The Boxcar Children Collection: The Ghost in the First Row, the Box That Watch Found, a Horse Named Dragon: Vol 38

The Ghost in the First Row: A dusty old theater that was shut up for years is coming to life again, and the Aldens are there for opening night! They’re excited to help out backstage with a brand-new mystery play. But the Trap-Door Theater has mysteries of its own — with rumors of ghosts, disappearing props, and even a haunted seat! What secrets lie behind the scenes?

The Box That Watch Found: One day in the park, the Aldens’ dog, Watch, comes across a mysterious box with a note inside. “Congratulations!” the note says. “You’ve found it!” The box is part of a game called Geocaching. Soon, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are searching all over town for hidden boxes and making friends with other kids in the geocaching club. But is one of the club members a thief?

A Horse Named Dragon: The Aldens are helping out at a rescue ranch, taking care of horses that need extra attention. Jessie’s favorite is a beautiful horse named Dragon. But when Dragon and some of the other horses disappear from the pasture, the Boxcar Children must saddle up for a mystery. What’s happening to the horses at the Dare to Dream Ranch?

The Boxcar Children Series was created by Gertrude Chandler Warner, a teacher, when she realized that there were few, if any, books for children that were both easy and fun to read. She drew on her own experiences in writing the mysteries. As a child, she had spent hours watching trains near her home, and often dreamed about what it would be like to live in a caboose or freight car. In each story, she chose a special setting and introduced unpredictable, unusual or eccentric characters, to help highlight the Aldens’ independence and resourcefulness. Miss Warner lived in Putnam, Massachusetts until her death in 1979.