Jumanji is the title of a 1981 children's illustrated short story

Children's literature

Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...

 and fantasy

Fantasy

Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...

 story written and illustrated by the American author Chris Van Allsburg

Chris Van Allsburg

Chris Van Allsburg is an American author and illustrator of children's books. He twice won the Caldecott Medal, for Jumanji and The Polar Express , both of which he wrote and illustrated, and both of which were later adapted into successful motion pictures...

. It was made into a 1995 film of the same name

Jumanji (film)

Jumanji is a 1995 American fantasy-comedy film about a supernatural board game that makes wild animals and other jungle hazards materialize upon each player's move. It was directed by Joe Johnston and is based on Chris Van Allsburg's popular 1981 picture book of the same name...

. Both the book and the movie are about a magical board game

Board game

A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...

 that implements real animals and other jungle elements as the players are playing the game. The troubles which the players have to overcome appear in real life, not only in the board game. "Jumanji" is a Zulu

Zulu language

Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...

 word meaning "many effects".

Fritz, a bull terrier

Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier or English Bull Terrier is a breed of dog in the terrier family. They are known for their large, egg-shaped head, small triangular eyes, and "jaunty gait." Their temperament has been described as generally fun-loving, active and clownish...

 in all of Chris Van Allsburg

Chris Van Allsburg

Chris Van Allsburg is an American author and illustrator of children's books. He twice won the Caldecott Medal, for Jumanji and The Polar Express , both of which he wrote and illustrated, and both of which were later adapted into successful motion pictures...

's books, appears as a toy dog on wheels in the third illustration

Illustration

An illustration is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information by providing a visual representation graphically.- Early history :The earliest forms of illustration were prehistoric...

.

Storyline

While their parents are out for the evening, two siblings (Judy and Peter) play a game that they found in park. The game is named "Jumanji", and while they play it, they have to face jungle creatures such as a lion, monkeys, rhinos, and a snake. As the game progresses, new jungle disasters befall the two children. Finally, after they reach the end, the disasters caused by the game's magic are undone, and the house is back to normal as it was when they started the game.

Judy and Peter then dispose of the game just as their parents return home.

See also

• Jumanji (film)
  Jumanji (film)
  Jumanji is a 1995 American fantasy-comedy film about a supernatural board game that makes wild animals and other jungle hazards materialize upon each player's move. It was directed by Joe Johnston and is based on Chris Van Allsburg's popular 1981 picture book of the same name...
  
  , a film based on this book. Unlike the book, the film has adult characters like Alan Parrish, Sarah Whittle, and Hunter Van Pelt.
• Jumanji (TV series)
  Jumanji (TV series)
  Jumanji is an American animated television series that was inspired by the movie based on the book of the same name. The series ran for three seasons from 1996 to 1999. In 1996, it was carried by the UPN Kids network, but later seasons were syndicated by BKN. The series was also shown by CITV in...
  
  , animated TV series roughly based on the book and the film.
• Zathura
  Zathura
  Zathura is an illustrated children's book by the American author Chris Van Allsburg as well as a film that was based on the book. Two boys are drawn into an intergalactic adventure when their house is magically hurled through space...
  
  , another short story written by Van Allsburg, has also been adapted to film
  Zathura (film)
  Zathura: A Space Adventure is a 2005 fantasy science fiction film directed by Jon Favreau, and is loosely based on the illustrated book Zathura by Chris Van Allsburg, author of Jumanji. It stars Jonah Bobo as Danny and Josh Hutcherson as Walter. Tim Robbins also had a small role as the boys'...
  
  ; its story also involves children who find a magic board game, but the theme is science fiction
  Science fiction
  Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
  
   rather than jungle fiction. The children are Danny and Walter from the end of the story.
• Open Graves
  Open Graves
  Open Graves is a 2009 horror film, directed by Álvaro de Armiñán and written by Bruce A. Taylor and Roderick Taylor, the film stars Eliza Dushku, Mike Vogel, Naike Rivelli and Lindsay Robba.-Plot:...
  
  is about a similar game, but evil, as anyone who plays it and loses, dies.