaway boy.

The Bobbsey Twins’ Big Adventure at Home (1916)

When the Bobbsey Twins return home from the farm, they meet a “fresh air”charity boy and try to hep him.

The Bobbsey Twins’ Search in the Great City (1913)

Mr. Bobbsey has business in New York City, and the rest of the family goes along to see the sights, search for a friend’s long-lost sister, and find a fugitive criminal.

The Bobbsey Twins on Blueberry Island (1917)

The Bobbsey Twins’ Mystery on the Deep Blue Sea (1918)

The Bobbsey family rescues a teenager who was shipwrecked on a deserted island.

The Bobbsey Twins’ Adventure in Washington (1919)

The younger Bobbsey Twins are allowed to go with their older siblings on a class trip to Washington, DC, where they solve the mystery of an inventor’s stolen plans.

The Bobbsey Twins’ Visit to the Great West (1920)

The Bobbsey family visits a ranch that Mrs. Bobbsey inherits.

The Bobbsey Twins And The Cedar Camp Mystery (1921)

The Bobbsey Twins are visiting Canada when their friend Tommy disappears, and they get a mysterious warning.

The Bobbsey Twins at the County Fair (1922)

The Bobbsey family goes to a fair near their uncle’s farm.

The Bobbsey Twins Camping Out (1923)

The family goes on a camping trip, and the kids investigate a runaway circus bear.

The Bobbsey Twins’ Adventures of Baby May (1924)

The original, vintage version of this story was about an abandoned baby. The updated version is about an elephant that plays baseball.

The Bobbsey Twins Keeping House (1925)

The Bobbsey Twins confront a mystery about their own playhouse.

The Bobbsey Twins and the Four-leaf Clover Mystery (1926)

The Bobbsey Twins find a mystery on an Amish farm.

The Bobbsey Twins at Cherry Corners (1927)

The Bobbsey Twins confront an old schoolhouse that seems to be haunted and find a hidden treasure.

The Bobbsey Twins and Their Schoolmates (1928)

The Bobbsey Twins Treasure Hunting (1929)

The Bobbsey Twins at Spruce Lake (1930)

The Bobbsey Twins’ Wonderful Winter Secret (1931)

The Bobbsey Twins And The Circus Surprise (1932)

The Bobbsey Twins on an Airplane Trip (1933)

The Bobbsey Twins Solve a Mystery (1934)

The Bobbsey Twins on a Ranch (1935)

The Bobbsey Twins In Eskimo Land (1936)

The Bobbsey Twins in a Radio Play (1937)

The Bobbsey Twins at Windmill Cottage (1938)

The Bobbsey Twins At Light House Point (1939)

The Bobbsey Twins At Indian Hollow (1940)

The Bobbsey Twins at the Ice Carnival (1941)

The Bobbsey Twins In the Land of Cotton (1942)

The Bobbsey Twins in Echo Valley (1943)

The Bobbsey Twins on the Pony Trail (1944)

The Bobbsey Twins at Mystery Mansion (1945)

The Bobbsey Twins at Sugar Maple Hill (1946)

The Bobbsey Twins in Mexico (1947)

The Bobbsey Twins Toy Shop (1948)

The Bobbsey Twins in Tulip Land (1949)

The Bobbsey Twins In Rainbow Valley (1950)

The Bobbsey Twins’ Own Little Railroad (1951)

The Bobbsey Twins at Whitesail Harbor (1952)

The Bobbsey Twins and the Horseshoe Riddle (1953)

The Bobbsey Twins At Big Bear Pond (1953)

The Bobbsey Twins On A Bicycle Trip (1954)

The Bobbsey Twins’ Own Little Ferryboat (1956)

The Bobbsey Twins At Pilgrim Rock (1957)

The Bobbsey Twins’ Forest Adventure (1957)

The Bobbsey Twins At London Tower (1959)

The Bobbsey Twins In the Mystery Cave (1960)

The Bobbsey Twins In Volcano Land (1961)

The Bobbsey Twins and the Goldfish Mystery (1962)

The Bobbsey Twins and the Big River Mystery (1962)

The Bobbsey Twins and the Greek Hat Mystery (1964)

The Bobbsey Twins’ Search for the Green Rooster (1964)

