Jumanji- Chris Van Allsburg

Van Allsburg, C. (1981). Jumanji.  New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

“D. VERY IMPORTANT: ONCE A GAME OF JUMANJI IS STARTED IT WILL NOT BE OVER UNTIL ONE PLAYER REACHES THE GOLDEN CITY” (Van Allsburg, 1981).  This quote from the book, Jumanji captivated my attention in such a way that I had to read it again (and again as I’m blogging).  In his book, Chris Van Allsburg tells the story of a brother and sister who embark on an exciting and frightening journey while playing a board game they found in the park. 

As mentioned in my previous post titled, "The Polar Express”, I chose to blog about three books by the same author this week, partly because I wanted to compare the texts and more so because Chris Van Allsburg is one of my favorite children's authors.  After reading Jumanji and admiring the detailed illustrations, it's no surprise that Chris Van Allsburg earned another Caldecott Medal with his fantastic work.  Once again, the illustrations add to the meaning of the story itself...the words couldn't exist alone, making Jumanji a notable example of a picture book for young readers.  The Polar Express and Jumanji both reveal a realistic artistic style through illustrations that are finely detailed.  Van Allsburg used shape to differentiate between large and small objects in his illustrations, which adds meaning to the story.  

Jumanji has two settings, the park and the children's home.  I don't think Van Allsburg could have chosen a better setting to tell this fascinating tale of two children and their quest to win the game. The way he describes the events that take place in the house leaves the reader hanging on to every word.

How could this story be used in the classroom to help students strengthen their comprehension skills?  That's simple...use this text to help students create mental images as they listen to or read, Jumanji.  Van Allsburg does an amazing job painting a picture for the reader, and the illustrations add to the excitement of the story.  If students begin to create mental images while reading, they will better understand the content of the story. 

Read this page aloud and have students close their eyes and create a mental image.

In addition to helping students create mental images, you could also encourage students to make connections to their life by prompting them to discuss a time when they were bored and what they did to overcome their boredom.  Go further by having them compare and contrast events from the story to their own experiences. 

I absolutely love this book!  Food for thought (for you and your students)...

• Van Allsburg leaves us hanging at the end of the story...what do you think will happen next?
• How do you think the children felt when things started happening in the house?
• Why do you think Chris Van Allsburg chose to end the story the way he did?