Ballet Shoes
(Shoe Books)

Noel Streatfeild was born in Sussex, England, in 1895 and was one of three sisters. Although she was considered the plain sister, she ended up leading the most glamorous and exciting life! After working in munitions factories and canteens for the armed forces when World War I broke out, Noel followed her dream of being onstage and went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, where she became a professional actress. She began writing children's books in 1931, and Ballet Shoes was published in 1936. She quickly became one of the most popular authors of her day. According to her publisher, Penguin, fans lined up right out of the building and all the way down the Mall when she visited Puffin exhibitions. She was one of the earliest winners of the Carnegie Medal and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1983. Noel Streatfeild lived in London. She died in 1986.