Rosellina Archinto, Pioneer of Illustrated Children's Books, Dies at 93

On August 21, 2026, Rosellina Archinto, the visionary behind Emme Edizioni and Archinto Editore, passed away at the age of 93 in Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy. She was born in Genoa on June 29, 1933, and pursued economics at the Catholic University of Milan before marrying Alberico Archinto Rocca Saporiti in 1958. In 1966, she launched Emme Edizioni, celebrated for its illustrated works by notable authors such as Leo Lionni and Maurice Sendak. In 1986, she founded Archinto Editore, which specialized in letters and biographies. Archinto directed 'Leggere' from 1988 until 1997 and held various cultural positions. In 2010, she was awarded the Ambrogino d'Oro. Babalibri paid tribute to her influence in the publishing world on social media.