You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

197 reviews for:

Jabari Jumps

Gaia Cornwall

4.35 AVERAGE

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

A sweet book about Jabari, who is determined to jump from the high dive. With dad's support and understanding that jumping is scary, Jabari takes one step, then another. And then he jumps.

Jubari Jumps is the story of a young boy who decides to jump off the high dive, but has to work up the bravery to do so. With his dad's encouragement, Jubari jumps.

The book has a nearly perfect traditional plot structure, tells a story many U.S. children will connect to, and is beautifully, classically illustrated. The advice Jubari's dad offers him uses the kind of magical language that belongs in literary advice. This book is essentially the platonic form of the picture book.

What makes the book even more noteworthy, however, are Cornwall's decisions to make her protagonist an African American boy living in a city and to make the older, wiser character Jubari's dad. As a result, it occupies a sweet spot between melting pot fiction and culturally conscious fiction.

The takeaway for writers here is that doing the basics super effectively is a winning strategy.

NB: My own children dismissed the book as completely unrealistic because Jubari wears goggles on the diving board, which is not allowed in any of the public pools they've ever been to.

NB: I think this would be a great story to teach "words of the wiser," a secondary level reading strategy.

Cute book about a little boy who overcomes his fear of jumping off the diving board.

Love it!! Beautifully illustrated, great messages (trying something new can be scary and that’s okay), and diverse characters make this a must for #classroombookaday! Excited to share it with my students!

I finally got around to reading this and it is such a good picture book. I love the dad's message that it is okay to be scared but you also have to remind yourself that you are ready. The illustrations were rich and the colors gorgeous. I am glad I finally took the time to read Jabari Jumps!

So cute.

Riley's review:
When I got home from school and saw this book on my desk I was really excited and I grabbed it and started reading it. It looked so cool! I really liked the pictures. The story was so good.

Read the full thing here:
http://www.platypire.com/pugglepires/jabari-jumps-by-gaia-cornwall


I thought this book was cute and had a good message.
My five-year-old loved it. I'm really glad about that. She is very cautious about trying new things.

Great picture book about a little boy working up the courage to jump off the high diving board. I love the illustration style, I love the messaging, and I love the diversity of having a black dad being the nurturing parent. Will use and display. 3+