Juster's book addresses a current problem in society: children and young adults who simply do not want to learn.

It is one thing for adults to lecture them on the importance of getting an education; but these speeches often leave no impression. The Phantom Tollbooth reinforces the importance of learning in a humorous and entertaining fashion.

The book has other virtues: it is neither sexist nor racist. The most enlightened characters in the book are female, while the kings, traditional bearers of male power, are confused and are depicted as in the wrong. While no actual races are mentioned, the inclusion of so many characters of different types (dogs, bugs, a character called the Dodecahedron, because he has twelve faces) allows the reader to see that there is nothing to fear just because someone is different.

People should be judged on what they do and say...