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JoJo's Flying Sidekick
A young girl must face her fears and conquer her nerves to earn her yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do in this relatable and inspirational picture book.
When Master Kim announces JoJo is ready to take the test for her yellow belt, butterflies start fluttering in her stomach. JoJo loves Tae Kwon Do, but can she really do a perfect flying side kick and break a board in two? Her family and friends offer all sorts of advice, but JoJo is scared of the tree outside of her window, which doesn’t feel like yellow belt material. To push past her fears, JoJo has to learn to trust in herself.
When Master Kim announces JoJo is ready to take the test for her yellow belt, butterflies start fluttering in her stomach. JoJo loves Tae Kwon Do, but can she really do a perfect flying side kick and break a board in two? Her family and friends offer all sorts of advice, but JoJo is scared of the tree outside of her window, which doesn’t feel like yellow belt material. To push past her fears, JoJo has to learn to trust in herself.
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1995
1 person is currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Brian Pinkney
78 books43 followersBorn in Boston, Massachusetts, (Jerry) Brian Pinkney was raised in an artistic household. "My two brothers and sister and I played musical instruments, and we were always drawing, painting, or building things," the illustrator once recalled of his childhood. While his mother, children's book author Gloria Jean Pinkney, would inspire all her children with a love of reading, it would be his father, illustrator Jerry Pinkney, who would serve as a mentor to young Brian. "I did everything he did," Pinkney would later admit. "My desk was a miniature version of his desk. The paintbrushes and pencils I used were often the ones from his studio that were too old or too small for him to use. I had a paint set like his and a studio like his. Except my studio was a walk-in closet, which made it the perfect size for me."
Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/jerry-br...
According to the book back flap, he has played the drums since he was eight years old. He still keeps a set of drumsticks in his studio where, when resting from his illustrations, he sometimes taps out rhythms on the back of his chair.
With his wife, writer Andrea Davis Pinkney, he makes his home in Brooklyn NY.
Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/jerry-br...
According to the book back flap, he has played the drums since he was eight years old. He still keeps a set of drumsticks in his studio where, when resting from his illustrations, he sometimes taps out rhythms on the back of his chair.
With his wife, writer Andrea Davis Pinkney, he makes his home in Brooklyn NY.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 31, 2013
A great short book about confidence and overcoming your fears. Some of the scenes with the spooky tree scared my four-year-old but it is resolved by the end, and she didn't have any nightmares about it. Loved that it featured an African American girl as the protagonist and loved the diversity of the class at the Tae Kwon Do Center. The artwork wasn't what I am used to but it was very vivid with a lot of movement, particularly effective for the kicking and tree scenes.
March 30, 2024
facing ur fears is hard ! flying side kicks??? harder!!!!!!!
very pretty and i liked it :-3
very pretty and i liked it :-3
January 18, 2013
JoJo's Flying Side Kick by Brian Pinkney
This was a very good book. I really appreciated the story line. The book is about JoJo finding out she has a test to be promoted to a yellow belt. She is given great advice from her grandfather, friend, and mother on how to overcome her nerves. Even though her friend kind of made it seem like she couldn't crack the board because she was a girl. Once it came down to her test, she was ready and she actually used all the advice she was given and not only overcame her nerves about her test, but her fear of a crazy looking tree that she used to visualize. This book is set for preschool through eight year olds, and I really feel that this is a fun and exciting action story for all kids to enjoy.
This was a very good book. I really appreciated the story line. The book is about JoJo finding out she has a test to be promoted to a yellow belt. She is given great advice from her grandfather, friend, and mother on how to overcome her nerves. Even though her friend kind of made it seem like she couldn't crack the board because she was a girl. Once it came down to her test, she was ready and she actually used all the advice she was given and not only overcame her nerves about her test, but her fear of a crazy looking tree that she used to visualize. This book is set for preschool through eight year olds, and I really feel that this is a fun and exciting action story for all kids to enjoy.
November 6, 2016
Review # 7
JoJo is worried about taking her test to gain her yellow belt at her Tae Kwon Do class. To pass she has to be able to break a piece of wood with a flying side kick. As she gets home everyone in the family and her friend give her advice on how to pass her test. At night she JoJo couldn't sleep because she was worried about the test but also because the tree outside her room always made her scared. The next day at class when it was time to take the test JoJo took everyone's advice and at the moment of kicking the board she imagined the tree outside, she got her yellow belt and was no longer scared.
