When you try your best (even if it’s not perfect), others can feel your effort.

Dr. Stephanie Gutnik was always immersed in a book while growing up in the Canadian prairies. Her admiration for writings of all kinds led to a global career in advertising, living in different cities and travelling the world. She wrote My Very Best as a tribute to her upbringing, and to share values of confidence, empathy and determination with readers of all ages. She graduated with a BA from McGill University, and has a MBA and doctorate from Edinburgh Business School. You can follow her on LinkedIn or Twitter.

MY VERY BEST is a picture book about how a young reader might try their very best in a variety of situations. It builds on the belief that doing your best, no matter what that looks like (because mistakes are okay), is all that matters.

Welcome Stephanie!

Me: Can you tell us a little bit about your writing journey? When did you start writing picture books? How has that brought you to writing this picture book?

Stephanie: I took to writing from a young age, mainly poetry and short stories. I wrote for The Winnipeg Free Press in high school and worked as a Marketing Copywriter early in my advertising career. Reading and writing play an important role in my life and bring me joy, whether relating to academics (I went on to do a MBA and doctorate), business or simply reading the news and doing a crossword puzzle each morning.

My mom recalls that as a child, I would bring her piles of books to read to me. Not long after, I was reading them to my younger sister. Reading to children is a beautiful bonding moment and teaches the incredible gift of imagination. I always wanted to write a children’s book and finally put pen to paper when my sister became pregnant with her firstborn.

Me: I love that you cover so many different kinds of “bests” that kids can do. What gave you the idea for this book?

Stephanie: My parents raised my sister and I to understand the difference between doing our best and being the best; with importance placed on the former.

If we give a task our best effort, we can feel proud of ourselves regardless of the outcome. If we do not put in the work or attention and wind up with a mediocre outcome, we may be disappointed. We shortchanged ourselves by not realizing our full potential.

It’s not about being the best – it’s about giving situations in life our best shot and feeling good about that process. This is one of the greatest values I could pass on to my nephew, as I am so appreciative of the effect it had on my life.

Me: Your text is short and deceptively simple, yet follows a repeated pattern that keeps up a rhythm. Did it undergo a ton of revisions to get to the finished state? Or was this good from the first draft?

Stephanie: I applied a “field experiment” to the first draft. I was reading books to a friend’s children and decided to test my own copy. It was a longer story, and I could see their attention wane. Perhaps the first version would be better suited to older audiences – but I wanted the book to resonate with nursery and kindergarten ages.

Friends with kids also shared that a concise book during story time helps keep everyone on schedule. I now comprehend why, after hearing “again!” when reading the final version to a set of siblings before naptime. A big compliment!

The final version was vetted by family and an editor. Being Canadian, I opted for Canadian English grammar. Perhaps the next book will be about the instances in which we say sorry… 

Me: Why focus on “best” like this for young readers? Why did you want to share this as a picture book?

Stephanie: Working in marketing, it is often the simple copy/creative that makes the most impact. Focusing on “best” in the form of a picture book helps young readers identify with experiences they may encounter in their daily lives. For example, there are only three sentences in the kitchen scene but the takeaways can be: spills and messes may happen in life and are not a big deal; asking for and receiving help is a strength when learning something new; sharing chores or activities with others is enjoyable.

For young readers, these simple, practical situations demonstrate how to be empathetic, how to build trust, how to be creative… For more mature audiences, the same format conveys themes of celebrating our unique attributes and independence, and accepting and embracing the idea that “best” does not mean perfect. In fact, it is the main character’s confidence despite or because of her imperfections that make the story relatable and endearing. 

Me:  The illustrations by Gabi Moraes are pitch perfect for your book. Did you have any illustration surprises? Any favorites?

Stephanie: Thank you! I am so lucky to have collaborated with Gabi on this project. She is incredibly talented and brought the book to life beyond my expectations.

From the get-go, I gathered examples of the creative styles I envisioned for the book and sent pictures of my family from childhood albums. The main character is modeled after my sister, and the other family members take after me and my parents. Given the book was written with my nephew in mind, I placed Easter eggs throughout. From playing checkers with dad to tulips honouring my mom’s Dutch heritage, most words and images have meaning.

Gabi would surprise me with each iteration of the creative by crafting a look on the characters’ faces that perfectly captures and enhances the words on each page. I smile throughout the book, though one favourite is the family concert. Music and dancing have been staples in our daily lives. The main character’s facial expression when sitting at the piano is also precious – my sister gets credit for inspiring this one!

Me: What is one thing that surprised you in writing this story?

Stephanie: Though it wasn’t a surprise, I can now appreciate the amount of project management that goes into writing a children’s book. Once you get the copy just right, you jump into a lengthy creative process involving many decisions about myriad details, each impacting the final product. Securing the copyright, finding a fitting publisher, working on the launch… The logistics are plenty and I am grateful to have had fantastic partners throughout. 

Me: Any advice for other aspiring picture book writers?

Stephanie: When you commit your very best, the process will become less daunting. How wonderful to contribute a book with a positive message to the world.

That is great advice. Thank you for stopping by my blog today Stephanie.

Dear readers, this book was published in September. It’s a quick read with a deceptively simple premise as it encourages young readers to believe in themselves and always give any situation their best shot.