The Bobbsey Twins And Their Camel Adventure (1966)

The Bobbsey Twins’ Mystery of the King’s Puppet (1967)

The Bobbsey Twins And The Secret of Candy Castle (1968)

The Bobbsey Twins and the Doodlebug Mystery (1969)

The Bobbsey Twins And The Talking Fox Mystery (1970)

The Red, White and Blue Mystery (1971)

Dr. Funnybone’s Secret (1972)

The Bobbsey Twins And The Tagalong Giraffe (1973)

The Bobbsey Twins And The Flying Clown (1974)

The Bobbsey Twins On The Sun-Moon Cruise (1975)

The Freedom Bell Mystery (1975)

The Smoky Mountain Mystery (1976)

The Bobbsey Twins In A TV Mystery Show (1978)

The Coral Turtle Mystery (1978)

Bobbsey Twins

This is the second sub-series of the Bobbsey Twins, simply called the Bobbsey Twins. It was published in the 1980s, and every book in the series is a mystery story. One thing that makes this series different from the others is that the Bobbsey family travels more, going to other states and countries. The Bobbsey family travels in the first series, too, but they go to more specific and more exotic places in this series.

The Blue Poodle Mystery (1980)

Nan is dancing at a ballet show in New York City with her friend when her friend’s dog disappears.

Secret in the Pirate’s Cave (1980)

The Bobbsey family is on vacation in Bermuda, and the kids catch thieves who are stealing artifacts from the local museum.

The Dune Buggy Mystery (1981)

The kids buy an old dune buggy at the town dump, but someone steals it.

The Missing Pony Mystery (1981)

The Rose Parade Mystery (1981)

The Bobbsey family visits California, where some friends of theirs are building a float for the Rose Parade, but someone is sabotaging their float.

Misteri Camp Fire (1982)

While the Bobbsey family is visiting Mrs. Bobbsey’s old friend in New Mexico, the kids help a Camp Fire troop find their stolen bicycles.

Double Trouble (1983)

Mystery of the Laughing Dinosaur (1983)

A valuable stamp is stolen from a museum. Does it have anything to do with the dinosaur Freddie thought he heard laughing.

The Music Box Mystery (1983)

Someone accidentally sends a music box to Flossie, and a mysterious stranger wants it.

The Ghost in the Computer (1984)

Nan and Bert see a light on in their school while coming home late from the library, and Freddie sees someone in white running away. The next day, a clown is attacked at their school carnival, and the prize that Freddie won is stolen.

The Scarecrow Mystery

A scarecrow that seems to move around on its own and a mysterious key lead to an art thief.

The Haunted House Mystery

Strange things are happening at an old mansion in Oklahoma. Then, someone steals a dollhouse that was designed to look like this old mansion. Somehow, this all seems to have something to do with some animals stolen from the zoo.

The Mystery of the Hindu Temple (1985)

The Bobbsey family takes a trip to Nepal, where some treasures are stolen from a Hindu temple.

The Grinning Gargoyle Mystery (1986)

The Bobbsey family takes a trip to Paris, where one of Nan’s old teachers is living. Before they leave on the trip, the teacher sends Nan a vial of perfume. When the family arrives in Paris, the teacher doesn’t meet them as they planned, and someone tries to steal the perfume. What’s so special about the perfume?

The New Bobbsey Twins

The third Bobbsey Twins series was also entirely mystery stories. Mrs. Bobbsey has a part-time job in this series as a reporter for the local newspaper. She sometimes writes travel articles about the places the family goes for vacation or stories about interesting local events introduce the children to mysteries they have to solve.

I’d like to acknowledge Sean Hagins, for supplying me with photos of books in this series! Usually, I take pictures of books myself, but I just couldn’t find physical copies of these books. Sean is a big fan of the Bobbsey Twins, particularly the New Bobbsey Twins mysteries, and you can see some of his video reviews as well as videos about his photography work on his YouTube channel, SJHFoto. Thanks, Sean!

#1 The Secret of Jungle Park (1987)

The Bobbsey Twins love the amusement park called Jungle Park, but someone has been trying to sabotage it and force it to close.