The theme of the story is that of confidence on your skills and using them to overcome your own fears. JoJo has already mastered the sidekick she is just worried about doing it to break something, but in the end, she relies on what she has learned, and by visualizing the tree she is able to overcome her fear.
JoJo's flying side kick is a book that reminded me of when I was taking Karate in second grade. The first few times at had to present my katas I was really scared I would forget something and embarrass myself. My sister helped me practice and my mom would calm me down on the way there. As JoJo did I trusted in what I had learned and would present them afterward feeling fulfilled. It I also liked the illustrations in the book that used curved lines which made the pictures look as if they had motion, it is also nice to see it represents different ethnicities without necessarily being a book about ethnicities or race.
I would recommend this book in all elementary classes. It is good to have it around because it presents an atypical family compromised of a grandfather, a mother, and the little girl. I would use the book in class in order to start talking about gender roles. JoJo is presented as an active female protagonist which is not usually seen and can be a good conversation starter.
JoJo is worried about taking her test to gain her yellow belt at her Tae Kwon Do class. To pass she has to be able to break a piece of wood with a flying side kick. As she gets home everyone in the family and her friend give her advice on how to pass her test. At night she JoJo couldn't sleep because she was worried about the test but also because the tree outside her room always made her scared. The next day at class when it was time to take the test JoJo took everyone's advice and at the moment of kicking the board she imagined the tree outside, she got her yellow belt and was no longer scared.
The theme of the story is that of confidence on your skills and using them to overcome your own fears. JoJo has already mastered the sidekick she is just worried about doing it to break something, but in the end, she relies on what she has learned, and by visualizing the tree she is able to overcome her fear.
JoJo's flying side kick is a book that reminded me of when I was taking Karate in second grade. The first few times at had to present my katas I was really scared I would forget something and embarrass myself. My sister helped me practice and my mom would calm me down on the way there. As JoJo did I trusted in what I had learned and would present them afterward feeling fulfilled. It I also liked the illustrations in the book that used curved lines which made the pictures look as if they had motion, it is also nice to see it represents different ethnicities without necessarily being a book about ethnicities or race.
I would recommend this book in all elementary classes. It is good to have it around because it presents an atypical family compromised of a grandfather, a mother, and the little girl. I would use the book in class in order to start talking about gender roles. JoJo is presented as an active female protagonist which is not usually seen and can be a good conversation starter.
January 6, 2021
I have many students learning martial arts and have sought out books for them. This beautiful story is great for those students or any student needing to overcome a fear. We all have fears. The fear for this child is a typical fear of a tree outside of her bedroom window, but then she also faces a testing situation in her martial arts class. Both fears are able to be worked through and settling her brain and body is a skill that most of us need to overcome from time to time. This is a great story for anyone needing to see a character overcome a fear!
December 18, 2018
Mommy: 5 stars: great book about facing your fears! Beautiful illustrations, especially of the tree
Maxwell: 5 stars: it’s good for children who are afraid of the dark. They can overcome their fear and not be afraid.
Leila: 5 stars: I want to keep it in MY bookshelf. That I liked that she kicked the fastest. Hi-yah!
Maxwell: 5 stars: it’s good for children who are afraid of the dark. They can overcome their fear and not be afraid.
Leila: 5 stars: I want to keep it in MY bookshelf. That I liked that she kicked the fastest. Hi-yah!
April 4, 2019
This was a great story about facing your fears and giving your best effort, even when things are hard or scary. My class absolutely loved it. They also could not stop commenting on how amazing the illustrations were. This read-aloud took a little longer than usual because they were enjoying the pictures so much and wanted to examine them more closely. :)
March 22, 2019
I good lesson in how to overcome fear and reach a goal.
July 8, 2019
A touching story about facing your fears. My daughter liked it (she likes any books with female characters who do martial arts).
December 5, 2021
Especially great for kids in TKD, and especially those about to take their first belt test.
July 28, 2023
Good for performance anxiety. JoJo gets advice from others, but ultimately needs to find what works for her.
December 5, 2023
Martial arts. Black characters.
Girl achieves despite being nervous and thinking she cannot.
Girl achieves despite being nervous and thinking she cannot.
