Book Review- Jabari Jumps

By Gaia Cornwall

Sometimes, that first step is the hardest and once you overcome it, things get easier. Jabari Jumps is the story of young Jabari, who has aced his swimming lessons and is now ready to tackle the big world of ‘Diving board’. 

Though outwardly confident, Jabari slowly loses his will to perform the feat as he gets closer to his turn. He ends up making excuses of giving others a turn, of stretching, of feeling tired and so on.

All the while, his loving dad is a constant support who neither pushes him to try nor is the annoyingly encouraging kind. He offers solid support and some advice, both of which work wonders for Jabari.

A simple tale of facing your fears and accomplishment even when its tough.

The illustrations are mostly from Jabari’s POV and they all show his inner turmoil. We loved the color palette and the simplicity of the story. This is a book with its heart in its right place and maybe a good pick for the upcoming summer/ swim season. Though the message is universal.