🔎 Where is the missing bookGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Mystery of the Missing Atlas
The Golden Atlas, the most magical book in the library, has vanished from its pedestal! A sneaky Book Thief snatched it and ran into the maze of bookshelves. We need to crack the clues and catch the thief before the library closes!
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Magic Library Skill | Escape Tool | Eye Gear | Hair Style | Loud Sound or Trick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherlock | sticky bookmarks | decoy book | wears glasses | blue hair | sneezing powder |
| Nancy | sticky bookmarks | glider cape | wears glasses | blue hair | sneezing powder |
| Pippi | flying boots | decoy book | wears glasses | curly brown hair | bright flashlight |
| Violet | silence charm | decoy book | wears glasses | spiky green hair | bright flashlight |
| Aslan | magnifying glass | glider cape | wears glasses | spiky green hair | bright flashlight |
| Wendy | sticky bookmarks | decoy book | wears glasses | spiky green hair | bright flashlight |
| Dorothy | magnifying glass | grappling hook | wears glasses | curly brown hair | sneezing powder |
| Arthur | ink spray | smoke bomb | no glasses | curly brown hair | bright flashlight |
| Hermione | flying boots | smoke bomb | no glasses | blue hair | sneezing powder |
| Meg | silence charm | smoke bomb | wears glasses | blue hair | sneezing powder |
| Matilda | magnifying glass | grappling hook | no glasses | spiky green hair | sneezing powder |
| Milo | magnifying glass | glider cape | wears glasses | spiky green hair | sneezing powder |
| Percy | sticky bookmarks | smoke bomb | wears glasses | curly brown hair | sneezing powder |
| Katniss | ink spray | grappling hook | no glasses | blue hair | sneezing powder |
| Frodo | flying boots | glider cape | wears glasses | blue hair | bright flashlight |
| Peter | sticky bookmarks | glider cape | no glasses | spiky green hair | loud whistle |
| Augustus | silence charm | grappling hook | no glasses | spiky green hair | bright flashlight |
| Charlotte | magnifying glass | magic flashlight | wears glasses | blue hair | sneezing powder |
| Huckleberry | magnifying glass | glider cape | wears glasses | blue hair | loud whistle |
| Bilbo | ink spray | glider cape | wears glasses | blue hair | sneezing powder |
| Alice | magnifying glass | magic flashlight | no glasses | curly brown hair | bright flashlight |
Clue 1
Place value
We check the digital room lock on the library vault. The keypad displays a code, but some of the digit places are blank! Solve this place value puzzle to unlock the door and get our first clue.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
8000
40
1000
T
8000
40
700
1000
3000
500
90
1000
5000
70
90
T
8000
50
5000
1000
100
60
100
2000
700
600
3000
9000
100
5000
40
9000
700
2000
40
T
8000
What is the value of the 8 in 28,501?T
What is the value of the 1 in 5,143?A
What is the value of the 5 in 6,057?U
What is the value of the 5 in 5,129?S
What is the value of the 2 in 2,496?G
What is the value of the 6 in 2,628?C
What is the value of the 4 in 5,343?H
What is the value of the 3 in 93,102?F
What is the value of the 6 in 167?M
What is the value of the 5 in 6,523?D
What is the value of the 7 in 746?I
What is the value of the 1 in 81,609?E
What is the value of the 7 in 3,079?N
What is the value of the 9 in 9,531?L
What is the value of the 9 in 294?O
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
The suspect dropped several piles of library cards as they ran. Let's add up all the dropped cards to find out which aisle they ran down!
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
F
4533
2861
4616
3844
7301
7520
4476
7520
3896
5336
2861
F
4533
5336
3964
7520
7301
3896
3844
4744
4744
8843
7520
4184
4184
3964
4184
7520
8595
8595
4109
3964
4184
9297
3964
3844
3964
2836 + 1697 =F
2009 + 1887 =I
2153 + 1956 =H
2975 + 6322 =C
2037 + 3299 =R
2238 + 2506 =G
2079 + 2105 =S
4172 + 3129 =D
3085 + 5758 =L
2841 + 1635 =P
1409 + 2555 =E
1704 + 1157 =O
3135 + 1481 =U
2572 + 4948 =A
1753 + 2091 =N
3298 + 5297 =T
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
To get past the secret bookshelf door, we must compare the heights of two massive encyclopedias. Find the difference in their heights to open the passage.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
8680
5530
4477
8792
7774
8792
8992
4477
8826
T
8680
8792
1456
4477
4477
7840
4477
1232
1268
5530
4477
1456
8992
4477
8992
8992
4477
6316
1268
4569
8792
T
8680
5530
6316
5336
1268
1456
9534 - 854 =T
2964 - 1696 =W
6500 - 970 =H
12668 - 3676 =P
8118 - 2782 =O
12462 - 3636 =C
5276 - 4044 =D
6964 - 2487 =E
9322 - 4753 =A
11567 - 3793 =U
11437 - 2645 =S
8745 - 2429 =R
10942 - 3102 =Z
5003 - 3547 =N
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We find a clue hidden in the study desks! The desks are lined up in perfect rows. Multiply the rows and columns to find the exact desk number.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
1
14
63
54
56
72
9
99
100
88
12
8
28
6
100
144
56
14
60
6
88
99
72
9
54
63
28
99
12
88
1 × 1 =W
12 × 12 =L
2 × 4 =G
2 × 7 =E
9 × 6 =O
9 × 7 =F
11 × 9 =A
2 × 3 =T
12 × 5 =S
8 × 9 =N
7 × 4 =H
7 × 8 =U
10 × 10 =B
12 × 1 =I
8 × 11 =R
9 × 1 =D
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
A box of mystery bookmarks was left behind! If we share them equally among our detective helpers, we can read the final clue left on the last bookmark.