September 4, 2025
JoJo's Flying Side Kick by Brian Pinkney is an inspiring story that beautifully combines vibrant illustrations with a powerful message about overcoming fear and finding inner strength.
March 29, 2011
Jojo's Flying Side Kick tells the story about a young girl taking Tae Kwon Doe lessons, who becomes very uneasy when she has to pass her test to earn her yellow belt by side-kicking a wood board. Throughout the story, Jojo becomes more and more anxious about her test, as her peers and family give her advice with how to handle her fear. Jojo gets the most useful advice from her Mom, who tells her to visualize what kicking the board and breaking it will look like, before actually kicking it. Jojo does GREAT when listening to her mother's advice, and passes the test just fine. This would be a good story to share with a child or a group of children that may feel nervous or fearful about something they have to accomplish. This story will give them self-confidence in their ability to achieve a goal, using the best resource they have--encouragement and confidence boosts! P.S. The illustrations in this book are GREAT!
April 20, 2015
Max Found Two Sticks
Summary: The story of a young boy who likes making music. He does not feel like talking so after finding two sticks he starts drumming. And this is how he responds to people.
Art Media: Scratchboard
Art Style: Realism, the boy travels around his home showing the different things the family is doing.
Specific Notes: I like how this book can tie in literacy, expression and communication. It can also be used to show children the different ways to let out their feelings and shows them that music is all around them.
JoJo’s Flying Side Kick
1. Vivid illustrations add movement to this book about a little girl overcoming her nervousness.
2. The pictures and the storyline go hand in hand in showing that JoJo is a regular child so the confidence that she must find is within every child if they look for it. I also like how by using this a visual cue also is sent that it does not matter about your race or skin color
Summary: The story of a young boy who likes making music. He does not feel like talking so after finding two sticks he starts drumming. And this is how he responds to people.
Art Media: Scratchboard
Art Style: Realism, the boy travels around his home showing the different things the family is doing.
Specific Notes: I like how this book can tie in literacy, expression and communication. It can also be used to show children the different ways to let out their feelings and shows them that music is all around them.
JoJo’s Flying Side Kick
1. Vivid illustrations add movement to this book about a little girl overcoming her nervousness.
2. The pictures and the storyline go hand in hand in showing that JoJo is a regular child so the confidence that she must find is within every child if they look for it. I also like how by using this a visual cue also is sent that it does not matter about your race or skin color
July 27, 2008
I really like this.
Jojo is about to test for her yellow belt. She's also (coincidentally - the two aren't connected at all until the end) afraid of the tree in her yard.
She's nervous about her test, and so three different members of her family give her advice. But it doesn't all click until the day of her test, when she puts all their advice together in her own way, in a way that not only earns her her yellow belt but also helps her stop being scared of the scary tree bandit.
The moral is nicely understated instead of being pushed like people do tend to do with kids.
Also, let me take a minute to say how much I enjoyed the illustrations in this book. I felt they really suited the material.
Definitely check this one out.
Jojo is about to test for her yellow belt. She's also (coincidentally - the two aren't connected at all until the end) afraid of the tree in her yard.
She's nervous about her test, and so three different members of her family give her advice. But it doesn't all click until the day of her test, when she puts all their advice together in her own way, in a way that not only earns her her yellow belt but also helps her stop being scared of the scary tree bandit.
The moral is nicely understated instead of being pushed like people do tend to do with kids.
Also, let me take a minute to say how much I enjoyed the illustrations in this book. I felt they really suited the material.
Definitely check this one out.
April 12, 2010
This is a great example about how learning martial arts can improve a child's self-confidence. When JoJo learns that it is time to test for her yellow belt, she also learns that it is time to stop being scared of the big tree in her front yard. The book shows positive role models in her grandfather and mother, but it is JoJo that solves her own problems. I like that Pinkney tells a Tae Kwon Do story with a young girl as the main characer and found his author's note interesting when he explained that he is a black belt and the Master in the book was the Master that he learned from.
The pictures are typical of Brian Pinkney, on scratchboard using oils. They capture an active girl's imagination and the beautiful motion of Tae Kwon Do.
The pictures are typical of Brian Pinkney, on scratchboard using oils. They capture an active girl's imagination and the beautiful motion of Tae Kwon Do.
