Jabari Jumps

"Jabari Jumps. No exclamation or question mark on the cover – just an African-American boy dressed in orange chevron swim trunks peering over the edge of a high dive. This book holds all of the possibilities of a stretched-out, sunny summer day in the city. Is today the day to jump? Jabari’s pink-suited sister and encouraging dad sit at the water’s edge. Jabari lets other kids cut in front of him at the diving board’s ladder – so high we can’t even see the board. The tall urban landscape in the background is constructed from newspaper print. “It’s okay to be scared,” his dad assures him – and what a wonderful thought. It’s okay to be scared. Every kid should know that, even while sitting safely on the couch reading a picture book, watching Jabari sail off the diving board, hit the water with a splash and whoosh to the top with a big, proud smile. (For ages 4 to 8)"