Jumanji

Chris Van Allsburg wrote and illustrated Jumanji, a 1981 fantasy picture book that runs 30 pages. The story follows Judy and Peter, two bored children left home alone, who discover a mysterious board game in the park. When they start playing, the game comes to life: a lion prowls the kitchen, monkeys ransack the living room, and a monsoon floods the hall. Each roll of the dice unleashes a new jungle peril, and the only way to stop the chaos is to finish the game. Van Allsburg's detailed black-and-white illustrations give the fantasy a grounded, eerie feel. The book won the Caldecott Medal in 1982 and later inspired a 1995 film starring Robin Williams, along with sequels and an animated series. Van Allsburg revisited the concept with a companion book, Zathura, published in 2002.[edit]