Encyclopedia’s real name is Leroy Brown, but people gave him the nickname of Encyclopedia because of his encyclopedic knowledge of many esoteric subjects. The secret of his knowledge is that he’s read a lot of books.

Encyclopedia Brown’s father is the local chief of police, and he often talks to his son about difficult cases. Usually, Encyclopedia just listens to his father’s story and then asks one question that unravels the whole thing. His father doesn’t openly acknowledge the help his son gives him because he doubts other people would believe it, but he is proud of his son and grateful for his help.

Encyclopedia Brown also solves mysteries for the other kids in his neighborhood. He used a small toy printing press to print up advertisements for his detective business, charging clients 25 cents a day. He is soon joined by a tough, athletic girl named Sally Kimball. There are hints that Encyclopedia has a crush on Sally, and Sally also keeps his neighborhood nemesis, Bugs Meany, and Bug’s gang of friends called the Tigers at bay because Sally can easily beat Bugs in a fight.

All of the books in the series contain short mini-mysteries that readers are invited to solve themselves before the solution is revealed.

The series also inspired a television show during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Sometimes, episodes or clips of them appear on YouTube. I know that many episodes of the series were released on VHS at one point, but I don’t think they were released on DVD, and I don’t think they’re available to buy now.

The books were written by Donald J. Sobol and are available to borrow and read for free online through Internet Archive.

Books in the Series:

Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective (1963)

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Secret Pitch (1965)

Sometimes also titled Encyclopedia Brown Strikes Again.

Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues (1966)

Encyclopedia Brown Gets His Man (1967)

Encyclopedia Brown Solves Them All (1968)

Encyclopedia Brown Keeps the Peace (1969)

Encyclopedia Brown Saves the Day (1970)

Encyclopedia Brown Tracks Them Down (1971)

Encyclopedia Brown Shows the Way (1972)

Encyclopedia Brown Takes the Case (1973)

Encyclopedia Brown Lends a Hand (1974)

Also called Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Exploding Plumbing and Other Mysteries.

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Dead Eagles (1975)

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Midnight Visitor (1977)

Encyclopedia Brown Carries On (1980)

Encyclopedia Brown Sets the Pace (1981)

Encyclopedia Brown Takes the Cake (1982)

This book is number 15 1/2 in the series and also contains recipes that go with each of the mysteries in the book.

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Mysterious Handprints (1985)

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Treasure Hunt (1988)

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Disgusting Sneakers (1990)

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Two Spies (1995)

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of Pablo’s Nose (1996)

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Sleeping Dog (1998)

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Slippery Salamander (2000)

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Jumping Frogs (2003)

Encyclopedia Brown Cracks the Case (2007)

Encyclopedia Brown, Super Sleuth (2009)

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Secret UFOs (2010)

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Carnival Crime (2011)

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Soccer Scheme (2012)

Related Books:

These books are not regular collections of mini-mysteries, but the characters from the main stories present other topics. Not all of them are by the original author of the series.

Encyclopedia Brown’s Record Book of Weird and Wonderful Facts (1979)

Encyclopedia Brown’s First Book of Puzzles and Games (1980)

By Jim Razzi.

Encyclopedia Brown’s Second Book of Puzzles and Games (1980)

By Jim Razzi.

Encyclopedia Brown’s Third Book of Puzzles and Games (1981)

By Jim Razzi.

Encyclopedia Brown’s Fourth Book of Puzzles and Games (1981)

By Jim Razzi.

Encyclopedia Brown’s Second Record Book of Weird and Wonderful Facts (1981)

Encyclopedia Brown’s Book of Wacky Crimes (1983)

Encyclopedia Brown’s Book of Wacky Spies (1984)

Encyclopedia Brown’s Book of Wacky Sports (1984)

Encyclopedia Brown’s Book of Wacky Animals (1985)

Encyclopedia Brown’s Third Record Book of Weird and Wonderful Facts (1985)

Encyclopedia Brown’s Book of Comic Strips #1 (1985)

A compilation of Encyclopedia Brown comic strips from newspapers. By Elliot Caplin.

Encyclopedia Brown’s Book of Comic Strips #2 (1985)

A compilation of Encyclopedia Brown comic strips from newspapers. By Elliot Caplin.

Encyclopedia Brown’s Book of Wacky Cars (1987)

Encyclopedia Brown’s Book of Wacky Outdoors (1988)

Encyclopedia Brown’s Book of Strange But True Crimes (1992)

By Donald J. Sobol and Rose Sobol.

Encyclopedia Brown and his Best Cases Ever (2013)

A collection of popular stories from earlier books in the series and a letter from the author about the history of the series.