Walter Moers is a German comic book writer and artist. His work is deceptive - the cover, or a page here and there, might give the impression it's a childrens' story. But reading cover to cover is a journey through an imaginative and clever composition, of ideas that soar into the stratosphere. I've only read one book so far but will correct that soon!
The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear is an astounding read. It details the odyssey of Bluebear, who is a blue bear, from being found by the Minipirates to . . . no that would be telling. But inbetween are such delights like Bluebear becoming a champion liar, or weaving dreams for a super-giant's head, or escaping a temporal tornado, or ... If this was just disconnected flights of fancy it would be beautiful. But there is a structure, a connectedness only fully realised by the last page. The ideas too while child-like yet are profound.