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The Phantom Tollbooth (Essential Modern Classics) by: Norton Juster

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Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Release date: 3rd March, 2008
Media: Paperback

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Editorial Review

"It seems to me that almost everything is a waste of time," Milo laments. "[T]here's nothing for me to do, nowhere I'd care to go, and hardly anything worth seeing." This bored, bored young protagonist who can't see the point to anything is knocked out of his glum humdrum by the sudden and curious appearance of a tollbooth in his bedroom. Since Milo has absolutely nothing better to do, he dusts off his toy car, pays the toll, and drives through. What ensues is a journey of mythic proportions, during which Milo encounters countless odd characters who are anything but dull.

Norton Juster received (and continues to receive) enormous praise for this original, witty, and oftentimes hilarious novel, first published in 1961. In an introductory "Appreciation" written by Maurice Sendak for the 35th anniversary edition, he states: "The Phantom Tollbooth leaps, soars, and Abounds in right notes all over the place, as any proper masterpiece must." Indeed.

As Milo heads toward Dictionopolis he meets with the Whether Man ("for after all it's more important to know whether there will be weather than what the weather will be"), passes through The Doldrums (populated by Lethargarians), and picks up a watchdog named Tock (who has a giant alarm clock for a body). The brilliant satire and double entendre intensifies in the Word Market, where after a brief scuffle with Officer Short Shrift, Milo and Tock set off toward the Mountains of Ignorance to rescue the twin Princesses, Rhyme and Reason. Anyone with an appreciation for language, irony, or Alice in Wonderland-style adventure will adore this book for years on end. (Ages 8 and up) -- Amazon.com

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Average rating - (more reviews)

Rating: - Year 5 Phantom Tollbooth Review

The Phantom Tollbooth was written by Norton Juster in 1961. He worked for several years as an architect in Brooklyn, New York, before becoming an author. He also wrote other books such as `The Dot and the Line' and `Alberic the Wise and Other Jouneys.'
In 1971 Norton Juster was the recipient of the George G. Stone Centre for Children's Books Seventh Recognition of Merit.

Milo, the main character, is a bored little boy who one day, when returning home from a dull day of school, finds in his room a tollbooth. When he went through the tollbooth he appeared in The Lands of Beyond. He travels through many areas of the land, meeting many unusual characters, including a watchdog called Tock, who has a clock in his body.

We think that the book is brilliant because the lands that Milo travels to are interesting and full of unusual, imaginative characters. The book also has many different powerful words and many different educational messages. All of the characters are interesting and have unique qualities which fit their personalities.

We would recommend this book to children aged eight and above. If you are bored we recommend you read this book because it feels like you are actually in the land. This book is also educational as it will help you with your literacy work and help you to learn why knowledge is important.

Rating: - Norton Juster's Tollbooth

Arrived quickly and a lovely book to read to children. Brought back memories or reading it as a child and so pleased to be able to create these for someone else. A classic that deserves to be better known!

Rating: - Great story

If you like playing around with words and numbers this is a great read for children and adults alike. Unfortunately, in this edition, the quality of the paper and binding is very poor.

Rating: - A timeless joy for all ages

I read this to my son when he was four, and we both adored it and laughed like drains. I read it to him again a couple of years later, and he read it for himself. Each time, we both got more and more out of it. I won't ruin it by quoting some of the unforgettable lines, but I guarantee you will find them on every page.This is a book all about the joy of playing with words, shapes and numbers and imagery: it entertains and educates with effortless glee.
One reviewer has complained that the book is preachy. Yes, it has a message, but what is wrong with that, when the message comes out of something unique, joyous, memorable and totally devoid of the crude saccharine Disneyfication or the po-faced politically correctness that pervades children's lives?
And if you don't have children, buy it for yourself and follow Milo on his journey through the surreal world beyond the tollbooth. It goes without saying you'll want it to go on, and on and on.

Rating: - Brilliant read

This was one of my favourite books from childhood and I bought it to read with my goddaughter who is 8 years old. I remember this book made me want to read and eventually write, I just wanted Milo's world to be available to a child I loved.

My goddaughter loves this book and we are even following a companion book with different word and number exercises in it.

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