- Well, hello friends.

How are you doing today?

My name's Anna and I was actually just about to read a story.

I've been thinking about my best self.

A lot of times, teachers talk about it in school or your family members might talk about it.

Like when do you feel your best self?

When do you feel your best?

Is it when maybe you're singing or when you're dancing, when you're playing outside with friends?

I know when I feel my best is when I'm reading a book.

So I was hoping you would let me read a story to you today.

Is that all right?

Awesome!

So I'm going to be reading the story called, "Go Get 'Em, Tiger."

This story is by Sabrina Moyle, pictures by Eunice Moyle.

So the phrase, "go get 'em, tiger."

You might hear people say this a lot like right before you start playing a sporting event, like soccer or baseball, and you're about to walk out on the field, and someone says, "Go get 'em, tiger!"

Or if you're about to go into a dance competition or something and someone's like, "Go get 'em, tiger!"

And what they're saying is, go out there and do your best.

So let's see how this little tiger goes out there and is his best every single day.

"Hey there, Tiger.

You're the beast.

Now take a bite, the world's a feast.

Because you're fierce, a rising star, you've earned your stripes, you've come so far.

So view the world through fiery eyes.

Let it inspire, excite, surprise.

'Cause you've got grit and smarts and heart.

You'll find your place, you'll do your part."

Have you ever heard anyone use that word, "grit," before?

So grit is that stick-to-it-ness that means you're not gonna give up no matter what.

"You'll make mistakes, things will go wrong.

And when they do, you'll carry on.

You will make friends with bird and beast from the strongest to the least.

You will see creatures who are stuck, feeling lost down on their luck.

To these new friends, you'll lend a hand, while keeping beat with your own band."

So sometimes helping someone out doesn't stop you from being your best self.

If anything, it helps you be an even better version of yourself.

"There will be days back in your den when you won't know where to begin.

You'll take a break, you'll take your time, and soon, you'll be back in your prime."

There's nothing wrong with stopping and taking a break.

That doesn't stop you from being your best self.

It helps you be your best self.

"When things are fast and fur-ious, you'll stay cool and curious.

You'll use your strength to shine a light on what is wrong and what is right.

To your spirit, you'll stay true, never sorry to be you.

But change your stripes if they don't suit you.

Dare to swap them.

We'll salute you.

Go find some fun.

Go pounce and play.

Hunt down delight in every day.

Try to stop you?

Don't you let them!

Your dreams are yours, now go and get 'em."

I love how this little tiger didn't let anything stop him.

He had grit.

He was determined, right?

And every day, he did something to be his best self.

So think about what I asked you in the beginning.

We were talking about being our best selves.

When are you your best self?

Okay, so what we're gonna do, go ask an adult for a piece of paper and we're gonna draw our best selves because something to help us always be our best selves is to have a picture to remind us.

So even on those days, like when Tiger was hiding in the little den, 'cause he was feeling a little down and in the blues, if we have that picture to look at, it helps bring us out of that little funk, okay?

So go get paper and pencil and if you would like to use crayons or markers, once again, ask your trusted adult, and then meet me back here and let's draw together.

[upbeat music] Okay, so I got my piece of paper.

Now, when I think of being my best self, you know what I'm doing?

I'm reading, yeah, I love to read so much.

So I'm gonna draw a picture of me reading.

So the first thing I'm gonna start off with is my book.

So here, let's make a line here, like this.

I'm gonna make me a nice book over here.

Kind of looks like the letter M. And then I'm gonna bring these lines here.

Can't forget the spine of my book.

And then, ooh, let's make some pages, right?

Well, it's not just a book.

I wanna see myself holding the book.

So let me add some fingers to show I'm holding the book.

And then well, I wanna draw a picture of me too, right?

So let's see.

I'm gonna put my head right here.

There I am.

And well, you're not gonna see all of my eyes, because I'm actually looking at the book.

So let's kind of like hide them back here with my glasses.

There's the rest of my glasses.

And then well, I need lots and lots of curly hair because I have very, very, very, very, very curly hair.

Curly, curly, curly, curly, curly, curly, curly.

You can even have my nose peeking through a little bit.

Whoop.

Look at that!

And now I can go back and color this when I have some extra time and then hang this up in my room to always remind me what it's like to be my best self.

All right, friends, even if you're not done, it's okay, but I wanna see your masterpieces so far.

So on the count of three, everyone's gonna hold up their masterpiece to show it off.

Okay, ready?

One, two, three.

Let's see 'em!

Aw, those came out so cool so far.

I love that!

You can really see when you guys are all being your best selves.

Well, thank you so much for reading "Go Get 'Em, Tiger" with me.

And now I want you to go out there and go get 'em.