I found another sports book!

The Losers Fight Back by Barbara M. Joosse. Illustrated by Sue Truesdell. Clarion, 1994 (0-395-62335-9) $13.95; Dell Yearling, 1996 (0-440-41110-6) $3.99 pb

Good friends Willie and Lucy from Wild Willie and King Kyle Detectives have problems: their soccer team the Bruisers is rapidly acquiring a new nickname—The Losers—and bully Chuckie Herman is teasing them with the “K-I-S-S-I-N-G” song. For Willie, trying to solve the first problem is hampered by the second: how can he make plans with Lucy when he doesn’t dare be seen with her? But as Willie discovers, having fun can be more important than winning—and giving in to a bully is no way to have a good time. This is a delicious story about boy-girl friendships and team spirit, peopled with very appealing characters—except for Chuckie Herman, of course. The text is inseparable from Truesdell’s sharp, wacky drawings, which appear on almost every page, making this a comfortable step up from easy readers. * (7-10)