Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg

Today’s 1981 classic turned out to be a surprise to Kate. Turns out she, like many people in America, had no idea that Jumanji was a picture book before it was a movie (or two, or three). Thanks to her read, a lot of questions about this book were cleared up for me. For example, there is the fact that the parents must be going to a matinee (which explains why the kids eat dinner after their return later). And did you know that the two kids at the end of this book are the ones in the sequel Zathura? But here’s the crazy thing. Kate actually managed to find a continuity error in the art. Don’t believe me? Check it out.

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Show Notes:

On the one hand I grant Kate the idea that this story takes place in the 1950s. On the other hand, Peter has SUCH shaggy hair!

Sure, there’s a lion on top of the piano but WHAT is this sheet music? Kate desperately wants to know, so if anyone wants to give it a shot and tell us what it might be, knock yourselves out and give us the results!

I think Kate might be right. This kid looks as unconcerned as Pierre to be in a room with a man-eating tiger. I dare say he even looks pleased!

Chris Van Allsburg gets extra points for giving these monkeys tails. He DID know the different between monkeys and apes! And, as I say in this episode, “even though he looks like he just took devil chimpanzees and slapped tails on them, I’m gonna give it to him!”

It would be pertinent to mention that the monkeys do have an investment in this game. This is part of what I love about Van Allsburg’s art. I never noticed them in the rainy living room before!

I have a very firm belief that the role of this guide is played by John Cleese. “Those elbows are SUPER John Cleese-y!”

So Kate found a strange continuity error. Check out the clocks in the book. These three appear in a row. I’m willing to believe that clock #2 is allowed to be inaccurate since it’s being trampled by rhinos, but Kate is less forgiving.

Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate