Title: Jumanji

Author and Illustrator: Chris Van Allsburg

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company (http://www.hmhco.com/)

Publication Date: 1981

Genre: Adventure

Audience: Grades PreK-2

Awards: The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book, The New York Times Outstanding Books, American Book Award for illustration from the Association of American Publishers, Children's Choice from the International Reading Association, Boston Globe Horn Book Award for illustration, Caldecott Medal, Kentucky Bluegrass Award from Ohio State Library, Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award from the Washington Library Media Association, West Virginia Children's Book Award, Golden Archer Primary Award Winner from the Wisconsin Educational Media Association

Overview: Jumanji tells the story of a brother and sister who are left home alone one evening by their parents. When they are playing in the park, they find a board game and take it home. They read the instructions carefully, and begin the game. At first, they believe it to be an ordinary board game. However, they soon realize that the squares that their pieces land on become real life. For example, when Judy loses a turn because "monkeys steal their food" they hear noises from the kitchen and run to see monkeys everywhere. They are forced to continue playing the game, despite the appearance of something new and awful with each turn, until one of them reaches Jumanji. Finally, Judy reaches the

Activity: The fourth rule for the game of Jumanji states: Once a game of Jumanji is started it will not be over until one player reaches the golden city. Use this rule as a writing prompt for students. Have them write about a time that they started something and didn't finish it right away. Did it make a mess? Did the mess go away once they finished what they had started? A picture can be drawn of their experiences as well.

Reviewer's Name: Allison Parsons