Jabari Tries

Jabari #2

by Gaia Cornwall

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.

Genres: Picture Books, Stem, Childrens, Family, Science, Storytime, Growth Mindset

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 8, 2020

About the author

Gaia Cornwall is an illustrator who loves making patterns for surface design, illustrating for children, and writing picture books. Her images can be seen in magazines, online, in logos, on various products, and even in a couple movies. JABARI JUMPS (Candlewick Press, May 2017,) is her debut picture book. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island. You can see more of her work at www.GaiaCornwall.com

Reviews

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved Jabari Jumps (like I did!) or even if you haven't read it yet, you're going to love this next story!
Perfect connection for makerspaces, perseverance, trying new options when things don't work the first time, SEL, how to handle frustration, engineering, STEAM, family supporting each other, and teamwork, this is a must-add to any elementary school library.
Perfect pair with Jabari Jumps, The Rabbit Listened, Allie All Along, & The Most Magnificent Thing.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jabari returns in this second picture-book devoted to his adventures, following upon Jabari Jumps , this time trying to build a flying machine in his back yard. His father gardens in the background, and his sister Nika flits about in her butterfly wings, but Jabari insists he wants to work alone. Eventually Jabari lets Nika help him, but his flying machine still crashes, leading his father to step in with some words of wisdom about how to deal with frustration. Calming down and pulling himself together, Jabari tries again, together with Nika, and this time they are successful...

Jabari Tries is another engaging story about this young African-American boy, his loving family, and his experiences trying new things. It pairs an engaging narrative that is reminiscent of titles like Rosie Revere, Engineer , which also features a tale of a young inventor who must learn to deal with initial failure, with expressive artwork created using pencil, watercolor and collage. I particularly liked the warm family dynamic here, as Jabari's father lets him get on with it, but is available in the background when his son needs some help or advice. I also really liked the fact that Jabari eventually includes his younger sister, convinced to do so by his father's argument that most great inventors have partners or assistants.

It was a little surprising to see, in the scene where Jabari thinks of inventors and scientists who have had to use creative problem-solving, that none of the figures mentioned - Lewis Howard Latimer, Dr. Flossie Wong-Staal, Roy Allela, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson - were familiar to me, leading me to google them. At first I really liked this, as I thought the author was trying to highlight lesser-known STEM innovators, but as I thought about it some more, I began to wonder whether a child Jabari's age would know about them, or think of them first, when trying to invent a flying machine. Wouldn't people like the Wright Brothers be more likely to pop into his head? It then occurred to me that they might have been chosen along racial lines, to deliberately exclude Europeans or Euro-Americans, which, if true, would be very unfortunate. It sends the entirely wrong messages, and, given the current zeitgeist, feels a bit like pandering. Perhaps I am doing author/illustrator Gaia Cornwall an injustice, but the toxic state of our national discussion on race lately has led me to really think about these issues, and to read recently published children' books more carefully, when it comes to the subtle messages they send. I sincerely hope the intention here was not to communicate the idea that children can only be inspired by the achievements of others if they share a racial or ethnic identity, or that there is something more admirable about STEM achievement when it comes from specific identity groups.

Leaving that aside - it is a minor scene, and while I do think it's important to consider its subtle messages, it does not effect the overall flow of the story - I would recommend this one to young would-be inventors, to picture-book readers seeking stories about loving African-American families, and to those who enjoyed Jabari Jumps .

[Hannah]

This is nowhere near as charming as Jabari Jumps, but that's a really high bar. It's still really delightful.

[Allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid second book about Jabari. I like that it models good STEM trial and error thinking skills, and the frustration when things don't work out how you want. I wish the sister's verbal contributions were more meaningful; because if she's old enough to help like she is, she's likely (but not necessarily) speaking more than 2 words (me, we). I did really enjoy how the dad interacted with Jabari and helped him with his problem solving and not with the problem itself. It's cute.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a huge fan of Jabari Jumps, and it is a read aloud favourite at my school, so when I saw that there was a new Jabari book on Edelweiss +'s list, I requested it immediately and felt lucky to get to review this one.
Once again, Jabari is a young boy trying to stretch himself and complete a tough task. He is challenged by the task and needs to take a moment to collect himself, listen to the advice of his father and accept help in order to complete this STEM tasks.
While I did not get as much out of the art in this book (there are some changes in vantage point as was the case in Gaia Cornwall's last Jabari book that are good but they do not work as well as in the first one) compared to Jabari Jumps, I loved the message for kids who have to persevere through tough tasks. I think kids are going to love this one just as much as the earlier Jabari book. For some of the older (kids or adults) readers of this one, there are some names of inventors in the background of one of the pages and instead of using some of the white centered inventors that typically come up in STEM titles, I thought it was great that Gaia Cornwall chose to highlight BIPOC inventors and scientists that are far less famous for their amazing achievements (Lewis Howard Latimer, Dr. Flossie Wong-Staal, Roy Allela and Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson). I am not super knowledge when it comes to inventors and I had to google a few of these names. Their work could make a great jumping off point for discussions.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Jabari Jumps, but this second book didn't quite hit the same note for me. Jabari is working on a flying machine and needs a little help. A good message of never giving up, and accepting help (even if it's from your little sister!)

