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.
Cornwall captures the exquisite tingle of Jabari’s fear and
excitement, which gives the book its drama. The visual details —
the way the little sister’s tiny hand grips her father’s back while
her father holds her brother’s hand — give the book its heart.
—The New York Times Book Review
There are plenty of picture books reassuring kids who don’t quite
achieve their own goals when they want to (see, for example, Ashley
Spires’s The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do, BCCB 4/17), but here Cornwall
celebrates success earned through overcoming fears and through
reliance on the supportive presence of a loving parent...Pool
season is right around the corner, and this funny and joyful outing
will put everyone in the mood for a dip.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)
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. 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.
—School Library Journal (starred review)
In her debut, Cornwall places her loving black family at the
center, coloring the swimming pool and park beyond in minty hues
and adding whimsy with digitally collaged newspaper for
skyscrapers...This simple and sincere tale of working up courage to
face fears makes quite a splash.
—Kirkus Reviews
The dialogue and text are straightforward and make a nice pairing
with the creatively chosen angles for the illustrations...a welcome
piece for any summertime collection.
—Booklist
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.
—Publishers Weekly
Against a backdrop of warm brown skin tones and cool aqua water,
debut author-illustrator Cornwell presents an empowering and
celebratory story. Young readers will root for Jabari as he
prepares to take a leap of faith.
—The Horn Book
Anyone who has hesitated on the brink of something daunting—a brave
act or a big decision—will feel a rush of kinship with the small
protagonist of Gaia Cornwall’s picture book “Jabari Jumps”.
—The Wall Street Journal
Beautifully done.
—People
It’s a summertime rite of passage: jumping off the diving board for
the first time. In Jabari Jumps (Candlewick, ages 4-8) Gaia
Cornwall brings to vivid life this moment for one little boy…For
young listeners, this lovely book is a reminder that the best
summers have both challenging surprises and fun.
—The Washington Post
A little boy has finished his swimming lessons and is trying to get
up the courage to jump off the diving board in this utterly
charming debut picture book with a valuable lesson about conquering
your fears from a gifted author-illustrator
—Buffalo News
For a little lightheartedness “Jabari Jumps” (Candlewick, 2017;
15.99) is just the ticket. Gaia Cornwall wrote and illustrated this
charming story of Jabari who goes to the swimming pool with his
father and younger sister and promises that this is the day he will
jump off the diving board...Young readers will want to hear or
Jabari’s challenge again and again.
—The Gazette
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