The Phantom Tollbooth Read Free Books and Download eBooks
Hailed as “a classic. . . . humorous, full of warmth and real invention” (The New Yorker), this beloved story--first published more than fifty ago--introduces readers to Milo and his adventures in the Lands Beyond. For Milo, everything’s a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he’s got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Milo visits the Island of Conclusions (you get there by jumping), learns 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. . . .Features an appreciation by Maurice Sendak, award-winning author of Where the Wild Things Are!“I read [The Phantom Tollbooth] first when I was ten. I still have the book report I wrote, which began ‘This is the best book ever.’”—The New York Times“The Phantom Tollbooth is the closest thing we have to a modern Alice in Wonderland.”—The Guardian“The book lingers long after turning the final page. . . . A classic indeed.” —Los Angeles Review of Books“You loved the humor and adventure . . . and [now] you’ll marvel at [the book's] wit, complexity, and its understanding of how children perceive the passage of time.” —Entertainment Weekly
Lexile Measure: 1000L (What's this?)
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Bullseye Books; Reprint edition (October 12, 1988)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0394820371
ISBN-13: 978-0394820378
Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.7 x 7.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1,509 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #778 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #26 in Books > Children's Books > Classics #47 in Books > Children's Books > Action & Adventure #52 in Books > Children's Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy & Magic
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
After my first reading of 'The Phantom Tollbooth', it became,and still remains, my favorite young reader book. I wrote two book reports on it for my middle school reading classes. I even received a copy of it as a tenth birthday present. Ever since, I've read it from cover to cover at least once a year.As a child, I enjoyed reading the strange adventures of a bored Milo embarking on his legendary quest. As an adult, I enjoy the tome's play on words, such as the Whether man ("It's more important to know whether there will be weather, rather than what the weather will be") and the Isle of Conclusions, a place you have to jump to to get there. I also love the book's personifying such abstract concepts as statistics, like the (literally) half a child that Milo meets who's the end result of the average family having 2.58 children. It also has neat takes on people's points of view, like the boy who grows down, rather than up. Needless to say, it's pretty apparent that even though I loved this book as a kid, I appreciate it much more as an adult.If you remember reading this as a child, I strongly recommend you give it a look again. You'll likely pick up on quite a few things in the story that you might not have gotten the gist of in your youth!'Late
I first had this book read to me by my third grade teacher, and begged my mother to buy it for me soon thereafter, that I might read it for myself. It was my first "favorite book" (for all those what-are-your-favorite-book questions), and it continues to be a treasured classic on my shelf.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."Although Norton Juster's tale will probably never receive as much wild acclaim as the Harry Potter series, The Phantom Tollbooth nevertheless exhibits its own quiet charm. It is full of original characters and entertaining events, and I heartily recommend it for any child, or adult for that matter, who would like to be amused for a few hours on a rainy afternoon - especially if you think there's nothing to do! It is a wonderful book to read to a child, and the simple black and white drawings scattered throughout the text belie the vivid pictures that Juster paints with his words.
Milo’s bored with everythingAnd couldn’t see the reasonFor learning math or spelling beesNo matter what the seasonAt home one day he found a boxNot round, but not quite squareONE GENU-INE TURNPIKE TOLLBOOTHThe label did declareIntrigued, he jumped into his carAlthough this was a toyThrough the tollbooth he then passed,One jaded little boyHe found himself quite somewhere elseIt happened very fast“WELCOME TO EXPECTATIONS”said a signpost that he passedBut in this land there was a feudBetween two stubborn brothersOne thought words were number oneWhile numbers were the other’sMilo, Humbug, faithful TockMust help to set things straightGet Rhyme and Reason to returnso the feuding will abateThe brilliance of this story liesIn the author’s verbal skillThe places and the charactersProvide a learning thrillThe characters are wonderfulThe plotline never dullYou’ll read this story several timesUntil your brain is fullSo if you are a child at heartFrom two to ninety twoI strongly recommend this oneTo you, and you, and youAmanda Richards, April 22, 2006
For those of us who grew up with battered and much-read copies of The Phantom Tollbooth, and who will never think the same way again about phrases like "jumping to conclusions," "half baked ideas," or "spelling bees," it's time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this delightful book. The unforgettable adventures of Milo as he travels to the Land Beyond (in a car that "goes without saying") are being re-released in a beautiful hardback edition. The wonderful pen and ink sketches of Jules Feiffer still dot the landscape of the book, and a new foreword by the author tells the story of how this book came to be.Adults for whom this book transports them back to childhood will particularly appreciate the wonderful collection of "celebrations" of The Phantom Tollbooth that appear at the end of the book. Some are written by respected children's authors, one is by a professor at Harvard Law School, another by a retired 5th grade teacher. Pulitzer prize winner Michael Chabon explores the importance of Mr. Juster's "acts of punmenship;" Maria Nikolajeva speaks of the crucial influence of this book on her life under the Soviet regime; Pat Scales reminds us to "Never underestimate the intelligence of children." Mo Willems opens his comments thus, "I have the great fortune to enjoy a regular occasional lunch with Mr. Norton Juster. Trust me, you need a great fortune to have lunch with Norton, because he never picks up the tab."Fifty years after its original printing, this book is just as fresh and delightful as ever. Its word plays are just as surprising, its encouragement of curiosity and warning against ignorance just as pertinent. Whether you're starting into your fifteenth reading of this book or are one of the lucky readers picking it up for the first time, you're in for a treat.
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