The Phantom Tollbooth

Milo, the central protagonist, is a boy bored with life until a mysterious package containing a magical tollbooth thrusts him into a strange land, where he learns to appreciate the wonders around him and the advantages of thinking, learning, and wisdom. Milo’s adventures in the Lands Beyond inspire in him an ability to escape boredom by taking an interest first in the oddities of the realm he visits and then in the interesting world of everyday things. For the first time, he also finds an inspiring purpose—to rescue Rhyme and Reason and return them to the Kingdom of Wisdom. These experiences teach him that he can enjoy the wonders of life simply by determining to do so, keeping an open mind, and not falling prey to the common pitfalls of human thought.

Tock is a literal “watchdog” whose body consists of a giant alarm clock. Tock’s purpose is to sound that alarm when people waste time. The alarm also goes off when anything upsetting or dangerous occurs. Tock is smart and sensible, an able companion for Milo and the Humbug as they search for the princesses