Helpful Score: 7
I read books out loud to my children and am going to continue as long as they will let me. My 10 year old is sophisticated enough to understand the many puns in this story while my 8 year old is not, but he still gets a lot out of it--just on a different level. The action starts right away and it hooked my kids on the very first page. I remember reading it because I had to as a kid and I did not like it, but now I am wondering why--since both my kids think it's great and I now realize it is very clever. Give it a go.
Helpful Score: 7
A simply magnificent children's book, imaginative and thought-provoking. I read it as a child and loved it, I can read as an adult and love it as much.
Helpful Score: 6
For Milo, everything's a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Milo visits the island of Conclusions(you get there by jumping), leans about time from a ticking watchdog named Tock, and even embarks on a quest to rescue Rhyme and Reason! Somewhere along the way, Milo realizes something astonishing. Life is far from dull. In fact, it's exciting beyond his wildest dreams!
Helpful Score: 5
A classic children's fantasy rated at 6.3 reading level.
Helpful Score: 5
I remember my 5th grade teacher reading this book to me. I've never enjoyed a book more than this one. I still love it, and I'm 24 years old now. It was just so fantastic and full of adventure and fun. This should always be included in a child's reading. I like it so much, I'm going to order it, just to read it again. LoL
Helpful Score: 2
This book is a laugh a minute. While it is touted as a kid's book, it is great for all ages. My cousin used to read it to her sixth grade students. they loved it. My adult reading goup loved it and these women are in their 70s and world travelers. A truly wonderful book to just enjoy.
Helpful Score: 2
An interesting play on words! Very clever.
Helpful Score: 2
I don't believe I've read a more educational book than this one. It is full of sage advice from front cover to back. For example:
"I know one thing for certain; it's much harder to tell whether you are lost than whether you were lost, for, on many occasions, where you're going is exactly where you are. On the other hand, you often find that where you've been is not at all where you should have gone, and, since it's much more difficult to find your way back from somewhere you've never left, I suggest you go there immediately and then decide."
"I know one thing for certain; it's much harder to tell whether you are lost than whether you were lost, for, on many occasions, where you're going is exactly where you are. On the other hand, you often find that where you've been is not at all where you should have gone, and, since it's much more difficult to find your way back from somewhere you've never left, I suggest you go there immediately and then decide."
Helpful Score: 1
I recommend this book to everyone I know. It is the perfect children's book and even as an adult I read it once a year. It's clever and funny and a lighthearted romp through Juster's very literal imagination.
Helpful Score: 1
This is absolutely the most inventive, most exciting, most intelligent children's book ever written. This book tickeled my sense of creativity and excitement for literary pursuits very early in life. Everything in this book is a word puzzle, a trickery with words. I found it fascinating when I first read it, and I still can reread it to this day and enjoy as much, if not more, as I did then.
Helpful Score: 1
A wonderful and whimsical book. The play on words is vast and makes you think as you enjoy the journey into learning with the main character.
Helpful Score: 1
I'm 60 plus yrs old and have been reading classic children's books that I missed as a child. This one is full of puns and language twists. Good story with a moral that doesn't hit you over the head. I enjoyed it.
Helpful Score: 1
I loved this book as a kid. Then I bought a copy when I was about 23 or 24 and it is about to fall apart from repeated readings over the last 5 or 6 years. It's so quirky and wonderful. It's probably in my top 3 children's books ever. All the characters are so unique and are constantly surprising the reader with their odd and surprising actions. Just beautiful!
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful science fiction for children! My son and I enjoyed Milo's adventures immensly. Great message about wasting time and how it never comes back...must read for all!
Helpful Score: 1
This bookj is a rare entertainment with lasting delight. It's one of those seldom found books which adults and young readers alike will put on the same shelf with the immortal "Alice in Wonderland."
Helpful Score: 1
The story follows the journey of Milo, a boy bored of basically everything around him. One day he receives a mysterious package that turns out to be a tollbooth. For lack of anything better to do, he puts it together and begins to play, only to find himself driving in an entirely different world. There he meets all sort of curious creatures, from a giant watchdog (literally, a dog whose body is a watch) and a humbug the size of a person. Juster plays with words as if they were tangible objects to juggle, and continually surprises the reader by turning ordinary events into magical occurrences. This book very much exemplifies the quote (and I apologize for not naming the speaker, who slips my mind at this moment) "The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to get sharper."
Helpful Score: 1
The first chapter book my parents ever read to me. Every child should read this! Way up there with Alice in Wonderland.
Helpful Score: 1
This was one of my favorite books as a young child. The plays on words and phrases will delight young and old. There is a word adventure on every page. It is magical and humorous. A must for every boookshelf, young and old! A definite must for the classroom teacher who wants an exciting read aloud!
Helpful Score: 1
Classic children's book about a boy who enters fantastic worlds through the mysterious Phantom Tollbooth.
Helpful Score: 1
great kids book- innovative story. one of my all time faves.
Helpful Score: 1
A little overly didactic but very well written. It doesn't talk down to its audience in terms of vocabulary.
Helpful Score: 1
A delightfully witty, philosophical, quick read which turns cliches on their heads and gives a reason to be interested in the world. Could be read for kids, but adults may enjoy it as a break from more rigorous reading as well. Appreciable at more than one level.
Would make a great read-aloud book.
Would make a great read-aloud book.
Helpful Score: 1
this is one of my favorite children's books ever - i saw the movie at the library first, and liked it so much i had to read the book! get this book! you will love it!!
Helpful Score: 1
A wonderful book filled with lessons about life, friendship, and imagination. I read it years ago as a child, but can now fully appreciate the charming play on English idioms as a college student. I will certainly re-read this again in the future.
Helpful Score: 1
What can you say about this book? It is a classic for the ages! Every child MUST read this book about a boy, a magic, and a new world that shows him how exciting his own world really is.
Helpful Score: 1
My favorite book as a kid! The fun fantasy worlds that Milo and Tock experience are wonerful! I am reading this book to my munchkin now and he loves listening to me and looking at the map and drawings as we go along. Perfect for a summer or winter break!
Helpful Score: 1
This is probably one of my favorite childrens books. It is a story filled with colorful characters and puns, and a fun read for any kid with an imagination.
Helpful Score: 1
I read this book decades ago and succombed to its charms again. Quaint, interesting story, full of fun, intelligent word play - puns, if you must. The whole family will enjoy it. I'm glad I read it again.
Helpful Score: 1
Both of my daughters loved this book so much, I had to wait until they were grown to move it out.
Helpful Score: 1
A great book to insprire your child's imagination. Black and white illustrations.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a wonderful children's book. If you have kids, or are related to some, make sure they get a copy of this one.
Helpful Score: 1
This book is easily one of the top 3 of my favorite childhood books. An ordinary child finds himself drawn into an exciting adventure in a fantastic world. How the boy learns to appreciate what he has at home is the theme of the story. I love the humorous, suspenseful and smart tone of this utterly original tale. The word play alone is worth the read. More children's literature should appeal to kids' intelligence, like this book.
My daughter read this book in her Sonlight curriculum and it was one of her favorites.
A classic for all ages.
This was a great read for my voracious reader in elementary school. Time to pass it on....
Brought back fond memories of reading this when I was a child.
A classic childrens fantasy tale that Id never heard of til recentlywritten in 1961 and full of the sort of puns and wordplay I would have loved as a youngsterwish Id known about it then.
Milo is a young boy who is disillusioned with lifewherever he is and whatever hes doing, he wishes he were somewhere else doing something different. Thoroughly bored with life is our Milo. One day he comes home to find a tollbooth in his bedroom, something hes pretty sure wasnt there before. He climbs in his little car, pays his toll and finds himself suddenly somewhere else and certainly doing something different! Consulting the map, he decides to head for Dictionopolis, but first must travel through Expectations, the doldrums and the Foothills of Confusion. Wonderful story with a very basic life lesson (that I think some people never quite learn, actually)...hilarious characters, word streams and funky illustrations as well.
