Product Description
Max tried soccer. Max tried basketball. Max tried T-ball, baseball, and wrestling. And then Max kept trying...
From the time he was three years old, all Max wanted was to be part of a team. Season after season, sport after sport, he showed up, worked hard, and cheered on his teammates, even when the baskets didn't fall, the pitches came too fast, and the other kids seemed to have it all figured out. But Max never stopped trying. And one day, all of that trying led him to the one thing that was his alone.
Max Tried is a warm, funny, and deeply encouraging picture book about perseverance, resilience, and the courage to keep showing up. It celebrates every kid who didn't make the podium, didn't win the medal, but was brave enough to be part of something anyway. Because just trying IS winning.
Based on the true story of the author's own son, who navigated dyslexia, dysgraphia, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and anxiety on his way to finding his lane, this is a story for every child still searching for theirs.
Features & Benefits
- A true story of perseverance: based on the author's son and his real journey through six sports, from Pee Wee soccer at age 3 to breaking his high school's mile record at 17
- Written by a 30+ year educator: Dr. Jodi Mahoney (Ed.D., University of Pennsylvania), veteran school principal and champion for children with learning differences, including dyslexia and ADHD
- Growth mindset made real: teaches kids that effort, teamwork, and courage count more than trophies
- Perfect for young athletes ages 4-9: a read-aloud favorite for home, classrooms, team celebrations, and coach or end-of-season gifts
- Beautifully illustrated hardcover: 40 pages of playful, heartfelt art by Ally Toye, with a moving closing poem for every kid who didn't make the podium
About the Author
Dr. Jodi Mahoney brings more than 30 years in education to this, her first picture book. A veteran New Jersey public school educator and principal, she holds a doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania and is a dedicated advocate for children with learning differences. She is also the author of two books for educators previously published by Scholastic, A Joyful Way to Teach Young Children to Write Poetry and Introducing Nonfiction Writing in the Early Grades. With charming illustrations by Ally Toye, Max Tried is perfect for reading aloud at home, in classrooms, and on team benches everywhere.
Product Details
- Format: Hardcover with dust jacket, 40 pages
- Dimensions: 8.1" x 10.1"
- ISBN: 978-1-965240-41-0
- Reading age: 4-9 years (Preschool-Grade 4)
- Publisher: Inspired Girl Storybooks
- Publication date: July 30, 2026
Country of Origin: United States.
* Multiple cases may be shipped per package in order to minimize the charge for shipping.
Technical Information
FindTape Max Tried Book
- Notebook Number of Pages:40 pages
- Weight: 14 ounces
- Country of Origin: United States
Note: Specifications are those given by manufacturers and are not tested for accuracy.