Smile: The Story of the Original Mona Lisa

Mary Hoffman is the author of the picture book Amazing Grace, which is an international bestseller. Her first two novels for Bloomsbury in the Stravaganza series have also been bestsellers. She is a complete aficionado of Italy, and spends as much time as she can there – all her love for Italy has been infused into the Stravaganza series. Mary is also the editor of Armadillo, a children’s review magazine. She has three grown-up children and lives with her husband in Carterton, outside Oxford. She is also a highly acclaimed journalist who has campaigned against sexism and racism in children’s literature since 1971. In 1998 she was made an Honorary Fellow of the Library Association for service to children and libraries.