Jumanji (Hardcover)

Van Allsburg's Jumanji is a story about the unanticipated adventures that two bored and fidgety siblings left at home for an afternoon are thrust into as they play the anagogic board game, Jumanji. After seeing that the board game creates a lot of mystical happenings, they contemplate finishing the game to return to the warmth of their home. Van Allsburg seems to be asking his audience is to urge parents never to leave their children at home alone because bad things will happen. Children's Literature scholar Joel Chaston notes that, "reinterpreting Oz films (like the film version of Jumanji which is reinterpreting version of the picture book) appears to require wrestling power away from strong child protagonists, especially girls, and suggesting all problems may be solved by retreating to one's home" (19). However, the book contradicts this reading because all of the dangerous events in the book happen at home. Van Allsburg's Jumanji, depicting some of the illustrations that are found in contemporary picture books, uses black-and-white three-dimensional drawings to complement and enhance the text. He evolves a visually impressive color of the protagonists' journey. The use of black-and-white three-dimensional drawing also delivers a sense of safety because the protagonists' sight is much keener at home when the game is out of it and their parents return. After his parents depart and Peter as he stands on a chair is shown on the top half of the page. This picture indicates that home is a place of freedom. Eventually the kids grow tired of their home and thus search for something more exciting to do. Of course, this is when they find the board game. During the course of the game, the siblings are located on the left of the page indicates they are not in control of the situation. The animals, that are secure, are placed on the right side of the page. By making the shape of the board game diagonal, the illustrator shows the reader that the game is " dynamic" because diagonal shapes " imply motion and tension" (---). The animals having pointed features (i.e., the rhino's horns) adds to the tension that an individual may experience when their parents are not present. When their parents return, they are located in the center of the page. The ideal home is a place of safety. However, the kids experience a lot of turmoil at home and this is what makes Jumanji a low-rate picture book. In spite of its' negative factors, I feel that Allsburg is somewhat biased. He makes the assertion that kids can always solve their problems by being at home with their parents. My question to Allsburg is what if the kids' problem is at home with their parents. Perhaps, their father beats them. Would home be the best solution for the kid. No, in extreme cases such as this one, a kid needs to seek assistance outside of his/her home. Despite these problems, I find Jumanji a very exciting picture book because of Van Allsburg's off- center imagination.