This contribution highlights the milestones of the success achieved by Michael Ende in Italy. His liteary fame reached the peak thanks to the movie The Neverending Story, inspired by the book he wrote in 1979 which was translated into Italian by Amina Pandolfi a year later. His ability to speak to a wide audience of adults and children helped him in his literary career, and his works were reviewed in several magazines and newspapers all along his publishing history. This contribution follows the footsteps of literary critics (not only specialized in children's literature) to understand how Ende became a pivotal reference point in children's literature in Italy, using paratextual material that shows how Ende's work revolved around a world in constant conflict between fantasy and reality, striving to achieve fame beyond The Neverending Story for the widest possible public.