February 9, 2013
"JoJo's Flying Side Kick" by Brian Pinkney is a book filled with beautiful illustrations. The story, a young girl Jojo must find her confidence
Jojo a young black girl must prepare for her yellow belt test in Tae Kwan Do. Afraid, she talked to her Grandfather, her mom, her friend PJ.
Along the way she found other fears as well. A story about finding confidence. It could surely have been longer or more detailed, but in doing so, the book would become far harder to read.
Perfect for bedtime reading for the first/second grader.
Mary Leary's Karate Girl would be this books "doppleganger" (ie a completely interchangable book); young girl, martial arts, finding confidence.
Jojo a young black girl must prepare for her yellow belt test in Tae Kwan Do. Afraid, she talked to her Grandfather, her mom, her friend PJ.
Along the way she found other fears as well. A story about finding confidence. It could surely have been longer or more detailed, but in doing so, the book would become far harder to read.
Perfect for bedtime reading for the first/second grader.
Mary Leary's Karate Girl would be this books "doppleganger" (ie a completely interchangable book); young girl, martial arts, finding confidence.
March 8, 2012
This is a great multicultural book for children of all grades in elementary school! This book does not focus on the cultural habits or lifestyle of any one particular culture. Rather, Pinkney does an amazing job taking the opposite approach of demonstrating to the reader how Jojo is just like any other kid. Jojo and her family do nothing that an ordinary American family would not do. Jojo eats pizza, has friends, participates in extracurricular activities and even has her own fears of which she must overcome. The story ends with Jojo overcoming her fears and winning the admiration of those around her. Also, by the end of the book, the author successfully subliminally sends the message to children that race and/or skin color does not make someone any different than themselves.
February 7, 2017
JoJo is nervous about two things: her test for the yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do, and the creepy tree that looks like a bandit out to get her in the front yard. Several people give JoJo advice as to how to pass her test, and in following bits of each she not only conquers her Tae Kwon Do challenge, but maybe the creepy tree as well.
I really like the blend of cultures in this as well as Pinkney's unique illustration style (which also helps this not be too dated even though it is 20+ years old). It was also good to see how JoJo filtered through the advice and picked out bits to use while discarding other parts, a good model for real life. Oddly enough, sports picture books aren't super abundant, especially not martial arts ones, so this is fills a need.
I really like the blend of cultures in this as well as Pinkney's unique illustration style (which also helps this not be too dated even though it is 20+ years old). It was also good to see how JoJo filtered through the advice and picked out bits to use while discarding other parts, a good model for real life. Oddly enough, sports picture books aren't super abundant, especially not martial arts ones, so this is fills a need.
April 18, 2015
I loved this story about a girl who has to conquer her fears at home and find a way to get her promotion in Tae Kwon Do at the same time. The illustrations are amazingly done, as usual by Brian Pinkney. He is one of my favorite illustrators, and he can write just as well. I had not heard of him until this semester with this class, and I am so glad to have been introduced to his work. He will be in my classroom library and will be used as mentor text. I can see so many uses for this book in the classroom.
May 8, 2008
Cool pictures, Water color. Good story. Tells how to over come problems and how advice from other can help. Girl is being promoted to yellow belt in karate and has to break a board with her sick kick. She is nervous and overcomes her fears and succeeds.
April 6, 2015
This well-written story focuses on a young girl as she takes on her fears and works on perfecting a martial arts move.
Good story with a relatable problem ending with a satisfactory solution. PreK-2+.
Good story with a relatable problem ending with a satisfactory solution. PreK-2+.
May 8, 2008
I really enjoyed the African American painted illustrations. In addition, it was cute that Jo Jo's family and friends were very confident and encouraging toward her abilities.
January 20, 2009
PICTURE BOOK
November 30, 2010
A fun little story about a young girl obtaining a yellow belt for Tae Kwon Do. I love how JoJo overcame her nervousness and fear here.
April 14, 2011
I liked this story because it shows how anyone could have fears about new things, but in order to over come your fears you must try!
June 19, 2011
Brian read his book at the Dublin Literacy Conference. He's so entertaining and talented!
October 19, 2011
The child works to overcome her fear by focusing her attention on that goal. Through obtaining her yellow belt, she is able to overcome her fear of the tree out front.
February 11, 2014
Great book about overcoming challenges and the support and advice Jojo gets from her family.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews