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Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg (of Polar Express Fame)

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Summary: "The game under the tree looked like a hundred others Peters and Judy had at home. But they were bored and restless and, looking for something interesting to do, thought they'd give Jumanji a try. Little did they know when they unfolded its ordinary-looking playing board that they were about to be plunged into the most exciting and bizare adventure of their lives." (Goodreads)

Attention Span/reading level: 5+

Good uses for book in teaching: Imagination 

Favorite part: (Mine and/or Child): In general I just like the concept of the board game bringing things to life. However if I were forced to choose, I liked when the Lion first appears and the kids start to realize what they have gotten themselves into. 

Least favorite part: None

Warnings/negative feedback: Two kids are left home without supervision, the house gets torn apart by animals, one kid falls asleep under a sleeping spell but wakes up when the dice are rolled again. 

Review: I remember being scared to death of the movie Jumanji as a kid. I had no idea it was based on a book, so when I saw it I was interested to try it out. The book is not as scary as the movie was (at least to me as a kid). Maybe it's just one of those things where seeing it on the screen makes seem it more real than in a book. Also, in movies they take liberties that are not mentioned in the book. However, like I said, the idea of what happens in a board game coming to life is a fun one to think about. All in all I'm glad I read it and I would recommend it. I did not read it with my three year old because I wasn't sure she would get the concept that these things were happening because of the board game. 

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