After he passes his swimming test, little Jabari decides he's ready to try jumping off the diving board, but when the big moment arrives, Jabari needs to work up the courage to jump. - (Baker & Taylor)

Passing tests in swimming class that give him the confidence to try jumping off the diving board, little Jabari stretches his muscles and squeezes his dad's hand when the big moment arrives, in a story that celebrates finding one's courage. A first picture book. - (Baker & Taylor)

Working up the courage to take a big, important leap is hard, but Jabari is almost absolutely ready to make a giant splash.

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, newcomer Gaia Cornwall captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can’t help but root for. - (Random House, Inc.)

Gaia Cornwall is an illustrator who loves making patterns for surface design. Her work can be seen in magazines, in logos, on various products, and even in movies. Jabari Jumps is her first picture book. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island. - (Random House, Inc.)

Booklist Reviews

Jabari has decided: today is the day he will jump off the high dive. But when he and his father and sister arrive at the pool, he's suddenly not quite so sure. He gets in line, but then lets the other kids go ahead of him. He gets halfway up the ladder, but then scurries back down to do stretches. His father lets him know it's OK to be scared, and before Jabari knows it, he has jumped off the high dive with a huge, satisfying splash. This is a small, well-told story about a child working up the courage to do something difficult. The dialogue and text are straightforward and make a nice pairing with the creatively chosen angles for the illustrations. One particularly effective full-page illustration is from Jabari's point of view, standing on top of the diving board and looking down past his tiny brown toes to the blue rectangular pool below, truly capturing the book's pivotal moment. In all, a welcome piece for any summertime collection. Copyright 2017 Booklist Reviews.

Horn Book Guide Reviews

Jabari is ready to jump off the diving board! First, however, he decides to let everyone behind him jump first. And then he stretches. Finally, Jabari admits that he might be a little...scared. Luckily, our young hero has his father and baby sister's loving encouragement. Watercolor and collage illustrations perfectly depict a hazy summer day against a backdrop of warm brown skin tones and cool aqua water. Copyright 2017 Horn Book Guide Reviews.

Horn Book Magazine Reviews

Jabari is a spirited little boy with a pretty big mission: after finishing his swimming lessons and passing his test, he's ready to jump off the diving board at the community pool! Before he jumps, however, Jabari decides it would be kind if he let all the children behind him in line jump first. And it would be important to stop and plan his special jump. And prudent to stretch. Finally, Jabari admits that he might be a little…scared. Luckily, our young hero has a support system: loving encouragement from his father and baby sister (who never says a word, but smiles reassuringly). His dad helps Jabari get ready to take the plunge: "It's okay to feel a little scared…Sometimes if I feel a little scared, I take a deep breath and tell myself I am ready. And you know what? Sometimes it stops being scary and feels a little like a surprise." The natural-sounding dialogue between Jabari and his gentle, observant father is paired with watercolor and collage illustrations that perfectly depict a hazy summer day. The varied perspectives bring readers into Jabari's journey, from our view of his toes curled around the edge of the diving board to his view of the city. (Dad is present in each scene). Against a backdrop of warm brown skin tones and cool aqua water, debut author-illustrator Cornwall presents an empowering and celebratory story. Young readers will root for Jabari as he prepares to take a leap of faith. eboni njoku Copyright 2017 Horn Book Magazine Reviews.

Kirkus Reviews

Young Jabari decides today is the day he is going to jump from the diving board, even though it's a little high and a little scary. Jabari's father and baby sister accompany him to the swimming pool in the city, where Jabari has already made up his mind about today's goal: jumping off the diving board. "I'm a great jumper," he says, "so I'm not scared at all." But that's not entirely true. Readers see Jabari play the waiting game as the other children (a diverse bunch) make their ways past him in line. Once Jabari finally begins to climb up, he slyly remembers that he forgot to "stretch." The stalling techniques don't faze his dad, who sees an opportunity for a life lesson. "It's okay to feel a little scared," offers his dad at the side of the pool. With renewed will, Jabari returns to the towering diving board, ready to embrace the feat. In her debut, Cornwall places her loving black family at the center, coloring the swimming pool and park beyond in minty hues and adding wh imsy with digitally collaged newspaper for skyscrapers. A bird's-eye view of Jabari's toes clinging to the edge of the diving board as he looks way, way down at the blue pool below puts readers in his head and in the action. This simple and sincere tale of working up courage to face fears makes quite a splash. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus 2017 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.

Publishers Weekly Reviews

An African-American boy works up the courage to leap from the high dive in Cornwall's warm and genuine debut. "I'm a great jumper... so I'm not scared at all!" announces Jabari as he arrives at an outdoor city pool with his father and sister. "Looks easy," he adds as he watches kids jump from the towering board, but "when his dad squeezed his hand, Jabari squeezed back." With understated humor and plenty of understanding, Cornwall reveals Jabari's transparent excuses for delaying his ascent up the ladder: he must think about what "special jump" he will do, take a "tiny rest," and stretch. Finally, after words of encouragement from his patient father, Jabari makes the climb and braves the jump, a sequence viewed from various perspectives that amplify his accomplishment. 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. It's a lovely, knowing account of a big "first" in a child's life. Ages 4–8. (May)

School Library Journal Reviews

PreS-Gr 2—An African American boy and his baby sister and father head to an urban community pool. Jabari has completed his swim lessons and tests and is ready to jump off a diving board. In his zigzag swim trunks and swim goggles, the boy tells his dad that diving looks easy. But when he stands at the ladder and looks up, up, and up at the diving board, he starts stalling for time, saying that he has other things to do before he can make the big leap. His father reassures him that it is OK to be scared, encourages him to take deep breaths, and tells him that he might just be surprised. With renewed determination, Jabari climbs the ladder and jumps into the pool. He's flying and splashing and sinking down and swimming back up and he's done it! Jabari is a great jumper. Just enough conversational text accompanies each illustration, including several smaller vignettes on a single page that help build suspense. Mixed-media images in serene muted colors, high-rise buildings above the tree line, and the intriguing addition of faded newsprint accents strengthen the urban feel of the illustrations. VERDICT Jabari's story will help assuage the fears kids experience when faced with a new and daunting adventure. A terrific seasonal storytime read-aloud that's perfect for one-on-one sharing.—Mindy Hiatt, Salt Lake County Library Services