Jumping Jenny

"In this fun, yet meaningful, story, Jenny is a jumping maniac who, at times, jumps herself right into trouble. After several mishaps and a tirade of disapproval, Jenny decides jumping is just not worth the trouble. Depressed, she mopes about. However, an opportunity arises in the form of a fundraiser; Jenny's 'pogo stick' offers her the brilliant idea to jump in a jump-a-thon. She rounds up pledges and everyone helps her practice to reach her goal. When the big day finally arrives, her $1 per jump pledges actualize as she triumphantly hits 1,000 jumps. By using a medium that most children can relate to, this story is an excellent motivator to help students see the potential in their own passions and to find ways to make a difference in their own world. The softly colored illustrations complement the story nicely. The writing itself is clear and descriptive with fun uses of language making this appealing story a great read-aloud." --Bridget Slayden, Library Media Connection

"Jenny loves to jump. She is constantly jumping over cracks in the sidewalk and over fences with and without her pogo stick. Her jumping gets her in trouble in school, where she knocks over a box of caterpillars in the science room and bumps into the hot lunch cart in the cafeteria, splattering mashed potatoes in every direction. Her jumping annoys her friends who make fun of her, her teachers who ask her to stop, and her mother who does not allow her to jump in the house. Jenny becomes a hero when her teacher suggests a mitzvah project to help children in Uganda. Jenny decides she will jump 1,000 times without stopping and collects $1 a jump from her friends and family. The Jewish content is minimal, although one of the boys in the racially diverse class wears a kippah, the Hebrew alphabet is displayed on the blackboard, and the teacher mentions that their Ugandan project is a mitzvah. The word mitzvah is neither explained nor translated. Without the single mention of the unexplained word "mitzvah" this book could be about any group of children, not necessarily Jewish children. The brightly colored full page illustrations are cheerful and enhance the story." --Jewish Book World

"There is something about a book that makes us laugh and think at the same time! Jumping Jenny is one of those both engaging and thoughtful. Here's the summary: 'Jenny was born to jump - her every ounce was made to bounce. But when jumping gets her into trouble, she decides to hang up her pogo stick and stop completely. Pretty soon, Jumping Jenny became Slumping Jenny. Then, when her school plans a charity (mitzvah) project, Jenny discovers that her unique skill can be used for a very special purpose. See what can happen when a determined little girl follows her passion to make a difference in the world.'" -- Working Mother

"This is a story about Tikkun Olam, the act of trying to make the world a better place. Though the illustrations convey the fact that Jenny attends a Hebrew day school, she lives in a diverse community, and children of all backgrounds will relate to her predicament and benefit from the universal lessons imparted. 'Your every ounce was made to bounce!' says Jenny's grandma when she notices how forlorn the little girl has become, trying to squelch her perpetual jumping. It's true that her constant motion has been interfering with life at school and at home, but suppressing her nature is not a good solution. Fortunately, Jenny's teacher believes in community service and organizes a fundraising project to assist a needy school in Uganda. Jenny commits to a jumpathon, collecting pledge money for each jump. She simultaneously reaches her goal of 1000 jumps and helps fund computers and books. It's unfortunate that the jumpathon idea comes from a talking pogo stick awkwardly invested with momentary magical powers rather than from Jenny herself. Nonetheless, with its bright, child-friendly cartoonlike illustrations, the book succeeds in reminding children to recognize their own gifts and to remember to give to others." --School Library Journal

"A little girl channels her exuberance and excessive pogo-stick jumping into a worthy fundraising venture. Jenny is a born jumper. She vaults over fire hydrants, bounds over hedges and leaps over fences, but she isn't very careful about when her jumping might not be appropriate. Her teacher scolds, 'Jumping is for frogs, ' when Jenny knocks over the caterpillar bins in the science room, and she is banished from the cafeteria after she upsets the entire hot-lunch cart. Much worse is the incessant teasing she attracts from her classmates, who croak, 'Ribbit, ribbit, ' whenever they see her. 'When did my Jumping Jenny become Slumping Jenny?' asks Grandma when she sees a forlorn-looking Jenny sitting on the stoop. Discouraged but still thinking positively, Jenny begins to develop an idea that will put her jumping talent to good use as part of her class 'mitzvah project.' Friends and family pledge to Jenny's jumpathon, to be held at the school's African village fair that's been to raise money for a Ugandan school. Acrylic-on-canvas cartoon-style paintings depict a Jewish day school, with boys wearing yarmulkes and Hebrew text on the board. Bari's story of one girl's approach to the Jewish principle of 'tikkun olam' (literally, "repair the world") will resonate as readers watch Jenny achieve her exhausting, triumphant success." --Kirkus Reviews