Hazel Edwards

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Hazel in her study.
Photographer Sharyn Cairns. Australian Country Style Magazine.

Hazel Edwards is an Australian author who has written 161 books, including the popular children's book, There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake. In 2005 her son, Trevelyan Quest Edwards, who inspired the cake-eating hippo book as a child, rode a bicycle from Ireland to Istanbul, and the pair have co-authored a book on his travels, Cycling Solo: Ireland to Istanbul, based on his ex-blog.

She is a 2006-7 National Literacy Champion.

1 Biography
2 Antarctica
3 Published works
4 Awards
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Biography

Melbourne born and based, Hazel Edwards went to Ashburton Primary but due to her father's ill health, the family moved a lot, so she attended Gardiner Central, Frankston, Camberwell and Traralgon High schools. She then returned to finish year 11 at Camberwell High school. After working in a bank and studying at night, she entered Toorak Teachers' College to train as a primary teacher. She taught Maths and English at Westall High school and was invited to lecture at Frankston Teachers’ College while studying at Monash University at night. Later she lectured in children’s literature and psychology at Toorak Teachers’ College, and the Institute of Early Childhood Development (Now Melbourne University), then became a freelance author-lecturer after the publication of 'General Store' (1977) and the now classic There's a Hippopotamus On Our Roof Eating Cake (1980) and was on the Victoria College Council of what is now Deakin University.

Hazel married in 1967 to hospital manager Garnet Edwards, they have two children, and a grandson for whom she writes a story each birthday.

Edwards writes fact and fiction across media, for adults and children. She collaborates with psychologists, directors, scientists, puppeteers and illustrators and enjoys quirky and fanciful approaches to learning, participant-observation and experimenting with new media.

[edit] Antarctica

As 2001 Australian Antarctic Division writer, awarded the Humanities berth, Hazel travelled to Casey Station, Antarctica on the Polar Bird. Hazel is involved in a pre-school TV animation series called Hot Ice Squad based on Antarctic vehicles. Literary output based on her experience includes Antarctica's Frozen Chosen (a young adult eco-thriller), Antarctic Writer on Ice (her expedition diary), Antarctic Dad (a picture book), Right or Wrong (a play co-written with fellow author Goldie Alexander), and Grandma Leaps the Antarctic (an Auslan-signed DVD).

[edit] Published works

[edit] Cake Eating Hippo series

There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake
Hand Me Down Hippo
My Hippopotamus is on our Caravan Roof Getting Sunburnt
Hey Hippopotamus, Do Babies Eat Cake
Look, There's a Hippopotamus in the Playground Eating Cake
Guess What? There's A Hippopotamus on the Hospital Roof Eating Cake
Our Cake Eating Hippo Plays

[edit] Antarctic related works

Antarctic Dad
Antarctica's Frozen Chosen
Antarctic Writer on Ice
Right or Wrong? Plays that make you think

[edit] Other popular works

Cycling Solo: Ireland to Istanbul (2006)
Outback Ferals
Fake ID
Stalker
Duty Free
The Giant Traffic Jam
Muscles
The Judge, The Cheat, The Bribe, and the Part Time Pet
Seiko The Watchdog
A Hairy Question
Kalo Li's New Country
Astrid the Mind Reading Chook
Writing a Non Boring Family History
Non Boring Travel Writing
The Business or Writing for Young People
Difficult Personalities
Committee-itis
Healthy Women

[edit] Works in collections

Lu Rees Archives (University of Canberra)
Schloss Blutenberg Munich, Germany. International Youth Library which contains books promoting tolerance including Edwards' titles

[edit] Awards

Metropolitan Fire Brigade Community Award 1990
2005 Somerset Ambassador of Literature (Qld)
2005-6 Premier’s Reading Challenge Victoria, South Australia and NSW
2006-7 National Literacy and Numeracy Champion
ABPA Book Design Award 1981 for There's a Hippopotamus On Our Roof Eating Cake
Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE) writer 2001 Humanities Berth
Bronze Medal Book Design Leipzig 1982 for There's a Hippopotamus On Our Roof Eating Cake
Curriculum Innovation Excellence Visual Storytelling Project 2005
Youth Literature’s Top 150 and in the ABC’s most popular titles of all time