From: Gregory B. Newby <gbnewby@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu>
Subject: Recommended children's literature (Was Re: Sources of the 
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 91 19:37:06 -0600



jasonp@cs.uq.oz.au ( Jason Pouflis) said:

>There was a childrens book I read, possibly part of the English curriculum
>in primary school.

>Something about a boy who went past a turnpike (or toolbooth) into a land of
>maths. There he found a watch dog(with a clock for a body) and met a
>politician with 20 faces (icosahedron).

The book is called THE PHANTOM TOOLBOOTH.  The author is Norton 
Juster.  First published in 1961 by Random House.

It wasn't just a visit to math land:  it was a whole fantasyland,
in which the protagonist (Milo) was to rescue the twin sisters
Rhyme and Reason from captivity.  The conflict in the book
was between two kings, one who favored math, and the other who
favored textual discourse.

My favorite part was where the Humbug, Milo, and his friend
Tock (a dog who's twin brother is Tick) all jump to conclusions.
Conclusions is quite a long way off the short on a small island,
and they all have to swim back.

At one point, Milo et al dine on subtraction stew, which makes
you hungrier and hungrier, the more you eat.

The book was made into a (mostly) cartoon movie at some point.  I
strongly recommend it, even for we over 21.  If you like that one,
pick up A WRINKLE IN TIME, too (I forget the author's name....except
that it's a she).  In the second book, Meg (the protagonist) takes a
multi-dimensional excusion to another land to rescue the population
from over-regulation and sameness imposed by a creature called IT.
Very good stuff, and no I haven't read them any time recently -- they
just stuck with me.

-- Greg Newby
gbnewby@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu