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Gaia Cornwall Books

From the creator of Jabari Jumps and Jabari Tries, the tale of a stalling child with a lively imagination – and a passion for animal facts – makes for the best kind of bedtime story.

Mama would like Sweet Pea to settle into bed, but it’s not quite time. Even though the bed is fluffy, it’s not as snuggly as curling up like a pig in the mud, or as spacious as sleeping in the wide ocean like a blue whale. It’s not as fun as sleeping high up in a tree like a koala, or hanging upside down like a bat. And it’s definitely not as relaxing as sleeping standing up, like an emperor penguin. But after mimicking all the ways different animals rest, this little one concedes that a comfy bed, a soft pillow, and a good-night wish offer the best way to fall asleep after all. Gaia Cornwall brings us a loving, humorous story for even the most energetic of bedtime listeners.

A heartwarming picture book that beautifully captures the universal feeling of facing a new challenge.

This gently encouraging story follows young Jabari as he decides today is the day he will jump off the diving board for the very first time. Anyone who has made the nervous steps towards the edge of a diving board will relate to his nerves, as will readers who have needed encouragement in the build-up to undertaking a brave challenge.

Cornwall masterfully portrays the mix of excitement, apprehension and, ultimately, the quiet courage that comes with stepping outside one’s comfort zone. The simple yet powerful text allows young readers to easily empathise with Jabari’s journey. The expressive artwork, with its emotive use of colour and perspective, enhances the emotional depth of the story, making Jabari’s internal world feel tangible.

This book would make a fantastic addition to PSHE lessons, prompting rich discussions around growth mindset, overcoming fears and celebrating personal achievements in sports and hobbies. It might also help children who are nervous around water or reluctant to get in the swimming pool.

Highly recommended for any primary classroom or home library, Jabari Jumps is an inspiring read that empowers children to take their own leap of faith.

A gorgeous story book for younger children with themes of perseverance and learning not to give up, as well as STEM and engineering. Jabari wishes to make a flying machine that can really soar through the air in the garden. Just like many of the best inventions, it doesn’t work properly on the first attempt and a little trial and error is needed to tweak the design. Jabari is disappointed, but with a bit of encouragement from his family to keep on trying, he soon begins to see success.

Young children will be able to relate to the frustration of models and designs not working properly and the challenge of not giving up. Jabari’s father and sister offer fantastic encouragement and we also see familiar family dynamics as Jabari is not sure that he wants to include his sister in his game, but the teamwork pays off in the end. Jabari becomes a good role model when he adapts the attitude to keep trying to reach his goal, and readers celebrate with him when his success is the fruit of his tenacity.

The book could inspire some STEM-themed projects, research into some of the scientific figures mentioned to simply discussions on the topic of perseverance.

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