Practice Makes Better

Stephen is great at sports. School? That's a completely different story.

On the field, Stephen feels confident and capable. He loves sports and knows that with practice, he can improve his game. But in the classroom, everything feels harder. Math tests make his brain freeze, schoolwork leaves him frustrated, and Stephen has started to believe he's simply a terrible student.

Then one blank math test—and one encouraging teacher—challenges everything Stephen believes about himself.

His teacher reminds him of the familiar saying, "Practice makes perfect." But perfect isn't really the goal. Practice makes us better. Stephen realizes he would never expect to improve at a sport without practicing, so why should learning be any different?

When he decides to give practicing math a try, something begins to change. The next test doesn't feel quite so impossible. Stephen knows more answers, feels more confident, and discovers that maybe being "good at school" isn't something you're born with. It's something you can grow into.

Practice Makes Better by multi-award-winning children's book author Ruthie Godfrey is an encouraging picture book for children who struggle academically, get discouraged when learning feels difficult, or believe they're simply "not good" at something. Through Stephen's relatable story, young readers discover the power of practice, perseverance, growth mindset, and believing they are capable of learning and improving.

Perfect for families, elementary classrooms, homeschool lessons, school counselors, and libraries, this inspiring story opens meaningful conversations about math anxiety, academic confidence, determination, learning from challenges, and developing a growth mindset. A wonderful reminder for every child that they don't have to be perfect—they just have to keep growing.

Also check out other fan favorites from best-selling author Ruthie Godfrey. Great for bedtime reading, anytime reading, classroom lessons, homeschool lessons, school library collections, and more!