Momo Edizioni: Radical Independent Publishing for Young Readers

Momo Edizioni, founded in 2019 by Mattia Tombolini and Gianmarco Mecozzi, is an independent Italian publishing house focusing on children, adolescents, and young adults. The press is named after the protagonist of Michael Ende's novel, emphasizing listening and radicality. Momo publishes books and organizes events that treat young people as complete human beings, addressing topics often avoided in children's publishing. To survive in Italy's challenging book market, the founders have diversified into festivals and workshops, including the ER FEST (founded 2022) and school labs. They criticize the lack of institutional support and the reliance on family wealth in independent publishing. Notable titles include 'Gli adulti fanno schifo' and 'Genitori che puzzano' by Flavia Fazi, 'Mia patria sono gli oppressi' by Vanessa Roghi, 'Cambiare il mondo con i libri' by Mattia Tombolini, and 'Vecchi di merda' by Tombolini. Upcoming releases include 'Manuale di fisica coatta', 'Il carcere è un mondo di carta', and the third installment of Flavia Fazi's series on faith. The interview is part of Artribune's series on Italian independent publishing.