Featured books by Norton Juster
He plays with words and math and more and is perhaps best known for his innovative adventure with a tollbooth and a bored boy. But Norton Juster continues to delight young readers and their families. In fact, his most recent book about an ogre done in — literally — by kindness has been illustrated by the illustrator of the now classic Phantom Tollbooth. Revisit Juster's classic tales but don’t miss his newer ones. And be sure to visit your local library to find several that are no longer in print but may be available for loan.
Phantom Tollbooth
A tollbooth appears in bored Milo's room beginning an adventure that has delighted readers since it was first published in 1961. Clever wordplay and double entendre has made this a book that can be read again and again with delight and discovery.
Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie
Grandparents love their grandchildren no matter what mood they're in — sweetie pie or sourpuss. This charming sequel to Juster's The Hello, Goodbye Window (with Raschka's lively illustrations once again) perfectly captures the mercurial nature of a young child.
The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth
Leonard Marcus, a nationally acclaimed writer on children's literature, has created a richly annotated edition of this perennial favorite. Marcus's expansive annotations include interviews with the author and illustrator, illuminating excerpts from Juster's notes and drafts, cultural and literary commentary, and Marcus's own insights on the book.
The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics
This classic, clever 1963 tale of a love triangle between a line, a circle, and a squiggle is again available. Children and adults can share it many times and discuss not only the personalities but the imbedded mathematical concepts.
The Hello, Goodbye Window
The window at Nanna and Poppy's house looks like a regular window, but it's really a doorway to the child's world and a celebration of the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren. Celebrate family with this 2006 Caldecott Medal-winning book.
The Odious Ogre
Alliteration and wordplay abounds in this humorous tale of an unkempt, smelly ogre who is undone by a brave girl's kindness. The playfulness of the language is matched by loose cartoon illustrations in this lively account.
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