Description Our beloved classic, Michael Ende's Momo, now told through one beautiful picture book. A Special Picture Book Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Momo Momo, the beloved classic by Michael Ende cherished by readers around the world, has been reborn as a picture book from Gimm-Young Publishers. Weaving stunning illustrations together with the warm original text, this book has become a picture book as lovely as a poem. The original novel tells the story of people who enjoy rich, imaginative lives, and the gray men who slowly steal away their happy hours bit by bit. Through this story, it reminds us of the preciousness of time—one of life's most important secrets. What we choose to experience with our precious time is up to us, and that time, the story tells us, is life itself. This picture book edition of Momo focuses on the flow of the main character Momo's own time. No one is quite sure when the child Momo first appeared. How does Momo's time flow? How does Momo's life build up over time? Released to mark the 50th anniversary of the novel Momo, this picture book faithfully preserves portions of the original story. By adding breathtaking illustrations to the profound yet warm message of the original, it has become a book that anyone can easily pick up and enjoy. For adults who hold a wistful nostalgia for Momo, and for children who have yet to meet her, this picture book will be a gift in itself. The Story of Momo and the Two Friends She Loved, Who Listened to Everything The story begins at the edge of a great city, in a small, ruined amphitheater. Rumor has it that a child lives there—no one quite sure whether the child is a girl or a boy—in a place hardly anyone bothers to look into. At first, everyone was suspicious, but once people got to know the child named Momo, they changed their minds. There were always people gathered around Momo, and whenever someone was in trouble or facing a hardship, the townspeople would say, "Just go see Momo!" What was it about Momo that made people say this? Momo didn't offer clever advice or make fair judgments through wise thinking. But whenever people confided in Momo, they quickly came to realize what they truly wanted, and sensed a small spark of hope and joy. Momo simply listened quietly. Among the many people around Momo, Grandpa Gigi and Grandpa Beppo held a special place. The two visited Momo every day and shared everything with her. Gigi, a young man gifted with words who never stopped talking, and Beppo, an older man who rarely spoke, had completely different outlooks on life and the world, yet they were friends. Perhaps it was because of Momo that two such mismatched people could become friends—for Momo always listened to them earnestly and waited patiently. Momo's heart, listening to others without judgment, with love and sincerity, touches us all the more deeply for it. What We Need Right Now Is Time to Truly Listen Fifty years since its first publication, the novel Momo remains a beloved classic to this day. The reason it has held its place for over half a century is likely because it speaks of values in life that never change with time—namely, time itself, a secret of life so constant in our lives that we rarely think to treasure it. Momo spends countless hours listening to others' stories. People find peace simply in the presence of someone who listens to them. Perhaps the reason these scenes touch us so deeply is the realization that what we need most right now is time to truly listen. Momo listens not only to people's words but to the whispers of birds, cats, raindrops, and the wind rustling through branches—reminding us of the ordinary values of life that are slowly disappearing and being forgotten. In the midst of our busy, hurried days, let's pause for a moment to catch our breath and look around to see if there's a Momo in our own lives. And if there isn't, perhaps it's time for each of us to become someone's Momo. This winter, we gently recommend this book to anyone who wishes to become a source of warmth for someone else.