Hey, compared with some of the things people have already said on this thread about the influence this book has had on their lives (especially Meaghan!), I got nuthin'! But it did reassure me as a child that I wasn't alone in liking awful puns. And to this day, when I'm walking down the street, I always stop and look around at the buildings, in the hope that it'll keep the neighborhood from disappearing.

I read the book when I was12 years old. My family had just moved to Memphis from Denver, and it was quite the cultural shock. We didn't stay long. I had a book on the early comic book heroes written by Jules Feiffer, and through that, I discovered "The Phantom Tollbooth." It brought some sense to the chaos of my life at the time, and I can't count the number of times I re-read it. I also recall reading it to a Wendy Carlos rendition of a selection from Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier," so the music and the book are now inextricably linked to each other. I'm certain my memories will be linked to this film as well, which I eagerly await!

While I don't always remember the first time I was introduced to particular books, I do remember the first time I read The Phantom Tollbooth. I was six or so (I started reading very young) and my aunt was visiting New York City from California and took me to Barnes & Noble and promptly sat me down and handed me The Phantom Tollbooth and Matilda and said "you need to read these books. You'll love them." And I did.

I have four kids. Each of them has received a hardback copy of the book to keep, and I read it to all of them when they were younger. I also had the pleasure of playing the Mathemagician in the children's musical production of the Phantom Tollbooth. Looking forward to the documentary.

My first exposure to The Phantom Tollbooth was actually through the 1970 animated movie. I think I was 5 or 6 when I saw it. And I fell in love. I borrowed that book from the library at least a dozen times when I was in elementary school. It's been years now since the last time I read it, but if I ever have kids, it'll be right there at the top of the list of books to read to my children, right beside The Chronicles of Narnia and The Boxcar Children.

I must admit, I was sorely tempted by the signed copy of the book in the $275 pledge range, but I'm a broke phd student and it was just too steep for me. Also, I really LOVE the way the infographic looks, and it looks like none of the individual pledge gifts follow up to the next pledge level. Sadly. That might have convinced me to just go for it. Heh.

In any case, I absolutely cannot wait to see how this film turns out! It's going to be amazing, I just know it.

I can't wait to see what the movie looks like! I have loved this book since I read it for the first time!

This is my favorite book of all time. I read it as a little kid, and pretty much every year after that, and I love it just as much now that I get all the references as when I was a kid and couldn't quite process characters like Alec Bings. For 30 years this book has inspired me; my hardback copy signed to me from Mr. Juster is one of my most prized possessions. The least I can do is help this project out!

As an inveterate reader I cannot believe I have never heard of this book before today. Although I cannot afford to pledge at the level to get the book I did pledge for the DVD and immediately place a preorder on the book at Amazon. And I just might have to check it out of the library so I don't have to wait for delivery day.

My 5th grade teacher read to us every day after lunch, and The Phantom Tollbooth was one of our treats. I'd always been a reader, but this book opened my eyes to the possibilities of wordplay. Thank you, Norton Juster! and thanks for giving us this behind-the-curtain look at it all.

Best wishes with this film! My mother found this book when it first came out when I was around 8; she was the one who told my school library to get copies. I still have my 1961 edition of the book, and although the cover has some tears, it's in remarkably good shape given that it's been subjected to over 100 readings, most of them by me. It's never left my top 10 list of favorite books, and I'm an avid reader.

The Phantom Tollbooth kickstarted my love of words & it's so funny to meet others who have been inspired by Juster. Congrats on getting funded - my first time contributing to a Kickstarter project!

I remember my mom buying this book at one of my elementary school's book fairs. I loved the illustrations and dove right in. Forty years later I think about it whenever I'm in the Doldrums.

The first time I had read this book in elementary school, English was my second language but I understood enough to love the story. I then read it again later in life and I remember thinking, 'OMG, this book is fantastic!' when I discovered all the wordplay I had missed the first time around. Can't wait to see the documentary!

Oh, I love this book, and I'm so happy to see this project! This book is what made me realize from a young age just how awesome language is.

Hope this movie comes to the Hot Docs film festival as I would love to see it on the big screen with my gf (phantom tollbooth is her favourite childhood film) and the director in attendance.

Ironically I hope never to read TPT again. I remember it from when I was little and bought a copy for my older son before he was even born. It was his first chapter book when he was about 7, the first where, while reading it to him, he started pointing out lots of words and getting excited about it. (They were "ee" words like tree and see. The Alec Bing passage?) ... Anyway, he demanded that we read it again cover to cover. And again. And again. I read it eight f'ing times in a row. (Now that's love.)

An amazing book. That I can't read. Maybe to my grandchildren....

Am definitely excited to see this funded and watch the documentary!

Right you are. I somehow misread that as a signed copy of the DVD instead of the book.

Kyle, the $275 level and above all include a signed copy as one of the rewards.

Now I just need to find $200 so I can get one.

I'm a little surprised none of the rewards involve signed copies of TPT or The Odious Ogre (though I admittedly have not yet read TOO)