The Phantom Tollbooth
by Norton Juster · first published 1961
73% recommend27% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Clever, well-written children's fantasy about navigating a magical world that encourages curiosity and carries real life lessons; suits young readers and rewards rereading as an adult.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The Phantom Tollbooth is a children's fantasy adventure novel written by Norton Juster with illustrations by Jules Feiffer. It was published in 1961 by Random House (USA). It tells the story of a bored young boy named Milo who unexpectedly receives a magic tollbooth one afternoon and, having nothing better to do, drives through it in his toy car, transporting him to the Kingdom of Wisdom, once prosperous but now troubled. There, he acquires two faithful companions, a dog named Tock and the Humbug, and goes on a quest to restore to the kingdom its exiled princesses—named Rhyme and Reason—from t
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The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster Read it every year from 3rd grade to 8th.
on “Ask HN: Which books have you read more than once?” ↗…favorite books transported you to a new world and showed you how characters adapted and learned to navigate. Here's a few I don't see on lists frequently: Here’s an updated list with your addition: 1. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster- adventure that encourages curiosity while navigating a magical world. 2. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg- Mystery about independence where two…
on “Ask HN: What book had a big impact on you as a child or teenager?” ↗…generations of my immediate family. Richard Scary's illustrstions were absolute favorites for myself, my siblings and all of our offspring when we were looking at books before we learned to read, and The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster later became our favorite book as young readers.
on “Writing in Pictures: Richard Scarry and the art of children's literature” ↗The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (illustrations by Jules Feiffer)
on “What's your favorite children's book?” ↗…A Wizard of Earthsea: The Tombs of Atuan (See 8.) 12. The Girl in the Dark (Interesting book about a skin condition I had never heard of, and the trials of living with a very rare condition) 13. The Phantom Tollbooth (Clever children's book) 14. Black hole blues and songs from outer space (Informative book about the study of space, the political and economic forces standing in the way of science, and the incredible…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2018?” ↗The Phantom Tollbooth The Princess Bride (even better than the movie)
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite fiction book?” ↗The Phantom Tollbooth. Brian Jaques' Redwall series.
on “Ask HN: Books your kids like most” ↗…three books of the Earthsea cycle by Ursula K. LeGuin. These both skew young but I valued re-reading them as I got older: The Dot and the Line: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dot_and_the_Line The Phantom Tollbooth: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom_Tollbooth
on “What Would You Recommend to a Bright 14 Year Old?” ↗My nephew's birthday is coming up. I plan to record for him The Phantom Tollbooth, a book I loved around then. I'd love tips from HNers who have recorded audio or audiobooks on the best way to go about it. I'm on Linux, and to listen he could borrow iPad, iPhone, or Android phone…
on “Ask HN: Good ways to record an audiobook for my nephew?” ↗…are a lot of middle grade mystery series like the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew - A few of my personal favorites from childhood: The Pushcart War; Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH; A Wrinkle in Time; The Phantom Tollbooth; the Chronicles of Narnia (warning: heavy Christian symbolism); Bunnicula; Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle; Mr. Popper's Penguins; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; anything by Roald Dahl - Some "classics" can be…
on “Ask HN: How get started with reading books?” ↗…how old TV shows work for you (at least for me). As long as you stick to simple to read books (stuff designed for young adults but still interesting to adults works well: Ender's Game, The Hobbit, The Phantom Tollbooth, etc.)
on “Sleeping with Your Gadgets On” ↗…that much young adult literature - Harry Potter, Limony Snickett, Golden Compass, The Giver (plus Lord of the Rings). All major film franchises (well, The Giver under production). Was amazed to see The Phantom Tollbooth. One of my favourite books of all time, though I haven't read it since I was a child and honestly have never met another person who'd heard of it!
on “Books to Read in a Lifetime” ↗As an aside, this reference makes me happy. The Phantom Tollbooth was one of my favorite books when I was younger, just brilliantly written. So many good lessons about life (the Humbug being a great example). Another great one that is somewhat applicable here is Canby,…
on “It's called “Ship” not “Shit”” ↗…(Juy Blume) Pippi Longstocking Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (young) A Wrinkle in Time Moccasin Trail Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH From the Mixed Up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler The Egypt Game The Phantom Tollbooth (young) Holes (little older) Sideways Stories from Wayside School (young) The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Homer Price (easy reading) The Indian in the Cupboard Misty of Chincoteague (series) Aesop’s…
on “The original “Bambi”” ↗The Phantom Tollbooth. Hands down. Yes, it helps if you read it before you are 10, affecting dramatically more of your life than anything read as an adult.
on “Ask HN: What is the most mind expanding book(s) you have read till date?” ↗