Noel Streatfeild facts for kids

Noel Streatfeild, date unknown

Mary Noel Streatfeild (born December 24, 1895 – died September 11, 1986) was a famous English author. She is best known for her children's books, especially the ones with "Shoes" in their titles.

Even though these "Shoes" books weren't a planned series, the American publisher, Random House, added "Shoes" to the titles of some of her later books. They did this to make them popular, just like her very successful book Ballet Shoes (1936). For example, The Circus Is Coming was later called Circus Shoes, and Party Frock became Party Shoes. She even won a special award called the Carnegie Medal for Circus Shoes.

Many of her stories have been turned into films or TV shows.

About Noel Streatfeild

Noel Streatfeild was born in Sussex, England. She was the second of five children. Her father, William Champion Streatfeild, later became a bishop. Noel wrote about her own life in three books: A Vicarage Family, Away from the Vicarage, and Beyond the Vicarage. Her older sister, Ruth Gervis, even drew the pictures for Ballet Shoes.

Noel was very good at performing. When she grew up, she decided to become an actress. She worked in theatre for ten years. Her time on stage helped her write many popular children's books. These books often tell stories about children who are trying to make a career in the arts, like ballet or acting.

Her first children's book, Ballet Shoes, came out in 1936. She once said that the story "poured off my pen." This book was a runner-up for the first Carnegie Medal. This award celebrates the best British children's book of the year. Winning this award helped her become a very successful children's author. She won the Carnegie Medal for her third children's book, The Circus Is Coming (which was later called Circus Shoes).

In 1983, she was given a special honor called the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Books on Screen

Many of Noel Streatfeild's books have been made into movies or TV shows:

• Aunt Clara was made into a film in 1954.
• The Growing Summer became a six-episode TV series in 1968.
• Thursday's Child was adapted for TV by the BBC in 1972.
• Ballet Shoes was made into a six-episode TV series by the BBC in 1975. Later, in 2007, it was made into a longer film for BBC One. Famous actors like Emma Watson starred in it.

Noel Streatfeild also wrote 12 romance novels for adults. She used the pen name "Susan Scarlett" for these books.

Mentions in Other Stories

Noel Streatfeild's books were even mentioned in the 1998 film You've Got Mail. A character in the movie suggested reading her books, saying, "Noel Streatfeild wrote ballet shoes and skating shoes and theatre shoes and... I'd start with ballet shoes first. It's my favorite. Although skating shoes is completely wonderful."

Stories Found Later

Two short stories by Noel Streatfeild were found after she passed away. They were published in 2018 and 2019. Her nephew, William Streatfeild, and a book editor discovered them.

Selected Children's Books

• Ballet Shoes (1936)
• Tennis Shoes (1937)
• The Circus Is Coming (1938), also known as Circus Shoes
• The House in Cornwall (1940), also known as The Secret Of The Lodge
• The Children of Primrose Lane (1941), also known as The Stranger in Primrose Lane
• Curtain Up (1944), also known as Theater Shoes
• Party Frock (1946), also known as Party Shoes
• The Painted Garden (1949), also known as Movie Shoes
• White Boots (1951), also known as Skating Shoes
• The Fearless Treasure (1953)
• The Bell Family (1954), also known as Family Shoes
• Wintle's Wonders (1957), also known as Dancing Shoes
• New Town (1961)
• Apple Bough (1962), also known as Traveling Shoes
• A Vicarage Family (1963)
• The First Book of the Ballet (1963)
• The Children on the Top Floor (1964)
• Away from the Vicarage (1965)
• The Growing Summer (1966), also known as The Magic Summer
• Caldicott Place (1967), also known as The Family at Caldicott Place
• The "Gemma" series (1968–69)
• Thursday's Child (1970)
• Beyond the Vicarage (1971)
• Ballet Shoes for Anna (1972)
• When the Siren Wailed (1974)
• Far To Go (1976), a follow-up to Thursday's Child
• Meet the Maitlands (1978)
• The Maitlands: All Change at Cuckley Place (1979)

See also

In Spanish: Noel Streatfeild para niños