Emil and the Detectives, by Erich Kästner from The 10 Best Children's ooks

Ten-year-old Emil makes his first trip alone to visit family in Berlin when a suspicious man steals his money. Convinced he’ll be in trouble if he goes to the police, Emil befriends the city’s streetwise kids, determined to catch the thief without adult help. Funny, pacy and wryly observed. Best for: Ages 8–11 In a nutshell: Valiant villain catching