Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear, by Andy Stanton

This is one of a series of Mr Gum books. They are seriously wacky and both my son and I love them. Mr Gum is a horrid old man who hates everything. Polly is the sort of girl who everyone likes (except Mr Gum). She has lots of interesting friends, including Alan the gingerbread man with electric muscles who later becomes a headmaster, and Martin Launderette, who has a launderette, and Jonathan Ripples, who can't stop eating. And not forgetting the Spirit of the Rainbow, who always saves the day.
Perfection.