Noel Streatfeild grew up in a vicarage. Her father eventually became Bishop of Lewes. Noel trained as an actress, and acted for nine years before writing her first book, for adults. She did not write her first (and most famous) children’s book until 1936 – Ballet Shoes. Thereafter she wrote more than thirty other children’s books, some of which were televised, and all of which were hugely popular. Noel died in 1986.