Alba and Camilo are parents, writers, makers and believers that ten quiet minutes can change the shape of a day. At Pombogon, they create personalised children’s books that put your child at the heart of the story. What began as a nightly ritual of made-up adventures – a dragon that breathes tomato sauce, friendly monsters and wild adventures in magical worlds – slowly grew into a family project built on creativity and the simple joy of being together. For Alba and Camilo, reading isn’t just something that happens between dinner and bedtime; it’s a moment of connection, laughter and imagination that families can return to again and again. Their promise is simple: connection over clutter, stories that spark curiosity and books that make children feel truly seen.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
It all began at bedtime. Camilo (my husband) and I (Alba) would make up stories for our boys: wild adventures in magic worlds, friendly monsters and even a dragon that breathes tomato sauce instead of fire. Then we started adding our kids into the story. Their eyes lit up. They weren’t just listening; they were living it, asking questions, laughing and sharing what they’d do next.
Seeing that spark of connection showed us how powerful stories are when children see themselves on the page. That’s how Pombogon (pronounced POM-bo-gon), our personalised children’s book shop, was born. For us, reading isn’t only about settling the evening; it’s a way to bring families closer through storytelling, laughter and a growing kid’s curiosity for reading.
The launch: How did you start out?
We have read to our kids since they were tiny and have not stopped, and before we knew it, no matter where we were, both kids were asking for new stories. That consistency told us we were onto something: the stories mattered to them and even more when they were in them. We shared early drafts with friends, and their kids kept requesting those stories a few times a week. More than making children’s books, we wanted to make personalised children’s books, which traditional publishers don’t do, so we decided to build the online shop ourselves. We released our first two titles in August and have been learning, listening and refining ever since.
We are still small, just the two of us, with our kids as “chief testers”, and a big dream. We juggled full-time jobs and two energetic boys, so Pombogon happened after their bedtime and on weekends. It hasn’t been easy, but we love it, we see the impact with our own kids and we believe in it.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Our biggest breakthrough has been realising personalisation isn’t just a novelty; it’s a bridge. It gives a child a mirror inside a world of imagination. It makes them feel inside the story. It shows them all the things they can do.
We saw it first-hand: as our boys were invited to birthday parties, we gifted Pombogon books. The kids’ reactions said it all. Soon friends began ordering for others as well, not just for birthdays, but also as Christmas gifts or just because, and that word-of-mouth is becoming our foundation.
You can try it now: Visit pombogon.com and personalise your first book to read instantly. You can save it to your digital library for free.
