How Faith, Humor, and a Big‑Hearted Dog Shape Becca Wierwille’s New Mystery Series for Kids
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Some authors write stories. Others build worlds kids want to live in. And then there’s Becca Wierwille—who somehow manages to do both while weaving in faith, humor, and heart in a way that feels effortless.
Last time Becca joined us on the BookWorthy Podcast, she introduced readers to her Road Trip Rescue series—a heartfelt middle‑grade adventure rooted in identity, courage, and God’s intentional design. But today, she’s back with something new, something younger, and something absolutely delightful: The Scout and Barnaby Mysteries, a Christian chapter‑book series for ages 6–10.
These books are warm, funny, faith‑filled, and just the right amount of quirky. They’re also exactly the kind of stories parents are craving—books that help kids grow confident as readers while grounding them in truth.
And yes… there’s a dog involved. A very big, very slobbery, very lovable dog.
A Mystery Series Born from Readers’ Needs
The idea for the series didn’t come from a brainstorming session or a long‑held dream. It came from listening—really listening—to kids and parents.
At homeschool conventions, Becca kept hearing the same two things:
Kids love mysteries.
Parents wanted Christian stories their kids could trust—but many young readers weren’t ready for 40,000‑word middle‑grade novels.
So, Becca began to wonder: What if I wrote a mystery series that bridges the gap? Something shorter, funnier, and more accessible—without losing depth?
That question became the seed of The Scout and Barnaby Mysteries.
“These books are about 15,000 words instead of 40,000,” Becca explained. “They have illustrations, larger font, and more white space… trying to lessen that intimidation factor for a child picking up the book”.
But don’t mistake “shorter” for “simpler.” These books are rich, clever, and full of heart.
Meet Scout and Barnaby: A Girl, a Dog, and a Dictionary
The series opens with a scene that instantly hooks young readers—and makes adults laugh out loud.
Scout, the book‑loving main character, is lying in the camp field reading with her dictionary beside her. Suddenly:
“This giant dog springs out of the woods… snatches her dictionary, and starts ripping out the pages. And with horror, she realizes he’s not just destroying her precious dictionary—he’s eating the pages”.
That dog becomes Barnaby.
And because he eats dictionary pages, he gains the ability to understand human speech.
It’s whimsical. It’s hilarious. And it’s exactly the kind of imaginative twist that makes kids fall in love with reading.
Each book alternates between Scout’s perspective and Barnaby’s canine point of view—giving readers a front‑row seat to Barnaby’s goofy, loyal, big‑hearted inner world.
Why These Mysteries Matter
Becca writes with purpose. Always has. Whether she’s exploring disability and identity in Road Trip Rescue or crafting a laugh‑out‑loud mystery for younger readers, her heartbeat is the same:
“I want kids to know they are wonderfully created by God… that the things about them that feel different or quirky are actually gifts”.
Scout embodies this beautifully.
She loves big words. She’s observant. She’s curious. She’s a little socially awkward. And she sometimes feels like she doesn’t quite fit in.
But those very traits—her “quirks”—are what make her a great detective.
Kids see themselves in Scout. They see their own insecurities, their own strengths, their own longing to belong. And through her story, they see God’s intentional design.
Becca signs each book with the phrase: “Be brave and curious.”
It’s a simple encouragement, but a powerful one—especially for kids learning who they are and who God created them to be.
Writing Humor (and Why Big Dogs Help)
Humor is hard to write well—especially for kids. But Becca pulls it off with warmth and charm.
She credits part of that to her critique partners, especially author Kristen Joy Wilks, who writes pet‑adventure humor.
“She’ll say, ‘Well, Barnaby here might be thinking this,’” Becca shared. “She tells me stories about her own big dogs… and that gives me a different way to think about things” (transcript).
But the other reason the humor works?
Barnaby.
Big dogs are funny. They just are. They’re clumsy, earnest, dramatic, and full of personality. Barnaby is no exception.
He’s a St. Bernard mix with a heart of gold and a nose for trouble. And because readers get to hear his thoughts, the humor lands in a way that feels natural—not forced.
The Easter Eggs Readers Love
One of the joys of writing a series is getting to build a world readers want to return to. And Becca has tucked in some delightful surprises for fans of her earlier books.
For example, Kimmy—one of the protagonists from Road Trip Rescue—makes a cameo as a camp counselor.
“I got to know these characters and love them,” Becca said. “I didn’t want to leave them behind”.
There are also Easter eggs in the dedication pages. Some of the dogs featured there belong to Kickstarter backers who supported the series early on. And one of them—Barney—was Becca’s own childhood dog, a big black lab mix who inspired Barnaby’s name.
It’s these small touches that make the series feel personal, thoughtful, and full of heart.
How Kindergarten Shaped the Series
Before becoming an author, Becca taught kindergarten—and that experience deeply shaped how she writes for young readers.
She remembers reading aloud everything from Mercy Watson to Charlotte’s Web to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Those read‑aloud moments taught her what keeps kids engaged:
Short chapters
Humor
Cliffhangers
Illustrations
Language that respects young readers without talking down to them
“I wanted to put all of that read‑aloud fun into these books,” she said.
And she did. Parents tell her the series makes for wonderful family reading time. Kids beg for “just one more chapter.” And teachers love using the books in early‑elementary classrooms.
A Faith‑Rooted Foundation
While the mysteries are fun and the humor is plentiful, the series is unmistakably grounded in faith.
Scout lives at a Christian wilderness camp. Her family models kindness, curiosity, and trust in God. And each mystery gently reinforces biblical truths without ever feeling preachy.
Becca’s own faith shines through her storytelling—quietly, warmly, and consistently.
Even her answer to the “most impactful book” question reflects this. She named The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, explaining:
“Stories of faith where you see a person going through unimaginable challenges… and the trust she maintained through it is just amazing”.
Trust is her family’s word for the year. And trust is woven into Scout’s journey too—trusting God, trusting her gifts, trusting that she was made on purpose.
What’s Next for Scout and Barnaby
Good news for young readers: more mysteries are coming.
Becca is currently working on the next three books in the series:
Book 4: The Case of the Ice Cream Incident
Book 5: A blueberry‑themed mystery
Book 6: A whitewater‑rafting adventure
She’s writing them in batches again—editing them together, planning illustrations together, and building the world with continuity and care.
She doesn’t have release dates yet, but readers can sign up for her newsletter to stay updated.
And here’s a bonus: when you join her email list, you get a free ebook or audiobook of Book One.
Where to Find Becca Wierwille and her Books
You can learn more about Becca and sign up for her newsletter at:
👉 BeccaWierwille.com or👉 BelovedChronicles.com (easy to spell and redirects to her site)
There you’ll also find links to purchase the Scout and Barnaby Mysteries, download the free Book One, and follow along with future releases.
Why This Series Matters for Christian Families
In a world full of noise, distraction, and content we can’t always trust, Becca Wierwille is offering something rare:
Stories that are safe and exciting
Humor that is wholesome and genuinely funny
Characters who are quirky and deeply loved by God
Mysteries that are clever and accessible
A reading experience that builds confidence and curiosity
These books remind kids that God made them wonderfully, purposefully, and uniquely—and that their quirks might just be their superpowers.
They remind parents that good stories still exist.
And they remind all of us that faith and fun don’t have to be separate categories.
Sometimes they meet in the most unexpected places—like a Christian wilderness camp, a girl with a dictionary, and a dog who eats big words for breakfast.
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