Title: Jumanji
Author: Chris Van Allsburg
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Publication Date: 1981
ISBN: 0395304482
Summary: Judy and Peter are left alone by their parents so they decide to go out to the park and they find a board game called Jumanji. As they start to play the game it comes to life! All sorts of animals and even a hunter are in the house and reaking havoc among the town. Judy and Peter have to finish the game for all the pieces to go back in the box so their parents and guests don't find out when they come back from the opera.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Title: The Polar Express
Author: Chris Van Allsburg
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Publication Date: 1985
ISBN: 0395389496
Summary: A young boy, who used to adore Christmas, hears a train whistle roar and he finds the train is waiting for him. He sees a conductor who then proceeds to look up at his window. The conductor explains the train is called the Polar Express, and is journeying to the North Pole. The boy then boards the train, which is filled with chocolate and candy, as well as many other children in their pajamas. Throughout the train things happen that can only be explained by magic! The boy eventually gets to the North Pole where he sees so many elves and eventually Santa Claus. The boy has faith restored in Christmas and has a bell that he brings back as proof but when his parents shake the bell it doesn't make a sound leading them to think it is broken. However, the boy knows you have to believe in Santa to hear it.
Summary: 4 out of 5 stars
Title: Zathura
Author: Chris Van Allsburg
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Publication Date: 2002
ISBN: 0618253963
Summary: The Budwing boys, Danny and Walter, don't get along. When their parents go out for the evening, small arguments escalate until finally Walter, the elder, chases his little brother out of the house and into the park, where he tackles him to the ground. As they wrestle, they catch sight of a board game propped up under a tree. It is called "Jumanji, a Jungle Adventure." Shoving the "baby game" at his brother, Walter heads for home, with Danny trailing behind. As Walter sits down in front of the TV, Danny examines the game. Lodged underneath the Jumanji game board, the little boy finds another game called "Zathura,". Danny starts to play on his own, struggling to read the card, and the game comes to life in their house. Soon they are out in space and have to finish the game. On Walter's turn he gets sucked into a black hole and all hope seems to be lost until Walter is back at the park wrestling with his brother like earlier in the day. Danny wants to bring the game home but Walter says no and plays catch with his brother instead.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
The Polar Express is one of my all time favorite books! For many children, this is a great Christmas read and they can somewhat even relate to it, although they will never actually experience whats really going on, they will be able to understand it so well.
ReplyDeleteJumanji is such a great example of fantasy. I've seen in a lot of examples that authors take such an ordinary thing (such as playing a board game) and makes it into this make believe unrealistic world. I remember reading this when I was little, just wanted to play the board game myself!
ReplyDeleteChris Van Allsburg is one of my favorites for fantasy. I like that he always includes high level vocabulary too, so he is great for vocabulary focused read alouds in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of Zathura before! And I actually don't think I've ever read Jumanji, but I know the story. I love this element of fantasy incorporated into activities that are regarded as commonplace to children.
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