Best Selling Books by Matt Christopher

Savannah is excited about throwing a holiday ice skating party and has already invited friends from her new school, when she learns that Jonas has invited the crowd from her old school to a party the same day.

Over one million copies sold! A baseball fan learns the true meaning of success in this beloved classic that will capture the imaginations of a new generation of young readers. Sylvester loves baseball, but he isn''t exactly what you''d call a good hitter. Even though he wants nothing more than to join his neighborhood team, the Hooper Redbirds, he''s sure he''ll never do anything more than warm the bench. But then he meets the mysterious Mr. Baruth who promises to make Sylvester one of the best players ever. Suddenly, Sylvester goes from the worst player on the team to the kid who can only hit homers. With his overnight success, however, come tough questions. Will Sylvester ever learn the true meaning of teamwork? And what will happen when he has to learn to stand on his own? This beloved story about baseball, confidence, perseverance, and being a good teammate is a modern classic and sure to win over a new generation of young sports fans.

Bus Mercer, shortstop for the Peach Street Mudders, wants desperately to be picked for the county all-star team, but he breaks his parents'' rules for riding his new bike, and feelings of guilt affect his game.

A high school football player believes the harassment he is experiencing on and off the field is due to his father''s prison record.

Disappointed at first by not being large enough to make quarterback, Boots discovers that there is as much challenge in playing tackle.

Only one thing keeps Jim from being the best linebacker in the team - his fear of getting tackled. But his friend Chuckie knows Jim isn''t a coward. With Chuckie''s special courage as an example, can Jim find the strength to face his fears head-on?

Savannah is excited about throwing a holiday ice skating party and has already invited friends from her new school, when she learns that Jonas has invited the crowd from her old school to a party the same day.

Nicky is on his way to breaking the record for most runs batted in, but first he must overcome his superstitions, and someone who doesn''t want to see the old record broken.

Already troubled by his parents'' divorce, Bobby Canfield is further distressed when he learns that his father, who has coached him in running bases, intends to move away.

A young baseball player struggles to overcome his fear of a pitched ball, improve his throwing, and somehow redeem himself in the eyes of his teammates.

On-court hostility threatens Mel''s place on the team Mel Jensen is new to the Titans basketball team, but he knows he could be a vital part of the starting lineup-if only two other players would give him a chance to show his stuff. But Caskie and Stoney seem bent on ignoring him, and Mel knows it''s because he''s black. Should Mel fight fire with fire, or should he try to get along, if only for the sake of the team?

Barry McGee, hit-away batter for the Peach Street Mudders, enjoys winning so much that he has a tendency to bend the rules; then the dirty tactics of the pitcher on a rival team give him a new perspective on sports ethics.

Mac is the best goalie on his soccer team -- and he''s not afraid to let everyone know it. Then somebody on the school newspaper creates a new comic strip that caricatures Mac and his performance on and off the field. Mac wants to put a stop to it, but no one seems to know who the cartoonist is. He thinks it must be someone on the soccer team itself, because the strip is too tightly connected to the team for it to be an outsider. But his suspicions lead to one dead end after another. Can he discover who the artist is before the comic strip gets out of hand?

A young, inexperienced football team discovers that its beginner''s luck is due to a series of mysterious but successful plays anonymously sent to the coach.

There is a new player on the Peach Street Mudders, and Alfie Maples must figure out how to help him improve his game.

Voted captain of his baseball team, Jimmie declares himself pitcher even though Paul is a better pitcher. Paul leaves for another team, and Jimmie''s team starts losing. Can Jimmie regain the confidence of his friends?

Forced to referee rather than play basketball due to the after effects of polio, Rusty believes he will never play again until a new man in town organizes a team and coaches him.

Capturing the suspense and play-by-play action of nine major league plays and the personalities of the athletes that made them, a fan''s treasury includes Willie May''s 1954 World Series catch and Jim Abbott''s no-hitter.

Peter runs away from his foster home ... and right into danger Peter is a genius with dirt bikes. He can take them apart, fix them up, and race them like a champ. But his skill with a bike can take him only so far - and when he runs away from his foster home, he realizes he''s in way over his head. He gets mixed up with two dangerous strangers and soon finds himself neck and neck with trouble on and off the racetrack.

