The Phantom Tollbooth
by Norton Juster; ill. Jules Feiffer (Epstein & Carroll, 1961)
A fantastical middle-grade adventure full of warped notions and pun-based distortions of reality. Juster’s young protagonist is disinterested in the rigours of real-world learning but comes, through outlandish experience, to appreciate words and numbers. Feiffer’s illustrations prevent the dreamscape from becoming overwhelming.