My name is Philip Schwartz, writer, and creator of Smiling Hugo. You’ll notice Hugo appears in all our poems and illustrations. My wife Virginia, is a part of my inspiration to write and chat with Hugo. We want all our friends in the world to enjoy the adventures of Hugo, the characters and people he meets on his travels. We hope to encourage learning and understanding of different cultures, as well as visiting some of the most interesting and beautiful places on our planet.