[Katie Reilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jabari is back, and this time he’s making a flying machine! Lots to love about this one as Jabari learns how to deal with disappointment and frustration and realizes that inventing involves asking for help, problem solving, and perseverance.

[Cristina Quattrone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some GREAT lessons about trial and error, collaboration, and gentle parenting big emotions. Would be an awesome classroom read for growth mindset and regulating emotions in the process

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Jabari really tried!

[DIVISHA MITHAL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sanaya Talks Books:

I love Jabari Jumps because it teaches us that we should not be scared to try new things.

In Jabari Tries I learnt that when we get tired of trying we should always take a break instead of giving up.

Premise of the books:
Both the books are about Jabari trying something new, feeling excited about it, wanting to do it all on his own, facing some hurdles and overcoming it. These books deal with common emotions faced by kids and how as parents we might be able to guide them to deal with these emotions early on.

Learnings from the books:
The first book teaches Jabari that it is ok to be scared of trying new things but only when we try new things are we blessed with surprises.

The second book teaches us that when the going gets tough, a small break to re-organize our thoughts and some help from others can work wonders for our plans.

The books will not only help the kids but also the parents to learn that acknowledging and validating the child's emotions might be a great way to enable them to deal with these difficult emotions.

Verdict:
Definite recommendations to help young kids deal with negative feelings and imparting some life lessons along the way!

For full review of the books click on the link www.inbetweenbookmarks.wordpress.com

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jabari wants to make a flying machine. He told his dad and sister that he did not need any help. He was very disappointed when it did not work. He tried again. He let his sister help. Still, it didn't work. Finally he took a little rest with his dad and his dad taught him a great strategy to try when things don't work. And he succeeded.

A thoughtful maker-space sort of story, with bonus points for sharing strategies that enhance persistence and for patient parents.

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elliot loved the first book about Jabari (Jabari Jumps), so we were excited to find another book about this brave and persevering boy. In this book, he’s trying to figure out how to build a plane that’ll fly across the yard. He keeps having challenges and tries again and again. Great for teaching perseverance. There’s also a page where the dad teaches him how to calm his body down when he gets frustrated, which is great for self-regulation/ emotional awareness.

*library book. Read at age 21 months

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one. I LOVED Jabari Jumps, so I figured I would read this sequel. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s something about the first book that I just loved more. I think it might be the fear of the diving board that he has in the first one. So relatable! Anyway, I like the characters and I enjoy how Jabari’s dad encourages his two children. Keep trying, kids! Don’t give up!

Mia’s Year of Books: Day 336

#BlackHistoryMonth #WeNeedDiverseBooks

[Abby Johnson]

Jabari wants to build flying machine. Little sister wants to help, but Jabari's convinced he can do it all on his own. After some frustrating setbacks, is Jabari open to accepting some help?

This is a good story for any kids who struggle with needing to get things perfect, with some good strategies for dealing with the frustration that happens when things don't work out the first time around.

[SL · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so, so good. I love reading about Jabari and his family! This title would work really well with STEAM-related storytimes and also about teaching patience, collaboration and sharing (sharing with siblings and sharing collaborative successes!).

[Lori Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jabari and his dad, characters that we met and loved in Jabari Jumps, are back in a second book! This book is absolutely fantastic! There are so many things to love about this book! The way Jabari's dad gently suggests and encourages him is wonderful. The perseverance that Jabari exhibits as he works through his STEAM type creation building and problem solving will make this a favorite read aloud in many classrooms and libraries.