#2 The Case of the Runaway Money (1987)

Nan and Bert are taking part in a race to raise money for charity, and someone steals the charity money.

#3 The Clue That Flew Away (1987)

A miniature, bejeweled hot air balloon is stolen from the Armstrong estate.

#4 The Secret in the Sand Castle (1988)

The Bobbsey family is staying in an old house by a beach while the kids investigate rumors of a ghost and a lost treasure of stolen gold.

#5 The Case of the Close Encounter (1988)

The Bobbsey Twins try to learn the truth behind a UFO sighting.

#6 Mystery on the Mississippi (1988)

The Bobbsey Twins are traveling on a riverboat when someone steals a rare book from another passenger. A known prankster is accused, but the Bobbsey Twins don’t think he’s guilty.

#7 Trouble in Toyland (1988)

Someone has stolen antique toys from a toy store and replaced them with fakes.

#8 The Secret of the Stolen Puppies (1988)

The dog who is the mascot of the firehouse has puppies, and someone steals them. A local bully tries to solve the mystery before the Bobbsey Twins.

#9 Clue In The Classroom (1988)

A science teacher is working on a secret project. Then, someone leaves him a warning message and vandalizes the school’s science lab.

#10 The Chocolate-Covered Clue (1989)

A mysterious masked man is running around town, smashing chocolate cakes! What is behind this crazy cake vandalism?

#11 The Case of the Crooked Contest (1989)

Nan is participating in a gymnastics competition, but strange things are happening.

#12 The Secret Of The Sunken Treasure (1989)

The Bobbsey Twins investigate the theft of a treasure recovered from a sunken ship.

#13 The Case of the Crying Clown (1989)

A circus clown is accused of burglary, but the Bobbsey Twins don’t think he’s guilty.

#14 The Mystery of the Missing Mummy (1989)

A real mummy disappears from the local museum shortly before Halloween, and the Bobbsey Twins see it running through the park!

#15 The Secret of the Stolen Clue (1989)

The Bobbsey Twins’ mother is holding a clue to a contest as part of her job with the local newspaper, but someone steals it from her.

#16 The Case of the Disappearing Dinosaur (1990)

The Bobbsey Twins make an important discovery when their dog digs up what looks like a dinosaur bone, but then, someone steals the bone.

#17 The Case Of The Creepy Castle (1990)

When two people go into a fun house and don’t come out, the Bobbsey Twins investigate!

#18 The Secret At Sleepaway Camp (1990)

Someone is sabotaging the kids’ summer camp and blaming it on a ghost.

#19 The Show-and-Tell Mystery (1990)

Flossie brings an antique doll for show-and-tell, but someone steals it.

#20 The Weird Science Mystery (1990)

Someone is trying to sabotage the school’s science fair.

#21 The Great Skate Mystery (1990)

Someone is trying to sabotage a skating contest, and Flossie becomes a suspect!

#22 The Super-Duper Cookie Caper (1991)

Freddie is trying to raise money for a new bike by selling cookies, but someone steals his grandmother’s secret recipe for oatmeal cookies!

#23 The Monster Mouse Mystery (1991)

Freddie and Flossie have the opportunity to test some new video games, and while they’re testing them, they overhear the inventor talking about a missing monster mouse.

#24 Case Of The Goofy Game Show (1991)

#25 The Case of the Crazy Collections (1991)

The Bobbsey Twins’ neighborhood is holding a block party, and they’ve decided to have a display of people’s hobby collections. When someone steals from the collections, Freddie and Flossie are framed!

#26 Clue at Casper Creek (1991)

Freddie and Flossie join their school’s effort to clean up Casper Creek, but when their dog gets sick there, they learn that Casper Creek may have more serious problems than their school thought.

#27 The Big Pig Puzzle (1991)

A girl from Freddie’s class enters her pet pig in a contest at the local fair, but someone kidnaps the pig!

#28 Case of the Vanishing Video (1992)

A new video store (remember those?) is holding a treasure hunt contest, but someone is interfering with the clues.

#29 The Case of the Tricky Trickster (1992)

The local PTA is holding a variety show, but someone is trying to sabotage it.

#30 Mystery of the Mixed Up Mail (1992)

Someone tampers with the mail and steals a neighbor’s baseball tickets.