This might be my favorite book ever. I think I read it at least 4 times. It's so fantastic, no wonder the land is called Fantastica. So many memorable scenes, and I love Bastian so much, despite him being a lazy student, plus a bit whiny, and a thief in the first part, but also being kind of mean and big-headed in the later parts. I dunno, maybe I see a bit of myself in him. 
 But anyway, If I were to ever learn German, I would read the original of this book in a heartbeat. It's so marvelous!