In The Phantom Tollbooth, each new experience makes funny and concrete some familiar idea or turn of speech: Milo jumps to Conclusions, a crowded island; grows drowsy in the Doldrums; and finds that you can swim in the Sea of Knowledge for hours and not get wet. The book is made magical by Juster’s and Feiffer’s gift for transforming abstract philosophical ideas into unforgettable images. The thinnest fat man in the world turns out to be the fattest thin man; we see them both. We meet the fractional boy, divided in the middle of his smile, who is the “.58 child” in the average American family of 2.58 children. The tone of the book is at once antic and professorial, as if a very smart middle-aged academic were working his way through an absurd and elaborate parable for his kids.
I don’t know about you, but Norton Juster’s The Phantom Tollbooth was an essential, constantly re-read classic of my childhood. Initially recommended by my friend Elise — probably at the age of eight, during our regular reading sessions on the bus ride to school — I immediately fell prey to its ridiculous puns and abstract concepts, drinking them in over and over again. Finding out that the book is fifty years old this year was a bit of a shock, since it seems to exist outside time. The New Yorker interviewed Norton Juster and illustrator Jules Feiffer (his Brooklyn Heights neighbor during the 1950s) for the occasion. It’s a great read on the timeliness of the book’s birth and the merits of a liberal education.
Also, how was I not aware that Juster was also responsible for The Dot and the Line? So magical.
This book is my favorite children’s book! I remember, even as a child, fantasizing about eating a cookie like Milo had in Dictionopolis – with words peeping through the nuts and icing.
one of my favorites!
Ah! My son and I found that while thrifting and it’s our favorite!
I really do think this is one of the coolest blogs I follow. I nominated you for a Versatile Blogger award! You can see the link here: http://howsheflowers.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/versatile-blogger/
You are so sweet! Thank you!
I second the nomination!
between that and _time cat_ (and maybe the _westing game_)–my fave book of childhood, too.
They’re making a documentary if you would like to support it on Kickstarter.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/phantomtollbooth/the-phantom-tollbooth-turns-50-a-documentary
I loved the Phantom toll booth as a kid. The illustrations are great cross between Edward Gory and Roald Dohl. I should also mention that I played The Wether Man in our 4th grade production.
[...] Image courtesy of Norton Juster, Jules Feiffer & Random House. Video courtesy of MGM, originally seen here. [...]