Contemporary Book With the Tension Presented in "The Cat in the Hat"

Jumanji

Written and Illustrated by:Chris Van Allsburg

1982 Caldecott Winner

This book tells of two bored kids, Judy and Peter, who take home a mysterious ''jungle adventure'' board game that they find in the park. The instructions, on a note attached to the box, are firm: once started, the game must be played to the finish. Each adventure on the board brings the real creatures and events to life and into their home, creating danger and chaos. As the kids roll the die and move their pieces, African beasts magically materialize in the living room. But this is no petting zoo — the lion chases Peter up the stairs, the monkeys trash the kitchen, the rampaging rhinos trash everything else. It isn't until Judy reaches Jumanji, the golden city at the end of the board, and yells the name that everything disappears, broken things are made whole and all is normal. The children put the game back where they found it, telling no one, only to watch children of friends of their parents who are known for not reading directions, take the game. It's a little like The Cat in the Hat played for higher stakes.

Van Allsburg describes action in clear, concise, straightforward language that easily carries readers along. The following excerpt demonstrates his use of strong, descriptive verbs (squeeze, scrambled, slammed):
The lion roared so loud it knocked Peter right off his chair. The big cat jumped to the floor. Peter was up on his feet, running through the house with the lion a whisker's length behind. He ran upstairs and dove under a bed. The lion tried to squeeze under, but got his head stuck. Peter scrambled out, ran from the bedroom, and slammed the door behind him. The use of dialogue in Jumanji also works to move the plot along. Younger children can be invited simply to notice the dialogue. Teachers might ask "How do we know that someone is talking?" The pictures and the text are packed with details that invite the reader into the world of the story. Even young children can be asked to notice these details and discuss them. For example, Peter and Judy's home comes to life because of Van Allsburg's attention to detail in the drawings. He draws Peter's and Judy's toys scattered across the carpet and even includes their father's pipe resting on the mantel. The specificity of everyday life makes the intrusion of wild animals even more surprising. The text achieves an equally vivid effect with its use of sensory detail. For example, "Peter and Judy covered their ears as the sound of splintering wood and breaking china filled the house."

Van Allsburg moves the plot forward gracefully and thrillingly with his clear and vivid descriptions of action, which include the use of exciting, precise verbs. Instead of shutting the door, Peter slams it. Instead of running through the living room, the rhinos charge. The author's thoughtful choice of verbs provides a wonderful example for children who are working on describing action in their own stories.