Twelve-year-old Brent Mullen discovers that the new assistant hockey coach is teaching the defensemen on his team illegal moves to help them win at any cost.

Theo Gordimer is a classic 13-year-old couch potato: he prefers video games and TV shows to playing sports. Then his favorite aunt is diagnosed with cancer. Theo wants to do something to help her, but what? Then his friend Paul tells him about a 5K road race coming up. The money collected from the race goes toward cancer research. Theo panics: running the race seems like the perfect way to help out his aunt, but 5K is more than three miles! Theo can barely run a quarter of one mile without having to stop. How will he be able to finish the race?

Sequel to The Dog That Pitched a No-Hitter. When his telepathic dog Harry is grounded for nipping another dog, Mike wonders how he''ll ever make it through the baseball game without his advice and encouragement.

Newly independent readers will love this classic football story now illustrated in full color with brand new artwork! Mike''s telepathic dog Harry is able to tell him what the other football team plans to do on the field, but Mike wonders--is it cheating? Can he win the game without Harry''s help? Passport to Reading Level 3

Jabber Morris has his heart set on playing soccer, but his family is pressuring him to play football. Tension at home builds when Jabber''s brother suspects him of stealing. Now he has to tell his uncle that he''s decided to play soccer - and convince his brother that he''s not a thief. One of the all-time best-selling titles from Matt Christopher!

While trying to ask Uncle Pete to coach the Peach Street Mudders, Zero discovers that he can throw a slider when there''s a big bandage on his injured thumb.

After he gets hit by a fast-moving ball, Turtleneck Jones loses his confidence on the baseball diamond and sees his position at first base given to another player.

As soon as Brett Thyson steps on "The Lizard", the mysterious skateboard he unearthed in his backyard, he can feel its power. It glides smoothly and effortlessly, but Brett can''t shake off the feeling that there''s something not quite right about it.

CENTER COURT STING Trash talking leads to trouble on the basketball court.... Forward Daren McCall is quick with an insult, quick to take offense, and quick to blame anyone but himself for his troubles. So when center Lou Bettman accuses him first of bad-mouthing him, then of vandalism, Daren turns the tables and insists that Lou is out to get him. The team splits into two camps, those who believe in Daren''s innocence and those who take Lou''s side. The fight heats up when Daren falls victim to an outrageous act. But did Lou retaliate, as Daren suspects, or is someone else trying to teach Daren a lesson?

Abducted by a "fan" and forced to become a member of a professional junior hockey team, thirteen-year-old star center Steve Crandall quickly realizes that he must play not only to win but to survive.

Jimmie makes his teammates mad when he becomes captain and selects himself as pitcher of his baseball team and he does not perform well during games.

Tina Esparza loves soccer, especially that it''s a team sport where no one player is in the spotlight. Imagine her surprise when the coach asks her to train as the team''s goalkeeper. Will Tina be able to overcome her shyness and accept a position that puts her in the center of attention?

Twelve-year-old Michael, confined to a wheelchair after an accident, uses mental telepathy to communicate football plays to his quarterback twin brother Tom, then suddenly finds himself on the field in his brother''s place.

Twelve-year-old Traci Winchell is a gifted gymnast, but lately she''s been having trouble -- so much trouble that her coach warns her she may need to drop out or else risk serious injury. Traci wants to find something to fill the void left by gymnastics, but is diving for her?

When he inherits a racing car, sixteen-year-old Ken determines to become a drag racer.

The twins toy hockey game seems to be magic as it plays games identical to the real ones before they even happen.

Sylvester Coddmyer III, star of "The Kid Who Only Hit Homers" and "Return of the Home Run Kid" is about to face his biggest challenge yet. He sprains his ankle and wonders how he will hit homers--or even singles--when every swing means pain.

Mike and his dog Harry, the Airedale with ESP, are shocked to discover that the new umpire for Mike''s baseball games can hear their mental conversations.

Mike and his dog Harry, the Airedale with ESP, are shocked to discover that the new umpire for Mike''s baseball games can hear their mental conversations.

When the new boy from Tokyo takes over Stogie Crane''s position as shortstop, the two boys encounter the first of several barriers to their friendship.

Even though he is the tallest member of the basketball team, a young boy finds he is far from being the best player.