The Big Jump

A lyrical picture book about a child facing a summer rite of passage—jumping off the pier—with the help of his older brother and set against the shimmering waters of coastal Maine.

Every summer in Casco Bay, Maine, the older kids make the Big Jump. This year, it’s finally one boy’s turn. His older brother runs to the edge, pounds his chest, shouts “Brave!” and dives in. He makes it look easy. But at the top of the tall pier, the boy hesitates. The water stretches far below. The ferry passes, churning the waves, while other kids jump and climb back up, counting how many times they’ve jumped.

The boy hangs back. He watches. He waits. And when the moment comes, he has to decide whether he will brave the plunge.

Told in spare, poetic text, and beautifully illustrated, this story follows a child moving through fear and the uncertainty of a new experience. It’s summer magic and the unforgettable feeling of flying captured in a picture book.