Mary Hoffman
Mary Hoffman has written over 100 books for children. Amazing Grace, commended for the Kate Greenaway medal, and its sequels has sold over 1.5 million copies. As well as the successful Stravaganza sequence of teenage novels, translated into over thirty languages, The Great Big Books series of information books for younger readers, illustrated by Ros Asquith has done very well. The first, The Great Big Book of Families, won the inaugural SLA Information Book Award in the under 7s category.
Mary loves to write historical fiction and her books for Bloomsbury - The Falconer's Knot, Troubadour and David - have been followed by Shakespeare's Ghost and The Ravenmaster's Boy. She runs a widely-read blog called The History Girls. Mary is an Honorary Fellow of the Library Association (CILIP) and lives in Oxfordshire.
Books
Amazing Grace
Author: Mary Hoffman
Illustrator: Caroline Binch
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Interest age: 5+
Reading age: 5+
This classic story clearly communicates an inspiring message that anything is possible
David
Author: Mary Hoffman
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
Interest age: 13+
Reading age: 12+
This is a rich and colourful tale full of excitement
Grace at Christmas
Author: Mary Hoffman
Illustrator: Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Interest age: 4+
Reading age: 6+
The meaning of Christmas is encompassed in this tenderly yet realistically illustrated contemporary family story about sharing and celebration
Starring Grace
Author: Mary Hoffman Illustrator: Caroline Binch
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Interest age: 8+
Reading age: 8+
There is no end to Grace's imagination! It is the school holidays and she and her friends spend their time playing at being everything from doctors to ghost-hunters.
The Colour of Home
Author: Mary Hoffman Illustrator: Karin Littlewood
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Interest age: 5-9
Reading age: 7+
On Hassan's first day at school he paints a colourful picture of his home and family in Somalia, but then adds soldiers, flames and bullets.
The Falconer's Knot
Author: Mary Hoffman
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 11+
Romance, art, monasticism and murder in Umbria, 1316. Hoffman has specialised in creating atmospheric historical novels, filled with intrigue...
The Great Big Book of Families
Author: Mary Hoffman Illustrator: Ros Asquith
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Interest age: 4+
Reading age: 7+
The Great Big Book of Families is about the diversity of families. The simple message is that every family is unique and special and that there is no such thing as 'normal' or 'abnormal'. Books simply don’t get much more inclusive than this.
The Great Big Book of Feelings
Author: Mary Hoffman
Illustrator: Ros Asquith
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Interest age: 4+
Reading age: 7+
How are you feeling today? This warm-hearted and thoughtful picture book explores a whole range of emotions that children might experience.
Tilt
Author: Mary Hoffman
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 12-14
Reading age: 8+
Netta is desperate to help her father figure out the mystery of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in this super-readable story about a girl who won't let anything stand in the way of her dream.
Troubadour
Author: Mary Hoffman
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
Interest age: 11-15
Reading age: 10+
Early in the thirteenth century, Elinor's parents attempt to marry her off to an elderly nobleman but she escapes disguised as a boy, with a troupe of travelling entertainers.