The Phantom Tollboth by Norton Juster
The Phantom Tollboth is a wonderful classic that was first published in 1961. It is one of those stories that can be either a read alone or read aloud. And it is also just as much of an adult book as it is a children’s book because of the author's play on words.
The story begins with Milo, our main character, who comes home from school to find a very large package waiting for him, which happens to be a magic tollboth. This tollbooth transports him away to the kingdom of wisdom. It is in the kingdom of wisdom that he learns he must restore order by finding two important people, rhyme and reason. The many adventures help Milo to understand the power of words, books and the importance of learning and knowledge. Something that we all can be reminded of as well.
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
The Cricket in Times Square a very sweet story about three friends, a cricket, a cat and a mouse and their many adventures in New York City. This 1961 Newbery honor book, first published in 1960, is a classic that can also be read alone or as a read aloud to children ages 9 and up. The story begins with a young boy Mario who tends to his parents news stand near the train station. The news stand is failing financially but when Mario finds the cricket he begs to keep it as a pet because he believes that crickets bring good luck and that is exactly what his family needs. With some ambivalence his mother allows him to keep the cricket but only at the news stand, it cannot come home and thus the friendship begins between Mario and Chester. The cricket also becomes fast friends with Tucker the mouse and Harry the cat in the evenings when Mario goes home. The story continues with these four friends as they stumble upon many adventures in the bustling city of New York.
