The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth (review)

Fifty years after young Milo rescued Rhyme and Reason, noted children’s literature scholar (also recent adjunct faculty member here at the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science) Leonard Marcus takes readers back to the Lands Beyond for a literary jaunt that will please old and new fans of Juster’s classic tale. Drawing upon Juster’s own notes as well as interviews with the author and illustrator, Marcus offers a host of informative tidbits regarding the creative process behind the work and its cultural context (and particularly its parallels to another famous journey through other worlds, Alice in Wonderland) while remaining true to the playful wit of the original. Marcus’ fondness for his subject is clear both in his extensively researched notes and the illuminating introduction that provides a concise but comprehensive look at the lives of author and illustrator and the fateful meeting that brought about Milo’s adventures. Readers nostalgic for the Humbug, the Dodecahedron, and of course, Tock will find their favorite characters lovingly treated here and discover an entirely new way to experience the lands beyond the Phantom Tollbooth. An index and bibliography are included.