Jabari Jumps

Jabari Jumps

Picture
Do you remember the first time you jumped off a diving board? I
do as if it was yesterday as opposed to decades ago. The water looked
far away and the chorus of voices urging me to dive had more of a
chilling rather than an encouraging effect.
That's probably one reason why I am a really big fan of Gaia
Cornwall's Jabari Jumps. Jabari is going to the pool with his dad and
little sister. He has decided that he's going to jump off the high,
scary diving board. When they get to the pool he lets some other kids
go ahead. He gets tired and needs a tiny rest. He realizes he forgot
to do his stretches. Maybe tomorrow would be a better day.
Then his dad gives him some excellent advice.
The second reason I love this book is that it advances diversity
in literature in two important ways. Jabari is everychild in the same
way as the protagonist of Ezra Jack Keats' The Snowy Day. His being
black is incidental rather than central to the plot. It busts the
white as normative bias we so often see. Also the patient and wise
parent obviously enjoying the pool time with his kids is a dad.
Jabari Jumps is a perfect book for a child facing any kind of
looming challenge or a parent rembering what it's like.
On a personal note, I had an awesome time in church today. Choir had
a really cool anthem and we nailed it. After service we has an Advent
workshop. The big room in the basement was all set up for crafts. I
made a wreath with gold based decorations. Then I made a bunch of
ornaments: a painted angel, a glitter decorated Christmas tree, three
painted and glitter decorated snowflakes, a glitter decorated fancy
ball, a God's eye. Of course I kept decorating and eating cookies.
Everyone was having so much fun! People kept loving each other's
creations. It was magical.
A great big shout to all who participated, especially the people who
worked dilligently to make it happen.
jules hathaway


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