Michael Ende

Hello! My name is Michael Ende, and my favorite thing in the world was creating stories. I was born in a beautiful town in Germany called Garmisch-Partenkirchen on November 12th, 1929. My father, Edgar, was a painter, and our home was filled with his art. He painted magical, dream-like pictures with strange creatures and wonderful landscapes. Growing up surrounded by his art made my own imagination feel like a boundless, exciting place. The world outside our home was going through difficult times during World War II, which made me believe even more in the power of stories to bring hope and wonder.

When I grew up, I first tried to be an actor. I loved being on stage, but I soon realized my real passion was writing the stories, not just acting them out. I had an idea for a book about a boy named Jim Button who lived on a tiny island and went on a grand adventure with his friend, Luke the Engine Driver. I was so excited about it, but publisher after publisher said 'no thank you.' I almost gave up, but I believed in my story. Finally, in 1960, a publisher said yes! The book was called Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver, and children all over Germany loved it. It even won a special award, the German Children's Book Prize, in 1961. It taught me that it's always worth believing in your own ideas.

In 1971, I moved to a sunny town in Italy to think and write. There, I wrote a book called Momo, which was published in 1973. It's about a little girl who is a wonderful listener and has to save the world from mysterious Men in Grey who are stealing people's time. It was a story to remind everyone to slow down and enjoy the important moments. A few years later, in 1979, I wrote the book I am most known for: The Neverending Story. It tells the tale of a boy named Bastian who finds a magical book that pulls him into a fantasy world called Fantastica. But Fantastica is in danger, and Bastian learns that it is his own imagination that has the power to save it. I wanted to show that every single reader helps keep stories alive.

My books have traveled to more than 40 countries, allowing children all over the world to visit the worlds I created. I always hoped my stories would be like a key, unlocking the door to your own amazing imagination. I lived to be 65 years old, and my life's story came to a gentle end in 1995. But the best part about stories is that they never truly end. Even today, Bastian is still waiting for you in the pages of a book, Momo is still listening, and Jim Button is ready for a new adventure. All you have to do is open one of my books and begin.