Drummer Hoff vs The Phantom Tollbooth: Which Should You Read?

Drummer Hoff Barbara Emberley · 1967 ★★★★☆ 3.9 32 pages · ≈ 36 min · Moderate

A cumulative folk song in which seven soldiers build a magnificent cannon, but Drummer Hoff fires it off.

Folk songs English Folk songs Nursery rhymes Caldecott Medal

The Phantom Tollbooth Norton Juster · 1961 ★★★★☆ 4.2 255 pages · ≈ 4 h 43 m · Moderate

“There was once a boy named Milo who didn't know what to do with himself-not just sometimes, but always.”

The Phantom Tollbooth is a children's fantasy adventure novel written by Norton Juster with illustrations by Jules Feiffer. It was published in 1961 by Random House (USA). It tells the story of a bored young boy named…

1 film adaptation

Boredom Letters Children's literature American Fantasy fiction

Find on Amazon More like this →

Side by side

The verdict

Readers rate The Phantom Tollbooth highest: The Phantom Tollbooth 4.2 · Drummer Hoff 3.9.
Drummer Hoff is the quickest read — about 1 hours vs 4 for The Phantom Tollbooth.
The Phantom Tollbooth has the widest readership — 312947 ratings behind its score.
Drummer Hoff runs the darker storyline; The Phantom Tollbooth stays the lighter read.

Drummer Hoff: Check price →The Phantom Tollbooth: Check price →

Affiliate links: we may earn a commission on purchases.

How to choose

Want a one-evening read? Drummer Hoff ≈ 1h vs 4h for The Phantom Tollbooth In the mood for something dark? Drummer Hoff a darker storyline than The Phantom Tollbooth Want something lighter? The Phantom Tollbooth an easier tone than Drummer Hoff

Scores by source

	Drummer Hoff	The Phantom Tollbooth
Goodreads	—	4.2 (312947)
Hardcover	4.0 (1)	4.2 (556)
Google Books	—	5.0 (3)
Apple Books	—	4.5 (1504)
	Check price →	Check price →

Reception

	Drummer Hoff	The Phantom Tollbooth
Ratings	4	312947
Editions	20	64
Film adaptations	—	1
Want to read	—	143090
Reading it now	—	7390
Written reviews	—	15691
Wikipedia attention	413	10744
Pages	32	255
	Check price →	Check price →

Questions readers ask

Which is rated higher: Drummer Hoff or The Phantom Tollbooth?

The Phantom Tollbooth has the higher combined reader rating across sources (The Phantom Tollbooth 4.2/5, Drummer Hoff 3.9/5).

Which is shorter to read: Drummer Hoff or The Phantom Tollbooth?

Drummer Hoff is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: Drummer Hoff (32 pages, ≈ 36 min); The Phantom Tollbooth (255 pages, ≈ 4 h 43 m).

Which is harder to read: Drummer Hoff or The Phantom Tollbooth?

Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — Drummer Hoff: Moderate; The Phantom Tollbooth: Moderate.

Have both books been made into films?

Drummer Hoff: no film adaptation on record; The Phantom Tollbooth: 2 film adaptations.