The Phantom Tollbooth

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Average customer rating 5 (12 comments)

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One of my favorites from childhood. And adulthood. It never gets old.

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I can almost definitively say that this book sparked my curiosity in the world, and led me to start thinking about everything in a new way. And today I am getting my PhD in Neuroscience, so clearly this book molds young minds into scientist patterns. Clearly. But seriously, this is a book about puns and words and math, but it is fun and imaginative and, though it was written 50 years ago, still very relevant to life today. I think all children should read this book, or have it read to them by an adult before bedtime.

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This was the first sizable book I ever read, at age eight. It definitely helped stimulate my intellect, probably because by concretizing abstractions, it made it easier to think about them.

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Young Milo is bored. One day he receives a mysterious package and it is not even Christmas or his birthday. He opens it up and finds parts of a turnpike tollbooth. Instructions begin: "Easily assembled at home, and for use by those who have never traveled in lands beyond." Since Milo has nothing else to do,he puts it together. With some skepticism about whether he will have fun, he enters the tollbooth and passes through to incredible places. Published in New York City in 1961, and illustrated by Jules Feiffer, "The Phantom Tollbooth" has been enjoyed by parents and children for over 50 years now. Milo encounters a watchdog, a large creature perfectly normal except for his body - a ticking clock. In Dictionopolis, Milo goes to the Word Market where five "tall, thin gentlemen regally dressed" talk one after the other: "Greetings!" "Salutations!" "Welcome!" "Good Afternoon!" 'Hello!" Later, as Milo asks whether the words they are saying mean the same thing, they respond: "Of course." "Certainly." "Precisely." "Exactly." "Yes." Readers will find the Humbug, the Gorgons of Hate and Malice, the Demons of Ignorance and other smart and funny characters in this fantastical world. Enjoy, as a young person, and again as an adult.

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One of the most charming books I have ever read.

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This is a very clever and thought provoking book for pre-adolescent children and those who are children at heart. It is a must read.

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I really enjoyed this book. It was amazing. It held my attention the whole way through.

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The book that first made me enjoy reading; The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster, is about a little boy named Milo, who finds himself immersed in a world of imagination. Milo explores the world of the English Idioms the way a child does, bringing the reader to a state of childlike innocents where humor rests every where from the “Road of Expectations” to the “Island of Conclusions”. This book is simply a must read for any person (or watch dog) who enjoys a world where things are just a bit “punny”.

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I haven't read the book,I saw the movie when I was a child, I simply loved the story, I'd like to read it, every day comes to me a scene from the movie and it's helpful in everyday's life, as everybody knows a book is more powerful than any picture so I've missed a lot. Bye

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I first read this book in 6th grade and fell in love with it. It's a truly original, fantastical story and is up there with "Alice in Wonderland" in its silly, nonsensical fun. I recently bought it for my godson, and I hope he lends it to me.

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Milo discovers that a largish package has mysteriously appeared in his room, containing "one genuine turnpike tollbooth." Milo assembles the tollbooth and drives past "for lack of anything to do," quickly finding himself in a totally different world... Juster's novel is a wonderful play on words throughout-- for example in Dictionopolis, land where letters and words are grown for local use and export, one literally eats one's words. And Milo is accompanied on his adventures by Tock, a "watchdog" who ticks and Humbug from the "noble ... Insecticus humbugium" family. I would share more, but don't want to spoil the fun! One of my favorite books ever.

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A wonderful book that should be deemed the most creative writing ever. Strongly stimulates the imagination, and makes it nearly impossible to put down. It's filled with intelligent humor and exciting moments of surprise. Definitely a must have. And definitely should be read over and over, because it's an exciting, joyful, experience every time!