Try Your Best Forget the Rest! (Life Lessons)

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.