The Phantom Tollbooth

Tollbooth tells the story of Milo, a boy who is pretty much bored of everything around him. One day he gets a mysterious package that turns out to be a toy tollbooth. With nothing else to do, he decides to assemble the gift, only to unexpectedly find that he is driving in a completely different world. There he comes across a variety of strange creatures, from a man-sized humbug to a giant watch-dog (literally. A giant dog with a watch for a body). Why it's on the list The Phantom Tollbooth is a superb story filled with idioms and word plays taken literally. The author is so good at creating scenes which are so fantastic yet so well drawn you can picture them delightfully. The magic of the book is not contained in just clever wordplay, amidst all the wittiness, the story's characters are well developed and there is a genuine sadness to have the adventure end. Sure, this is considered a kids' book. There is also more than enough complexity, entertainment, and depth to keep readers of all ages thoroughly engaged. Read if you like Witty Characters. A children's book with enough depth that an adult will enjoy.