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Step 1 — solve these
6 ÷ 1 = ?
42 ÷ 6 = ?
99 ÷ 11 = ?
16 ÷ 8 = ?
120 ÷ 10 = ?
8 ÷ 8 = ?
60 ÷ 12 = ?
32 ÷ 8 = ?
3 ÷ 1 = ?
120 ÷ 12 = ?
48 ÷ 6 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain casts a silence charm on the room, then leaps off the balcony with a glider cape.
2.The villain uses a magnifying glass to read clues, then leaps off the balcony with a glider cape.
3.The villain casts a silence charm on the room, then drops a heavy decoy book to escape.
4.The villain uses a magnifying glass to read clues, then lights up the dark hallway with a flashlight.
5.The villain zooms past the shelves in flying boots, then swings out the window with a grappling hook.
6.The villain sprays dark ink on the library cameras, then leaps off the balcony with a glider cape.
7.The villain throws sticky bookmarks on the floor, then leaps off the balcony with a glider cape.
8.The villain uses a magnifying glass to read clues, then swings out the window with a grappling hook.
9.The villain throws sticky bookmarks on the floor, then drops a heavy decoy book to escape.
10.The villain zooms past the shelves in flying boots, then drops a heavy decoy book to escape.
11.The villain casts a silence charm on the room, then escapes in a cloud of smoke.
12.The villain sprays dark ink on the library cameras, then drops a heavy decoy book to escape.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Missing Atlas
Culprit: Meg (silence charm · smoke bomb · wears glasses · blue hair · sneezing powder)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE A MAGIC FLASHLIGHT"What is the value of the 8 in 28,501? = 8000 (T) · What is the value of the 1 in 5,143? = 100 (A) · What is the value of the 5 in 6,057? = 50 (U) · What is the value of the 5 in 5,129? = 5000 (S) · What is the value of the 2 in 2,496? = 2000 (G) · What is the value of the 6 in 2,628? = 600 (C) · What is the value of the 4 in 5,343? = 40 (H) · What is the value of the 3 in 93,102? = 3000 (F) · What is the value of the 6 in 167? = 60 (M) · What is the value of the 5 in 6,523? = 500 (D) · What is the value of the 7 in 746? = 700 (I) · What is the value of the 1 in 81,609? = 1000 (E) · What is the value of the 7 in 3,079? = 70 (N) · What is the value of the 9 in 9,531? = 9000 (L) · What is the value of the 9 in 294? = 90 (O)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "FOUND A PAIR OF READING GLASSES AT THE SCENE"2836 + 1697 = 4533 (F) · 2009 + 1887 = 3896 (I) · 2153 + 1956 = 4109 (H) · 2975 + 6322 = 9297 (C) · 2037 + 3299 = 5336 (R) · 2238 + 2506 = 4744 (G) · 2079 + 2105 = 4184 (S) · 4172 + 3129 = 7301 (D) · 3085 + 5758 = 8843 (L) · 2841 + 1635 = 4476 (P) · 1409 + 2555 = 3964 (E) · 1704 + 1157 = 2861 (O) · 3135 + 1481 = 4616 (U) · 2572 + 4948 = 7520 (A) · 1753 + 2091 = 3844 (N) · 3298 + 5297 = 8595 (T)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE SUSPECT SNEEZED WHEN PEPPER WAS THROWN"9534 - 854 = 8680 (T) · 2964 - 1696 = 1268 (W) · 6500 - 970 = 5530 (H) · 12668 - 3676 = 8992 (P) · 8118 - 2782 = 5336 (O) · 12462 - 3636 = 8826 (C) · 5276 - 4044 = 1232 (D) · 6964 - 2487 = 4477 (E) · 9322 - 4753 = 4569 (A) · 11567 - 3793 = 7774 (U) · 11437 - 2645 = 8792 (S) · 8745 - 2429 = 6316 (R) · 10942 - 3102 = 7840 (Z) · 5003 - 3547 = 1456 (N)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND A BRIGHT BLUE STRAND OF HAIR"1 × 1 = 1 (W) · 12 × 12 = 144 (L) · 2 × 4 = 8 (G) · 2 × 7 = 14 (E) · 9 × 6 = 54 (O) · 9 × 7 = 63 (F) · 11 × 9 = 99 (A) · 2 × 3 = 6 (T) · 12 × 5 = 60 (S) · 8 × 9 = 72 (N) · 7 × 4 = 28 (H) · 7 × 8 = 56 (U) · 10 × 10 = 100 (B) · 12 × 1 = 12 (I) · 8 × 11 = 88 (R) · 9 × 1 = 9 (D)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Meg6 ÷ 1 = 6 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 99 ÷ 11 = 9 · 16 ÷ 8 = 2 · 120 ÷ 10 = 12 · 8 ÷ 8 = 1 · 60 ÷ 12 = 5 · 32 ÷ 8 = 4 · 3 ÷ 1 = 3 · 120 ÷ 12 = 10 · 48 ÷ 6 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Missing Atlas — set in The Whispering Library
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects