Book Reviews of The Phantom Tollbooth

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.

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.

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!

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

A classic children's fantasy rated at 6.3 reading level.

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.

An interesting play on words! Very clever.

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!

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!

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.

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.

The first chapter book my parents ever read to me. Every child should read this! Way up there with Alice in Wonderland.

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.

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.

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!

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."

A children's classic that adults will love as well!

Both of my daughters loved this book so much, I had to wait until they were grown to move it out.

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.

A great book to insprire your child's imagination. Black and white illustrations.

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!!

great kids book- innovative story. one of my all time faves.

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.

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.

A great book to read aloud to your kids or even to yourself! Entertaining!

Great book. My son really enjoyed this.

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.

Great book for adolescents.

one of the greatest kids books ever, along with Middle Earth and Narnia and E. Nesbitt.

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!

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.

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