Tips for kids: how to catch a baseball, train fish;

Although "The Do-It Better Book" is part of the "Kids-Only Club" series, you don't have to be a kid to enjoy it. Basically, the book is designed to help youngsters who may be unhappy about the way they do things (perhaps they can't catch a baseball without flinching, roller skate, or draw cartoons), but don't want to tell anybody. It's not a "how-to" book, but more a book of tips -- including such diverse activities as training fish to swim to the surface when you hold up a card that says "Come and get it!" taking better photographs, and telling jokes.

The tips, from experts such as former Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby Mason, former national Frisbee champion Mark Danna, and cartoonist Howard Post, are presented in an easy-to-read style (complete with illustrations). They may be surreptitiously appreciated by older readers as well.

"Things Kids Collect!" has the same basic format, offering hints about things children might want to collect -- anything from autographs to games to stamps. In addition to telling how to get started and noting special items in each category (under the heading of "Good, Better, Best," and "Collector's Dream") there are also lists of places to writ e for more information about each subject.