‘Lin’s excited about her first school sports day until she comes last … not everyone can come first. Sometimes winning means finishing, even if you finish last’.
A relatable picture book about endurance and resilience, Last-Place Lin encourages us all to keep going.
“It’s a celebration of competing and not being very good at it,’ the Campsie resident said, adding that she was lucky to have worked on the book with acclaimed illustrator Freda Chiu. “I’m hoping the book will encourage children to overcome the sense of failure and recognise you can still be bad at something but if you persevere, you’ll feel proud of yourself for trying.”
The author of a number of children’s and Young Adult titles, said she was inspired to write the book while competing on Survivor.
“I wasn’t very fit and we had to run up a hill and I was coming last,” she said.
“I didn’t even want to finish but everyone was cheering me on, including King George, and when I persevered and got to the top of the hill, even though I came last, it felt amazing.
“I want to inspire pre-school aged and kindergarteners to keep trying and that it’s okay to come last so long as they try, that’s what’s important.”
‘Last-Place Lin’ is available at independent book stores as well as online from Booktopia.
