Mary Noel Streatfeild OBE was an English author, best known for her children's books including the "Shoes" books. Although these were not a series, some books made references to others. Her U.S. publisher, Random House, used the popularity of "Ballet Shoes" (1936) to publish some of her subsequent children's books with "Shoes" in the title, such as "Circus Shoes" (originally called "The Circus Is Coming"), "Party Shoes" (originally "Party Frock"), and "Skating Shoes" (originally "White Boots").

Streatfeild won the third annual Carnegie Medal for "The Circus Is Coming." She also wrote romances under the pseudonym Susan Scarlett. Born on Christmas Eve, 1895, she was the daughter of William Champion Streatfeild and Janet Venn. She was the second of six children. Streatfeild attended Hastings and St. Leonard's Ladies' College in 1910.

As an adult, she worked in theater for about 10 years. During the Great War in 1915, she volunteered in a soldier's hospital. Streatfeild's familiarity with the stage, having been an actress, served as the basis for many of her books, which often depict children aspiring to artistic careers.

Her life was semi-autobiographically depicted in three novels: "Una Familia de Vicaria", "Fuera de la Vicaria", and "Más allá de la Vicaría". She was a member of the historic Streatfeild family. Several of her novels have been adapted for film or television.