Although best known as an author and illustrator of children's books, Tomi Ungerer's life and artistic career defy easy categorization encompassing illustration, advertising, writing, collage, sculpture and architectural design. Throughout his life he always adapted his style and medium to suit the project at hand and in the process was constantly challenging his own ideas, skills, style and artistic boundaries right up until his very last day.

Ungerer was always a political artist - from the beginning of his career in the 1950s, his work challenged social norms and conventions with breath-taking originality frequently inviting the viewer or reader, whether adult or child, to question the status quo of the world around them.