The Phantom Tollbooth

Milo is bored and can’t see the point to anything, particularly school. But when a mysterious tollbooth suddenly appears in his bedroom, Milo decides to give it a go. He gets in the car, pays the toll, and finds himself in the Kingdom of Wisdom.

Milo is soon set on the task of saving the kingdom’s two princesses – Ryme and Reason – who have been exiled to the Castle in the Air. Without the princesses who generally solved all disputes, the kingdom is now in disarray with literally no rhyme or reason.

First published in 1961, the book is full of clever plays on words and puns, such as Tock the 'watchdog' and events that explore the literal meanings of idiomatic expressions. Through Milo’s amusing and often mind-bogglingly absurd adventures through the kingdom, he discovers a love of education and learning.

This is a classic book with such vividly strange scenes that children will remember for many years.