To the Bookmobile!/References

References/Trivia

Cultural references[edit]

The comic's title spoofs an iconic phrase from the 1960s Batman series "To the Batmobile".
Lisa wants to listen to the latest Harry Potter audiobook.
Bart asks if the audiobook is actually scary of if it's just got a scary title, mentioning The Silence of the Lambs and Psycho.

The Phantom Tollhouse by Norton Malajuster is a parody of The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.
- Bart portrays Milo
- The Whither Man (Otto) is a parody of the Whether Man.
- The Guide Dog is a parody of Tock.
- Alphabetburg is a parody of Dictionopolis.
- The Word Bizarre is a parody of the Word Market.
- Spelling Bee Man (Bumblebee Man) is a parody of the Spelling Bee.
- The Hummingbug (Principal Skinner) is a parody of the Blustering Humbug.
- Officer Small Claims (Chief Wiggum) is a parody of Officer Shrift.
- Vaguely Morose (Agnes Skinner) is a parody of Faintly Macabre.
- King Zzzz (Grampa) is a parody of King Azaz.
- Dewey Largo is a parody of Chroma the Great.
- Mr. Mathematigician (Professor Frink) is a parody of the Mathemagician.
- Search and Rescue are a parody of Rhyme and Reason.
Bart says that the toy car is a Mini Cooper.
Bart asks the Whither Man for directions to Great Expectations. Otto responds by saying "The Dickens you say?", a reference to Charles Dickens who wrote the novel.
The signpost that the Whither Man is next to has arrows for Far Far Away from Shrek, Oz from The Wizard of Oz, and Wonderland from Alice in Wonderland.
David Letterman is seen at the Word Bizarre in a "David the Letterman" booth.
When Officer Small Claims throws Bart, Santa's Little Helper, and Principal Skinner in jail, he says "how's this for an arresting development?" a reference to the sitcom Arrested Development.

Jamie and the Gigantic Pear by Rolled Doll is a parody of James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl.
- Jamie is a parody of James.
- Aunt Splunge and Aunt Striker are parodies of Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker.
Apu asks Jamie for his cow and refers to him as Jack, a reference to the fairy tale "Jack and the Beanstalk".

Mr. Plopper's Penguins by Richard & Florence Dishwater is a parody of Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater.
Homer says that his letters to Babe Ruth, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Santa Claus have been answered when he receives a penguin.
One of the jars in the freezer is labeled "suffering succotash," a reference to the catchphrase of Sylvester the Cat from Looney Tunes.

A Tinkle in Rhyme by Madeleine L'Entil is a parody of A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.
- Lisa plays Meg Murry.
- Bart plays Charles Wallace Murry.
- Marge plays Katherine Murry.
- Milhouse plays Calvin.
- Mrs. Whassup (Crazy Cat Lady) is a parody of Mrs. Whatsit.
- Mrs. Whom (Miss Hoover) and Mrs. Where (Mrs. Krabappel) are parodies of Mrs. Who and Mrs. Witch.
- Grand Central Intelligence Station is a reference to CENTRAL Central Intelligence and to Grand Central Station.
- Waylon Smithers is a parody of the Man with Red Eyes.
- Homer plays Alexander Murry.
- Auntie Beast (Groundskeeper Willie) is a parody of Aunt Beast.
- That (Mr. Burns) is a parody of IT.
Meg Murry says that she wishes a tornado would lift her house, or she falls down a rabbit hole, or a boy who never grew up would fly into her window, a reference to The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan.
Meg says that she's stuck in an Abbott and Costello routine. She then compares what's happening to a The Three Stooges sketch.
Meg refers to Mrs. Whassup, Mrs. Where, and Mrs. Whom as the "triplets of Bellevue", a reference to The Triplets of Belleville.
Auntie Beast tells Meg that "Only you can prevent forest fires," a reference to the slogan of Smokey Bear.

At the Word Bizarre, Judge Snyder is incorrectly colored yellow.
At the Word Bizarre, Ms. Albright is seen with dark blonde hair instead of her usual brown.