A new series of children's books aims to counter the idea that only winners matter.

Mabel Elizabeth Singletary's "The Also Rans," for 8- to 12-year-olds, debuts this month from Moody Publishers' Lift Every Voice imprint and encourages youngsters to stay in the race of life.

The first title, Run, Jeremiah, Run!, follows an African-American foster child whose strongest desire is to have his own family and a permanent home. The series grew from "a belief that the Lord wanted me to write a story that would be encouraging for boys," Singletary said. "Society tends to put so much emphasis on the person who crosses the finish line first".

"In horse racing, only the first three horses are acknowledged. Every (horse) after that is referred to as an 'also ran.' I want these books to focus on the fact that staying in the race and making it to the end makes one a winner in life."