Ana María Machado

Ana María Machado was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Besides being a writer, she has also been an artist, teacher and journalist. She is considered by critics to be one of the most important Brazilian authors. Ana María Machado has written several novels and essays for adults, and dozens of books for children. Many of her children's books have been adapted for recordings, theatre and television. She started Brazil's first bookstore just for children. She has lived in London, Buenos Aires and Paris.

Today she moves back and forth between a fishing village on the coast of Brazil and her home city of Rio Janeiro. She tells us that she writes stories because she likes to read them. She says that reading seems like magic; a few little blots on the page can take us far from home and create new worlds in our imaginations.

But she is sure that the most magical thing of all is love. The ways we show love are always magical; a kiss is like a magic touch that can change people and change the world... for the better!.