The Museum at Purgatory, by Nick Bantock

One of the most intriguing books I have encountered in recent memory, this combination of artwork and narrative is almost revolutionary. It's a picture book, almost a multimedia book of artifacts (like most of Nick Bantock's work) and it's really not a children's book, but I included it here on The Bookish Elf because it's so interesting and would appeal to older children or teen readers as well as adults.