Jabari is inventing a machine that will fly all the way across the yard! But making it go from CRASH to WHOOSH will take grit, patience, and maybe even a little help from his sister.
Jabari is making a flying machine in his backyard! “It’ll be easy. I don’t need any help,” he declares. But it doesn’t work! Jabari is frustrated. Good thing Dad is there for a pep talk and his little sister, Nika, is there to assist, fairy wings and all. With the endearing father-child dynamic of Jabari Jumps and engaging mixed-media illustrations, Gaia Cornwall’s tale shows that through perseverance and flexibility, an inventive thought can become a brilliant reality.
Gaia Cornwall is the author-illustrator of Jabari Jumps. She loves making patterns for surface design, and her work can be seen in magazines, in logos, on various products, and in movies. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island.
Jabari’s emotional ups and downs will be familiar to young children, and his hard-won success feels triumphant. Cornwall’s clean, clear illustrations use patterns, green hues, and white space to deliver a variety of effective scenes. Jabari succeeds, and so does this book.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Great storytelling and compelling content should win this book readers of all ages.
—School Library Journal
Having conquered the high dive in Jabari Jumps (BCCB 05/17), Jabari now undertakes a new challenge—to make a flying machine that will traverse the length of the backyard, once again with his impulse toward independence vying with his need for help and encouragement...doggedly self-motivated Jabari and his reliably supportive dad are welcome role models in these family-friendly readalouds.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
