Hazel Edwards is an Australian author of children's literature, including ''There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake'' (1980).

Early life and education

Melbourne-born and based, Hazel Edwards attended Ashburton Primary and

Camberwell High School Camberwell High School is a Public school (government funded), government-funded, government run, co-educational high school for years 7 to 12, located on Prospect Hill Road in Canterbury, Victoria, Canterbury, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Au ...

, graduating in 1961.

Career

After working in a bank and studying at night, Edwards entered Toorak Teachers' College. She taught at Westall High School and was invited to lecture at Frankston Teachers' College while studying at

Monash University Monash University () is a public university, public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria (state), Victoria, Australia. Named after World War I general Sir John Monash, it was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the ...

at night. Later she lectured in children's literature and psychology at Toorak Teachers' College, and the Institute of Early Childhood Development, then became a freelance author-lecturer after the publication of 'General Store' (1977) and ''There's a Hippopotamus On Our Roof Eating Cake'' (1980) which toured nationally with Garry Ginivan productions as 'Hippo Hippo the Musical' (2016). As 2001

Australian Antarctic Division The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is a division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water. The division undertakes science programs and research projects to contribute to an understanding of Antarctica and the S ...

writer, awarded the Antarctic Fellowship, Edwards travelled to

Casey Station Casey Station, commonly called Casey, is one of three permanent stations and research outposts in Antarctica managed by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). Casey lies on the northern side of the Bailey Peninsula (Antarctica), Bailey Peninsu ...

Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean (also known as the Antarctic Ocean), it contains the geographic South Pole. ...

on the '' Polar Bird''. 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), ''Grandma Leaps the Antarctic'' (an

Auslan Auslan (; an abbreviation of Australian Sign Language) is the sign language used by the majority of the Australian Deaf community. Auslan is related to British Sign Language (BSL) and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL); the three have descended f ...

-signed DVD) and ''Antarctic Closeup'', a National Museum initiative. Edwards was a 2012 National Year of Reading Ambassador, and has been a director on the Australian Society of Authors’ board. In 2010, Edwards wrote the

young adult novel Young adult literature (YA) is typically written for readers aged 12 to 18 and includes most of the themes found in adult fiction, such as family dysfunction, substance abuse, alcoholism, and sexuality. It is characterized by simpler world build ...

''f2m; the boy within'' with co-author Ryan Kennedy about transitioning from female to male. In 2018, she launched her book ''Like Me'' about a child involved in the

Yarra Plenty Regional Library Yarra Plenty Regional Library (YPRL) provides a public library service to the local government municipalities of the City of Banyule, Shire of Nillumbik and City of Whittlesea in the northeast of Melbourne, Melbourne Australia and located on the ...

's literacy program "Doggy Tales". Her 2016 novel ''Hijabi Girl'', co-written with Ozge Allan, is about a diverse group of school friends in modern Australia, and has been turned into a musical puppet show. May 2024 Wisepreneurs Podcast Episode https://www.wisepreneurs.au/a-lifes-work-hazel-edwards-oam-extraordinary-writing-journey/ Hazel Edwards OAM website https://hazeledwards.com/

Awards and honours

* 2009 ASA Medal (Australian Society of Authors) * 2013

Order of Australia Medal The Order of Australia is an Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of then ...

for services to literature * 2017 YABBA Graham Davey citation for mentoring young readers and writers * 2018 Edwards appointed Patron of Society of Women Writers; Victoria https://www.swwvic.org.au * 2022 Distinguished Alumni for Education,

Published works

Cake Eating Hippo series

* 'Ho!Ho!Ho! There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Christmas Cake' *''There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake'' * "Hooray! There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Having a Birthday Party" * ''Hand Me Down Hippo'' chapter book * ''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'' * Pocket Bonfire Productions 16-minute film ''There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake''

Antarctic related works

* ''Antarctic Dad' Kipas Books re-issue 2018 * ''Antarctica's Frozen Chosen'' * ''Antarctic Writer on Ice'' * ''Right or Wrong? Plays that make you think'' * ''Antarctic Closeup'' in ''Making Tracks'' series YA Novel * 'Wasted?' Bookpod 2024

Works in collections

The National Centre for Australian Children's Literature has a finding aid for Edwards, which includes a detailed bibliography. * Lu Rees Archives (University of Canberra) *

Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award () is an international children's literary award established by the Swedish government in 2002 to honour the Swedish children's author Astrid Lindgren (1907–2002). The prize is five million SEK, making it ...

(ALMA) (Sweden)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Hazel Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Australian children's writers Australian non-fiction writers Australian women children's writers