Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall (2017)
Ooh, I love this one and can't wait to use it in storytime. Jabari has graduated from swimming lessons, and is ready to conquer a jump off the diving board...probably. At the beginning of the day, he oozes confidence, but as he approaches the diving board, his confidence wavers and he employs some stalling techniques to hide his fear. But with patient support from his loving dad...Jabari jumps. Not too wordy for storytime, with large clear illustrations and a simply told but relatable narrative, this is storytime perfection.
Themes/topics: bravery, swimming fathers, dads, being scared, jumping
Sample text from the wordiest spread:
Jabari watched the other kids climb the long ladder. They walked all the way out to the end of the board, as bit as tiny bugs. Then they stood on the edge. They spread their amrs and bent their knees and sprang up! up! up! And then they dove down, down down.
Splash!
"Looks easy," Jabari said. But when his dad squeezed his hand, Jabari squeezed back.
Jabari's story of jumping is so cute! I too got scared when did swimming pool sliding for the first time so I can relate with Jabari! But it happens with all and then we all become brave!
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