Jabari Jumps

AUTHOR: Gaia Cornwall
ILLUSTRATOR: Gaia Cornwall

From the Publisher:

“This simple and sincere tale of working up courage to face fears makes quite a splash.” — Kirkus Reviews

Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He’s finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he’s a great jumper, so he’s not scared at all. “Looks easy,” says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. 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. In a sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears, Gaia Cornwall captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can’t help but root for.

Leah’s Thoughts:

This is one of those books that strikes the perfect balance of being fun and relatable for kids while also being meaningful for parents. Jabari’s nerves about the diving board felt so real, and I loved how his dad encouraged him without pushing. A great summer read that sparks conversation about bravery, confidence, and taking on challenging tasks.