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Jumanji

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 4; suggested age 4.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0

  • Common Sense says

    The real and surreal blur in award-winning book.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Wild animals charge through a house.

  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Jumanji was written by Jennifer Gennari

Parents need to know that this book offers striking illustrations and a suspenseful adventure. Kids will be jumping up and down to find out what happens.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about the notion of having jungle animals running through your house. Imagine if something like this happened to you -- what would you do? Do you think the kids in the story made good choices to solve their problem?
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More on Jumanji

Book Summary

Rain, rhinoceroses, and monkeys--in the house! While playing the mysterious jungle board game of the title, Peter and Judy learn that virtually anything can happen. The real and surreal blur in this award-winning book with detailed black-and-white illustrations that will draw children in--even those who have seen the more elaborate movie.

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Is It Any Good?

Children instinctively understand the deep sense of magic and imagination this book conjures. Boredom is a common complaint of children, and a stampede of jungle animals through the house is the perfect cure. The tension of how the house will be cleaned up before Mom and Dad come home adds to the suspense. There's also a subtle message below the story line: Bored children should be careful about what they wish for. Parents will appreciate that what saves the children is that they follow directions.

The illustrations have a surreal quality that complements the story. Each object, animal, or person is distinctly drawn, in richly shaded detail, and familiar household objects convey an aura of spooky calmness among the chaos. At story's end the parents return, but readers don't see their faces; the view is from a child's eye. Peter's conspiratorial look at his older sister reminds readers to side with the child's version of reality.

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Publisher’s Details

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Children's Books, Publication date: 04/21/1981
Number of pages: 32, Price: $3.50 (paperback)
Read Aloud: 4+, Read Alone: 6+

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    mkalv
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Great.

    This book is great, but the film is better.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Parent Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

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