Christopher's latest in the Springboard Books series is sure to interest both baseball fans and children ready for chapter books. Zero, whose pitching is frequently erratic, develops the ability to throw perfect sliders after he accidentally injures his throwing hand. The question is, What will happen when he's healed? There's also the problem of finding a substitute coach. Zero would like to ask Uncle Pete to coach the team but worries that Pete won't be interested unless Zero continues to throw great pitches. The tension builds to a believable ending, and because the black-and-white illustrations are more cartoonish than realistic (Zero's age could be anywhere from 8 to 12), the book will please teachers needing high-interest materials for middle-school readers. (Reviewed June 1994)

Christopher's popular sports-themed Peach Street Mudders series books are sturdily bound for library use. Though most of the stories are formulaic, with the conflicts too easily resolved, they offer enough action to satisfy younger baseball fans. Black-and-white drawings by various artists illustrate the stories.

Gr 2-4-In this beginning chapter book, Christopher has not wavered from his proven formula of a sports story with a young protagonist who must overcome some adversity to triumph. In this case, Zero Ford wants to be an exceptional pitcher but it is not until he injures his hand that he discovers he can now throw a ``slider''-a pitch guaranteed to strike out any batter. But can he duplicate his success when the bandage is removed from his hand? And, will the Peach Street Mudders be able to play if the coach is unable to find a substitute for himself while he is on vacation? Zero finally musters up enough courage to try pitching without the bandage and to ask his uncle to take over coaching the team and all works out well in the end. An average sports story that will find a ready audience with the author's many fans.-Jan Shepherd Ross, Dixie Elementary Magnet School, Lexington, KY