Jabari Jumps

Product Information

A daunting gaze downward, past Jabari’s toes that curl around the edge of the board, makes the water look incredibly far away, and when seen from behind, he seems as high up as the skyscrapers in the distance. Jabari Jumps is a very sweet, short children’s book following little Jabari as he tries to work up the courage to jump off the diving board. A teacher may use this book to initiate a discussion on little successes, overcoming fears, communication with and reliance on a supportive adult.

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall: 9781536202908

He dislikes being different despite his mom’s reassurance that his ancestors also had unconventional appearances. As he’s recently learned to swim, he decides that he’s now ready to make his first jump from the pool’s diving board. Written by Lauren DeStefano; illustrated by Gaia Cornwall, coming August 2020 from Roaring Brook Press. He explains that it is okay to be a little scared and explains it helps to take a deep breath and tell yourself you’re ready.It provides several opportunities for children to make predictions, alongside chances to support discussion about how we overcome fear. Pair this with one of our favorite books from 2016, Hannah and Sugar by Kate Berube, (see our review here! And because she's brilliant, she recommended this book to me instead of some 250 page self help book, that I'm sure would have been well written, but would also definitely have gotten lost in the shuffle of my life.

Jabari Jumps — Positively Literacy Jabari Jumps — Positively Literacy

The message in this great story is that even adventurous kids can have a lot of doubts and hesitations before doing a new challenge and that is ok, and part of life. It could be a fun book to read just before summer starts when students may share their summer plans, or at the beginning of the year to talk about what was accomplished over the summer. His patient father reassures Jabari that it is okay to be scared, encouraging him to take a deep breath. Even as a cool 6th grader, he was so enamored and spent all day reading it, clutching it, and showing it off to everyone in the school. He is so proud of his achievement he exclaims to his dad and little sister that a “surprise double backflip is next!Jabari decided to give the diving board another go, this time using the technique his dad had taught him. Kids will immediately feel familiar with Jabari's experience of wanting to jump off the diving board. The pictures have a high-art feel with soothing yet vibrant colors and inventive patterns, such as the buildings constructed in newsprint and the bathing suit worn by Jabari’s little sister that changes with each turn of the page. A debut from Cornwall, Jabari Jumps is an appealing book, featuring an involving story of overcoming one's fears and trying something new that many younger children will find relevant to their own life experiences. It's hard to explain how amazing the Starts with a Story book companions are because there is just so much goodness included in each one.

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall is a beautiful EYFS/KS1 story

I’m a boy mom, former attorney, current elementary school librarian, and moderator of book clubs for kids around the country. His father asks if he’s sure, and Jabari thinks he is: he’s finished his swimming lessons and passed his swimming test.He needs to figure out what kind of special jump to do anyway, and he should probably do some stretches before climbing up onto the diving board. People of all races exist in all situations in real life, and they should be able to exist in all situations in books. Lovely illustrations, diverse characters, and an important message that it's OK to be scared of something new (jumping off the diving board the first time - something many can relate to) and how to be brave in facing those fears. A wonderful book about thinking you are ready to do something, getting so nervous that you aren't sure you can do it anymore, and overcoming your nervousness (with help!