A fun, encouraging picture book that helps kids overcome self-doubt, embrace effort, and build confidence—perfect for ages 3-7.

The school fun run is coming up, and excitement is in the air—but so are nerves! What if I’m not fast enough? What if others laugh at me? In Try Your Best, Forget the Rest, children’s author and illustrator Heath McKenzie explores the inner voice of self-doubt and shows young readers how trying—not winning—is what really counts.

With humor, heart, and hilarious illustrations, this empowering story helps children face common challenges—from learning new skills to tackling big tasks—with a growth mindset. Whether it’s running in a race, solving a tricky problem, or simply trying something new, kids will learn that effort, persistence, and self-belief are more important than being the best.

Key Features:

• Supports Growth Mindset and Resilience: Teaches kids to focus on effort, progress, and participation rather than perfection or results.
• Encourages Confidence and Courage: Helps children push past fear of failure and discover the joy of trying.
• Relatable Everyday Scenarios: Perfect for school settings, sports, performances, and any situation where effort matters most.
• Ideal for Read-Alouds and SEL Lessons: A valuable tool for parents, teachers, and counselors to spark meaningful conversations about perseverance, self-esteem, and motivation.

Part of the Life Lessons series, Try Your Best, Forget the Rest is a thoughtful and funny reminder that doing your best is always something to be proud of—no matter the outcome.

About the Life Lessons Series:

The Life Lessons series by Heath McKenzie takes timeless sayings and transforms them into fun, engaging picture books that help children make sense of the world around them. With humor, warmth, and relatable storytelling, each title explores a well-known adage—like "You get what you get and you don’t get upset" or "Honesty is the best policy"—through everyday situations kids face at home, at school, and with friends. These playful yet meaningful books are perfect for introducing social-emotional learning topics in a way that’s accessible, age-appropriate, and truly enjoyable for young readers and grown-ups alike.