Episode 25

An avid reader (who read under the bedclothes and in the bath), as a young girl, Hazel Edwards wrote her first novel in grade six, a mystery about adventurous children stuck in a mine. This passion for writing and character development continued and after working as a secondary school teacher, at twenty-seven, Hazel published her first novel, ‘General Store’, a book based on life in a rural town.

It is Hazel’s third published work however that is her most well known, the children’s picture book classic, ‘There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake’. This special imaginary friend has been cherished by children and parents alike and led to the dubious honour of Hazel often being referred to as ‘the Hippo Lady’.

Since its publication in 1980, the age-less Hippopotamus on the roof has been reprinted annually, evolved into a series of six picture books and inspired a junior chapter book, classroom play scripts, a musical stage production and a short movie.  The Hippopotamus books have also been translated into Braille and Auslan signing for the hearing impaired and were presented as an official Australian Government gift to the children of Princess Mary of Denmark.