Read Aloud Hall of Fame #6: JABARI JUMPS by Gaia Cornwall

You need a book. A can’t miss book. A read aloud that will cast a wide net and pull everyone in. This is the idea behind The 100 Scope Notes Read Aloud Hall of Fame.

In each post I’ll share a read aloud that has never let me down. Some will be obvious and popular. Others lesser-known. All will be story time gold.

Click here to see all the Read Aloud Hall of Fame inductees.

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

The end of the school year is near. That means it’s time for me to read Jabari Jumps with kindergarten students. I come back to this book every year for a few reasons . . .

1. It’s about jumping into a pool – an exciting experience familiar to so many kids.
2. It’s perfectly paced. The story unfolds at a speed that doesn’t rush, but doesn’t drag.
3. There are some setbacks before a big, satisfying payoff.

All this adds up to a book that I return to every June. Just read it this week actually. Works like a charm.

Read Aloud Tip:

Read aloud vets know the power of a good old “Say it with me . . .” invitation. The end of Jabari Jumps provides the perfect “Say it with me . . .” moment: a gigantic SPLASH, followed by a WHOOSH. Ask kids to say it with you.

Filed under: Read Aloud Hall of Fame