Milo is a young boy who is disillusioned with lifewherever he is and whatever hes doing, he wishes he were somewhere else doing something different. Thoroughly bored with life is our Milo. One day he comes home to find a tollbooth in his bedroom, something hes pretty sure wasnt there before. He climbs in his little car, pays his toll and finds himself suddenly somewhere else and certainly doing something different! Consulting the map, he decides to head for Dictionopolis, but first must travel through Expectations, the doldrums and the Foothills of Confusion. Wonderful story with a very basic life lesson (that I think some people never quite learn, actually)...hilarious characters, word streams and funky illustrations as well.
A very fun read with a lot of word play and deeper meanings that constantly made me pause, consider, and smile. It was a very engaging, yet simple, book, with a lot to think about.
I absolutely love this book. I have loaned it to a couple friend and they liked it also. Norton Juster'S word play is funny and clever at the same time. This is a book everyone should read. Emily-16
This is a fun and interesting book. Lots of puns, metaphor and representative characters. I loved it as a kid, and enjoyed it as an adult too.
Excellent children's book, a little dated in flavor.
Marvellous story of a spoiled boy's somewhat Alice-like journey into the world of words and numbers. must be one of the most brilliant pieces of nonsense written in our time.
I really Love this book. I remember reading it in school when I was a child and I had to reread it. Great story with a great message for both adults and kids.
I read this book when I was twelve and thought it was boring. I read it again when I was 37 and this time I actually understood and enjoyed it.
Classic!
Both children & adults will love the cleverly written & sagacious fable.
I'm having a hard time giving it up.
Both children & adults will love the cleverly written & sagacious fable.
I'm having a hard time giving it up.
Kind of a Pilgrim's Progress for the automotive age, without the (overt) morality.
A delightful book for children of all ages, and the child in each of us. When life gets a little dull, take a trip through The Phantom Tollbooth!
Great book for adolescents.
Although the book appears written for young teens the story line and "moral" of the prose is suitable and in fact most remindful of how our outlook of the world needs updating and improving. I enjoyed it very much.
A children's classic that adults will love as well!
I read this... let's see... I was maybe 11-ish? I have such a strong recollection of LOVING it, thinking it was very clever and wishing I could find more books exactly like it.
This fantasy book is whimsical and jolly, but falls short of any real substance. When a young, apathetic boy finds a mysterious toll booth in his room, he finally is forced to sit up and take notice of the wild world around him. Entering a new world, he meets many odd characters and visits many places that are somewhat laboriously named allegorically. However, any real lesson is devoid for the boy, who returns from his voyage thinking slightly better about his place in the world. It's basically, "you are really good enough if you just try" book, but for my money, Pilgrim's Progress does the fanstacial traveller tale much more cohesively and with deeper thematic truths being addressed.
This was one of my favorite books when I was a kid, and the biggest book I'd ever read.{it seems so much smaller now} The best way to describe it, it's A Wrinkle in Time for little boys.
A great book to read aloud to your kids or even to yourself! Entertaining!
I read this to my 8 year old son, we both thoroughly enjoyed the book. When the book came to a close, my son cried, he replied "that's it? Is there a sequel? I'm not ready to say goodbye to the characters or the adventure!" I have to say, I was sad to say goodbye to the characters as well!
one of the greatest kids books ever, along with Middle Earth and Narnia and E. Nesbitt.
Great book. My son really enjoyed this.
I read this book when I was 8 in 1974. I just remember that it was a fun book and that you never knew where Milo was going to end up. Our whole class ran to the library to check it out.
Enjoyable.
Read it as a child; loved it. Bought it for my children and they just didn't want to read it. :(
