For this June birthday, I’m picking Norton Juster.
Why I picked him: The Phantom Tollbooth. I read it in elementary school, and it made a huge impression on me. Why?
- It’s funny.
- It’s a delicious bit of fantasy with a character that I think most people can easily identify with.
- Juster plays with language in the most delightful ways. If you’re a fan of puns, this will make you giggle.
- Bonus: Cartoonist Jules Feiffer did the illustrations.
Decades later, I’m still recommending it. And as I was crafting this post, I realized how much this type of writing has impacted my own style. I’m a huge fan of great wit and wordsmithing, and I aspire to infuse my own writing with the kind of humor and word wizardry that I’ve enjoyed from authors like Juster.
Have you read The Phantom Tollbooth?
If so, what did you think?
If not, it’s not too late! It’s a children’s book, technically, but I appreciate the cleverness even more as an adult. I swear the book gets better every time I read it.