I'm from a place very far away called Context...

in

Daily Quote: "Is everyone who lives in Ignorance like you?" asked Milo.

"Much worse," he said longingly. "But I don't live here. I'm from a place very far away called Context."

"Don't you think you should be getting back?" suggested the bug, holding one arm up in front of him.

"What a horrible thought." The bird shuddered. "It's such an unpleasant place that I spend almost all my time out of it. Besides, what could be nicer than these grimy mountains?"

Norton Juster Interview - The Daily

in

On the road againOn the 50th anniversary of ‘The Phantom Tollbooth,’ Norton Juster talks about kids, history and hope.

If you ask Norton Juster, the hallmark of a literary career is a childhood spent in boredom. After all, Charlotte Brontë and her sisters grew up in an isolated Yorkshire parish house. Robert Louis Stevenson spent much of his youth as a virtual shut-in.

As for Juster himself? “I grew up before television, no computers, no little machines to do things for us,” the 82-year-old author of “The Phantom Tollbooth” told an audience at New York City’s BookFest last week who had gathered to celebrate the book’s 50th year in print. “It was a more privileged time,” he said, deadpan. “It forced me to use my imagination.”

indieWIRE article on the documentary

in

Will You See This Movie? | Documentary Examines “The Phantom Tollbooth” After 50 Years

Will You See This Movie? | Documentary Examines “The Phantom Tollbooth” After 50 Years

Hannah Jayanti isn’t the only one to be affected by Norton Juster’s children’s adventure novel “The Phantom Tollbooth” (with illustrations by Jules Feiffer), but she is the only one on Kickstarter raising money for a film that will celebrate the book’s legacy.

Highlights from your responses and stories!

in

"Thank you for this.  Truly.  My days & nights have been made." "I just have to say, I think what you are doing really does matter. When I was growing up my mom read me a chapter a night of this book, and they at some of my fondest memories. Aspects of this book make up my childhood, and some day they will do the same for my own children. I cannot wait to see the finished documentary, and I genuinely want to thank you for doing this."

"I am so in awe of your project and it put me over the moon to be able to contribute. Thank YOU."

"So wonderful to "meet" the gentlemen behind the creation of The Phantom Tolbooth. Thank you SO much; I feel honored and delighted to be reminded of one of my MOST favorite books of all time.  Truly I have read this book over and over. And my children have carried on the tradition. I am 51, my children are 21, 19, and 16."

"I just became a backer on Kickstarter - I wanted to say that I am very excited about the project.  I have been a HUGE fan of Phantom Tollbooth since childhood (so much so that I mapped out the entire book, characters, etc. many years ago as a personal project)."

The Paris Review Daily - Phantom Tollbooth at Fifty

in

Even the most confident of writers can be excused for wondering if words, mere black-and-white glyphs, can compete in a world filled with ever more animated, flashing, full-color, special-effects-crammed and interactive visual media. At such times, it’s helpful to remember a passage from Norton Juster’s children’s novel, The Phantom Tollbooth, describing a visit by the hero, Milo, to the archives of the Soundkeeper in the Lands Beyond.

New Video - Meet the director of the Phantom Tollbooth Documentary

in

 

Dear friends, 

I wanted to introduce myself, and a thank you video seemed the best opportunity. While I'm a bit better behind the camera then in front - no matter! It's worth it to be able to say hello, and convey our thanks! CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO

And we really hope you will keep in touch. Send us your questions, thoughts, comments, stories - we have heard amazing Phantom Tollbooth anecdotes so far, and want to keep hearing from you.

Happy Halloween! Hannah & the crew

Nov. kids' club pick: The Phantom Tollbooth

in

NPR is starting a special project aimed at younger listeners. And for November they've chosen to read The Phantom Tollbooth, in keeping with current Phantom Tollbooth madness.  Check it out! 

They write: "We're asking young people and their parents to join us in reading a special book each month. We also want young readers to join in the conversation with that book's author. We want to know what you think about the book. And most important, we want to give authors a chance to answer your questions. "

 

 

Documentary Trailer at Eric Carle Museum - Nov 20th

in

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The Phantom Tollbooth November 20, 2011 Free with Museum Admission

Enjoy a “pun-filled” day at The Carle. Explore the art of Jules Feiffer in the galleries, play with words and pictures in the art studio, and listen in on a conversation between The Phantom Tollbooth author Norton Juster and Leonard Marcus, author of the newly annotated version of the book. Come dressed as your favorite character, share a favorite pun, and join in the fun!

Program Schedule 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Playing with Words and Pictures in the Art Studio 11:00 am Screening of the trailer for the upcoming Phantom Tollbooth documentary 1:00 – 2:00 pm Conversation with Norton Juster and Leonard S. Marcus. Book signing to follow 2:00 pm Storytime highlighting books written by Norton Juster 3:00 pm Screening of the trailer for the upcoming Phantom Tollbooth documentary