The Phantom Tollbooth is written in a warm and conversational style, and Juster often steps out from behind the scene to directly address the reader.

When Milo drives through the tollbooth and into the lands beyond, for example, he thinks, "What a strange thing to have happen," and the author adds "(Just as you must be thinking right now)." This style is one of the great strengths of the book. Its simplicity and the level of its diction make it easy to read, although Juster occasionally challenges readers with a difficult word that may send them scurrying for the dictionary.

The book can be read as a simple adventure story, a fantastic tale of a young boy who enters a magical land, undertakes a dangerous quest, and succeeds. However, there are other things in the book that may be enjoyed in addition to the story. Juster...