(3) 1-3 Matt Christopher Sports Readers series. Illustrated by Daniel Vasconcellos. Mike and his Airedale, Harry, can hear each other's thoughts. Throughout the series, with Harry's help, Mike is able to perform better at sports; but when it comes to the crucial moment in the game, Mike has to win on his own (with Harry's support, of course). These appealing books provide lessons in sportsmanship and confidence. The new library editions are sturdily bound. Review covers these Matt Christopher Sports Readers titles: The Dog That Called the Pitch, The Dog That Called the Signals, The Dog That Pitched a No-Hitter, The Dog That Stole Football Plays, and The Dog That Stole Home.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 1-3 Matt Christopher Sports Readers series. Illustrated by Daniel Vasconcellos. Mike and his Airedale, Harry, can hear each other's thoughts. Throughout the series, with Harry's help, Mike is able to perform better at sports; but when it comes to the crucial moment in the game, Mike has to win on his own (with Harry's support, of course). These appealing books provide lessons in sportsmanship and confidence. The new library editions are sturdily bound. Review covers these Matt Christopher Sports Readers titles: The Dog That Called the Pitch, The Dog That Called the Signals, The Dog That Pitched a No-Hitter, The Dog That Stole Football Plays, and The Dog That Stole Home.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 1-3 Matt Christopher Sports Readers series. Illustrated by Daniel Vasconcellos. Mike and his Airedale, Harry, can hear each other's thoughts. Throughout the series, with Harry's help, Mike is able to perform better at sports; but when it comes to the crucial moment in the game, Mike has to win on his own (with Harry's support, of course). These appealing books provide lessons in sportsmanship and confidence. The new library editions are sturdily bound. Review covers these Matt Christopher Sports Readers titles: The Dog That Called the Pitch, The Dog That Called the Signals, The Dog That Pitched a No-Hitter, The Dog That Stole Football Plays, and The Dog That Stole Home.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 1-3 Soccer 'Cats series. Illustrated by Daniel Vasconcellos & Daniel Vasconcellos. In Switch, fullback Ted Gaddy yearns for the crowd's attention, so he misuses a new play to try to score a goal. Kick follows defender Alan Minter, who shies away from the ball after accidentally injuring a teammate. Both show the 'Cats tackling and solving these problems, but Kick's you-can-do-it message is overplayed. Black-and-white line drawings of the team members illustrate these chapter books. [Review covers these Soccer 'Cats titles: Kick It! and Switch Play!.]

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 1-3 Soccer 'Cats series. Illustrated by Daniel Vasconcellos & Daniel Vasconcellos. In Switch, fullback Ted Gaddy yearns for the crowd's attention, so he misuses a new play to try to score a goal. Kick follows defender Alan Minter, who shies away from the ball after accidentally injuring a teammate. Both show the 'Cats tackling and solving these problems, but Kick's you-can-do-it message is overplayed. Black-and-white line drawings of the team members illustrate these chapter books. [Review covers these Soccer 'Cats titles: Kick It! and Switch Play!.]

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 1-3 Soccer 'Cats series. Illustrated by Daniel Vasconcellos. These installments don't stray from the series' formula: fast-paced soccer action and low-key life lessons. In Disaster, a wisecracking benchwarmer learns that practice pays off. Heads Up describes a halfback's struggle to overcome her fear of heading the ball, after she's hit in the face. Suitable for independent readers, the books include black-and-white drawings.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 1-3 Soccer 'Cats series. Illustrated by Daniel Vasconcellos. These installments don't stray from the series' formula: fast-paced soccer action and low-key life lessons. In Disaster, a wisecracking benchwarmer learns that practice pays off. Heads Up describes a halfback's struggle to overcome her fear of heading the ball, after she's hit in the face. Suitable for independent readers, the books include black-and-white drawings.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 1-3 Soccer 'Cats series. Illustrated by Daniel Vasconcellos. Suitable for the reluctant-reader/avid-athlete crowd, these easy-to-digest chapter books combine lots of soccer action with formulaic lessons for life on and off the field. In Secret Weapon, Lisa, one of the smallest players, wows her team with a flip throw-in. Hat Trick follows Stookie's one-man game plan: hogging the ball rather than passing to his teammates. The black-and-white line drawings show cleat-clad characters fully engaged in their sport.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 1-3 Soccer 'Cats series. Illustrated by Daniel Vasconcellos. Suitable for the reluctant-reader/avid-athlete crowd, these easy-to-digest chapter books combine lots of soccer action with formulaic lessons for life on and off the field. In Secret Weapon, Lisa, one of the smallest players, wows her team with a flip throw-in. Hat Trick follows Stookie's one-man game plan: hogging the ball rather than passing to his teammates. The black-and-white line drawings show cleat-clad characters fully engaged in their sport.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 1-3 Soccer 'Cats series. Illustrated by Daniel Vasconcellos. A new (posthumously published) chapter-book series mixes action-packed soccer sequences with positive messages. In The Captain Contest, ten-year-old Dewey suggests a compromise: he will design the team logo; his pal Bundy will be team captain. Operation Baby-Sitter finds Bundy struggling to be a role model on and off the field. Although the dialogue lacks zip, the play-by-play soccer commentary will capture sports fans' interest. Black-and-white drawings accompany each story.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 1-3 Soccer 'Cats series. Illustrated by Daniel Vasconcellos. A new (posthumously published) chapter-book series mixes action-packed soccer sequences with positive messages. In The Captain Contest, ten-year-old Dewey suggests a compromise: he will design the team logo; his pal Bundy will be team captain. Operation Baby-Sitter finds Bundy struggling to be a role model on and off the field. Although the dialogue lacks zip, the play-by-play soccer commentary will capture sports fans' interest. Black-and-white drawings accompany each story.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) K-3 The popular sports story writer adds humor and a dog with ESP to the usual baseball mix in another book about Mike and his dog Harry. Mike is dumbfounded when he realizes the new umpire can hear Mike's mental communications with his dog. Their telepathic connection saves the day when the ump breaks his glasses. With plenty of illustrations, the text tells a fast-paced story, just right for newly independent readers.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.