Norton Juster, author of beloved children's book 'The Phantom Tollbooth,' dead at 91

Juster's classic book 'The Phantom Tollbooth' tells the tale of a bored young boy, Milo, who is transported to a world of wonder when he drives through a magical tollbooth that has arrived without warning at his house. Photo: AP

Norton Juster, the celebrated children's author who fashioned a world of adventure and punning punditry in the million-selling classic The Phantom Tollbooth and remained true to his wide-eyed self in such favourites as The Dot And The Line and Stark Naked, has died at 91.

Juster's death was confirmed on Tuesday by a spokesperson for Random House Children's Books, who did not immediately provide details. Juster's friend and fellow author Mo Willems tweeted on Tuesday that Juster "ran out of stories” and died "peacefully” the night before.