Jumanji is a 1981 fantasy children's picture book, written and illustrated by the American author Chris Van Allsburg.[1] The book is about an enchanted board game that implements wild animals and other jungle elements as the game is played in real life. A sequel to the book titled Zathura was released in 2002. The book was adapted into a 1995 film of the same name and it spawned a franchise that includes three sequels and an animated series. According to Van Allsburg, the name Jumanji is a Zulu word meaning "many effects," referring to “the exciting consequences of the game,” which includes the unleashing of wild monkeys, untamed tigers and huge spiders into the world.[2]