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 bizarre adventure of their lives. Since its original publication, Jumanji has been honored with many awards, including the Caldecott Medal and a National Book Award nomination, and, in 1996, the surreal story was adapted for the big screen, followed by a 2017 sequel.

The New York Times best-selling author of Jumanji and The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg has garnered the National Book Award, multiple Caldecott Medals, and the Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in children’s literature. Queen of the Falls highlights the death-defying attempt of 62-year-old former charm school teacher Annie Edson Taylor to be the first woman to survive the perilous plunge over Niagara Falls.

Sometimes that very thin line between illusion and reality is not as clearly defined as we would like it to be.

It certainly wasn’t the day that Alan Mitz stumbled into the garden of Abdul Gasazi. For in this bizarre and eerie place–where strange topiary trees loomed–the evil visage of Gasazi casts its shadow. And even after Alan escaped, the spell of Gasazi still seemed to penetrate into his everyday world.

In this extraordinary, unusual, and unique book, Chris Van Allsburg explores both real and surreal worlds with incredible deftness. In doing so, he has created exquisite and beautiful stories that will continue to haunt listeners long after they have left the enchanted garden of Abdul Gasazi.

On the last page of the Caldecott-winning book Jumanji, young Danny Budwing is seen running after his brother, Walter, with a game tucked under his arm. Now twenty years later, Chris Van Allsburg is ready to reveal what happened when Danny and Walter rolled the dice. This time the name of the game is Zathura, and the battling Budwing boys are in for the ride of their lives. Soon Zathura unleashes intergalactic challenges that require the quarreling brothers to learn how to work together as a team.