OVERCOMING FEARS
Take the Leap Learning to be bold in Jabari Jumps As a writer and illustrator, I’m often asked where the inspiration for my first picture book, Jabari Jumps, comes from. As a Black boy, Jabari looks like the people in my family. The kid frozen on top of the diving board? That’s all me. I love the concept of ‘windows’ and ‘mirrors’ and ideally, my books take the form of both. It’s crucial for me to be very aware of which readers are getting to see themselves represented in books - or not. I strongly believe that everyone should get their ‘mirror book’ experience - that feeling of “Hey, that kid is just like me!” - at least once. On the flip side, windows into different, often under-represented, experiences
are incredibly consequential to us all. As a result, I’m purposeful about what my characters and their families look like. Similar to Jabari, we can all relate to having something we really want to do, while simultaneously being terrified by the thought. Too often, we tell kids (and ourselves): ”Don’t be scared, be brave!” When really, to be brave is to be scared and do whatever it is anyway. Figuring
out what it means to be brave and how to deal with fear, is such a big part of being a human. So, this summer, whether you’re a kid - or grown-up - toes curled around the proverbial diving board, remember to take a deep breath and jump! GAIA CORNWALL Author www.gaiacornwall.com
The True Value of Sport
Overcoming the disappointment of not winning When I was asked to write Want to Win, I immediately felt another text for the character in confident that readers would find I Really Want the Cake, one of my the story relatable. initial ideas was for a story on As a child, I was obsessed with the theme of competitiveness. sports. Good at a couple but I’m not sure whether useless at others, I became wellcompetitiveness is an innate acquainted with the spectrum trait or one developed through of emotions that accompanies conditioning, but I’m certain that competition (with oneself and every child longs to win or be against others) – from the elation deemed ‘the best’ at some point and satisfaction of performing in their childhood. Consequently, well, to the frustration and when I came up with I Really disappointment of not – which proved very helpful when writing the book! The girl in the story certainly shares a few (too many) of my personality traits, so I was easily able to imagine just how she’d feel and behave in the
situations she finds herself in. I hope readers will take away the idea that whilst it’s important to always try one’s best, it’s more important to enjoy oneself whilst doing so and to be gracious in both victory and defeat. Most of all, I hope readers have fun with the book. If they do, I’ve done my job! SIMON PHILIP Author www.simon-philip.com
EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | S UM M ER 2025 | 21