"The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster

Summary of The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Milo finds life boring.  After a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he enters and discovers bizarre worlds.  From Dictionopolis to the island of Conclusions, Milo is continually growing in his awareness of the adventures that can be found in life all around him if he would just open his eyes.

Juster, N. (1989).  The Phantom Tollbooth.  New York, NY:  Random House, Incorporated.

Personal Impressions of The Phantom Tollbooth
In the style of Alice in Wonderland, a world of humorous and unique places are presented as answers to Milo's boredom.  A book that's fun, but makes you think with its puns and word play.  Explanations, inventions, and adventure awaits everyone who searches for it in life.

Reviews of The Phantom Tollbooth
"Hero Milo "didn't know what to do with himself-not just sometimes, but always." One day he returns from school to find an easy to assemble tollbooth and when he drives through it, Milo finds wild adventures in Dictionopolis, the land of words; Digitopolis, the world of numbers, and many locations in between. He is on a quest in this nonsensical land to bring back the Princess of Sweet Rhyme and Pure Reason. The book is filled with wild characters like the Spelling Bee who spells more than he speaks. There are silly word plays like the time Milo makes a speech at dinner and is surprised to find out how he has to eat his words. Life philosophy is mixed with tons of punny, funny humor. He is so changed by his travels that when he returns home he is only momentarily disappointed when the tollbooth disappears. As Milo says, "there's just so much to do right here." A children's classic for parent and child to enjoy together."
Review by Children's Literature and Retrieved from Barnes & Noble Editorial Reviews.

"I think this book inspired my love of puns and wordplay, not to mention math and word games. It brought to earth large concepts like Boredom and Truth."
Review by Maggi Idzikowski,Media Specialist, Allen Elementary School, Ann Arbor MI and Retrieved from School Library Journal Online.

Suggestions for Use in Library or School
Ask students to write an essay explaining what they do when they are bored.  For older students, ask them to explain how the word play found in The Phantom Tollbooth  enhanced the story and made it more memorable. Milo's experience helped him with his boredom and said at the end of the story "there's just so much to do right here." Create a story that tells what he does next.

For younger students, let them draw a picture of Watchdog, Digitopolis, or another character in the story, or let them create their own word play picture.  (Ex. flying pigs "When pigs can fly.")