[Brandon Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this to two classes so far for Mock Caldecott, and I love that they love the message. Keep trying, Jabari! Keep helping, Nika!

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was convinced this would be a difficult book to follow up with after Jabari Jumps. I was wrong. Jabari Tries was fantastic!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Includes a great measure about not giving up!

[Rolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very sweet story about siblings working together (with the encouragement of a patient dad) to solve a problem.

[Kris Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that came with our Art Lit box. Darling illustrations, wonderful message and terrific information.
My grandkids will love it!

[Benji Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll admit that I was skeptical . I love Jabari Jumps so much, I was afraid of a letdown. There isn't one, though. Jabari Tries does it's own thing, and just as well.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jabari wants to build a flying machine that will fly across the backyard, but all his attempts seem to be failing. His dad suggests that Jabari let his sister Nika help, but their ideas don't seem to work either. After a little break, and some advice from his dad, Jabari decides to try again.

This follows the same story arc as Jabari Jumps and is easy to follow. I personally liked Jumps better than this companion.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Candlewick through Edelweiss+.
Jabari is back and this time he wants to fly a plane across their backyard. He learns several lessons before the plane flies. He learns about patience and perseverance as well as working with a partner (his little sister). By the end, they have successfully flown a plane and begun to dream about their next invention.
Cornwall captures the joy of a family afternoon. The illustrations show the emotions and details of the experiments.
Looking forward to more of Jabari's adventures.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, what fun to think about growing up to be an aeronautical engineer! This science-positive story features plenty of building, stacking, hammering, swooshing, and smashing action to interest even the most reluctant inventors and sciencephobes. Complicated projects are more successful with teamwork, which dad and little sis are happy to provide. Colorful illustrations emphasize the thrill of invention. Kudos for the multicultural protagonist and family.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore Jabari Jumps, so I will always read Jabari books. This one read more like an episode of Caillou--Jabari couldn't find a way to make his plane fly across the yard, but with some cooperation from his sister, he makes it work. Some good emotion-management techniques in here, but overall it felt a bit didactic to me.

[Emma Jope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Jabari Tries
Author: Gaia Cornwall
Genre: Fiction
Theme(s): Family, Engineering
Opening line/sentence: “I’m making a flying machine today!’ Jabari told his dad.”
Brief Book Summary: Jabari is trying to create a flying machine, all by himself. He keeps trying new ideas-none of which seem to work-but he doesn’t give up. Eventually, his dad encourages Jabari to enlist the help of his sister, and they get the flying machine to work!
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Kirkus Reviews wrote that this book showed a great example of healthy relationships. I completely agree- Jabari was given advice from his dad to let go of the “muddy feelings,” take a deep breath, and try again. I think that is a great SEL learning opportunity. Youth Services Book Reviews points out that Jabari wonders what other African American engineers would have done. I think that this is a beautiful, normal moment that is so important for a young black boy to see.
Tell Me Framework:
Like(s): I like that this story included more than just the engineering aspect, and included SEL as well.
Dislike(s): I have no dislikes.
Patterns(s): Jabari’s sister says “me” throughout the story, and Jabari and his dad interpret its meaning.
Puzzle(s): I wonder if students would be able to make a simple version of the flying machine.
Consideration of Instructional Application: For the Instructional Application, I would focus on the SEL aspect of the story. I would ask questions like, “what do you do when you need to calm down?” or “who is someone who you would enlist to help you?” I also would point out that Jabari is considering what scientists who look like him would have done, and it is always good to have role models you can see yourself in.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've read Jabari Jumps, you know that he has some experience with courage, yet in this story, Jabari figures out that a few other attributes are needed. Persistence and asking for help are two. He decides he wants to create a flying machine and unfortunately the first attempt is a bust! Little sister Nika keeps saying "me", wanting to help, but Jabari says no, he doesn't need help. After an attempt when he has spent a lot of time designing and creating a longer launch machine and it, too, fails, it's "Zip, flip, swoosh around, up, Smash!" His dad suggests that Nika really wants to help, that great inventors often have partners.
There is more to Jabari's (and Nika's) tries, with Gaia Cornwell's color-filled collaged pages showing all the complicated inventions, a page of past inventors who, Jabari remembers, use creativity to solve problems, and a sweet moment when Nika squeezes Jabari's hand, hopeful for this "next" take-off. It's a story of kids creating, wanting to make things work, and needing a loving nudge from an adult, this time Dad, also some support from a little sister!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!