Hazel's news for 2005 and previous years.
Previous News Flashes!
- 'Antarctic Dad' artwork included in travelling Albert Ullin exhibition in Brisbane during Childrens' Book Week.
- 'Antarctic Writer on Ice' serial on FM Ballarat radio 3-4pm during July.
- Ipswich Online Literary festival (August 28 - September 14) will consist of a series of online chats with children's authors & will include bookraps on 'Antarctica's Frozen Chosen' and 'Antarctic Dad' and chat on forthcoming 'Outback Ferals'.
- Auslan signed DVD 'Grandma Leaps The Antarctic' www.bilby.net launched Melbourne Town Hall at Hearing Awareness Expo.
- ABC audio have just released 'Hand Me Down Hippo' (Penguin).
- At Gympie Library during Seniors Week, (Qld) 4 generations of women from one family turned up amongst the 78 participants to the 'Non Boring Writing for Grandkids' Baby was 5 months.
Literacy Champion.
National Literacy and Numeracy Week August 28th-Sept 3rd 2006. Check www.literacyandnumeracy.gov.au for details.
Invited to be one of the national Literacy & Numeracy Champions, Hazel will be involved in literacy activities August 28th-Sept 3rd 2006. Here is what Hazel has to say about the upcoming event:
'Fantasy requires logic, while plotting and reading clues in a mystery require problem solving skills similar to the logic of maths. 'How To' books also need to be structured. Numeracy skills are vital for an author.'
Numbers and letters are like a code. Crack the code and you can solve the mystery of how to read and figure out problems . If you can read you'll never be bored. Get inside different writers' minds and travel with their ideas.
I'm involved as a Champion for National Literacy and Numeracy Week because as an author I'm aware of how important appropriate words can be in understanding others' viewpoints, regardless of their culture or age. That's why I'm keen on books being translated or available in multi-media including Braille and Auslan for deaf children. Encouraging bi-lingual families to read with their children and for grandparents to share stories is mutually 
beneficial.
It's impossible to do everything in your life, but reading about extreme adventures and how people did things you haven't tried yet, starts you de-coding your world.
As a little kid, I used to read under the bedclothes with a torch. I liked mysteries and biographies about writers and spies. I also liked maths because it has a pattern, like plotting a novel. The answer is there, you just have to find it.
Like finding orienteering controls.
Now I'm an aqua-readaholic because I read in the bath so I can go to places like Antarctica or Nepal or into the future, via words.
I've travelled in countries where, at first, I didn't speak or read the local language and even navigating with the map was a challenge. Those more experienced helped me learn. That's why schools and families are vital inhelping young people love the challenge of cracking the numeracy and literacy codes.
Pandemic threat in 'Ouback Ferals'
YA novel 'Outback Ferals', the sequel to Antarctica's Frozen Chosen' is set in the Northern Territory, and will be published by Lothian in September.
Ironically the pandemic threat woven into the story was researched and written before this issue became so topical. The cover has been designed by a brilliant new, young graphic artist who competed with others for the opportunity.
Back page Outback Ferals info.
Book Mark with Author Hazel Edwards
(from Melbourne's Herald Sun, June 3rd 2006)
Q. What is the book that changed your life?
A. The first one I read by myself. I was thrilled that I'd cracked the code of the squiggles on the page. My Grandma taught me to read before I went to school. Being able to read by myself meant I didn't have to wait until my parents were free to read to me.
Q. What is the last book you didn't bother finishing?
A. Because all authors take so much trouble, I generally do finish books. Umberto Eco's 'Focault's Pendulum' was a challenge. I did finish it eventually.
Q. What is the best book you were forced to read at school?
A. George Orwell's political satire 'Animal Farm' made me realise that a book could operate at several levels. I was always being told to stop reading. I'm an aqua readaholic (I read in the bath).
Q. What is the best movie adaption of a book?
A. Picnic at Hanging Rock. I enjoyed Joan Lindsay's mysterious 'other timeliness' and the brooding summer haze. I also have fond memories of the Hanging Rock setting.
You can also download the PDF of this article - Q & A with the Herald Sun in Melbourne, June 3rd 2006. 
The National Young Leaders' Day For Primary Students
Melbourne Monday Feb 27th
Speakers:
- Ron Barassi AM - AFL Legend
- Peter Bland - Antarctic and Arctic Adventurer
- Hazel Edwards - Children's Book Author
- Drew Ginn OAM - Dual Olympic Gold Medallist an member of the 'Oarsome Foursome'
www.youngleadersfoundation.org
The Hazelettes of Rushworth.
The Hazelettes of Rushworth danced to ABC Hippo music during the Seeds to Literacy Festival attended by Premier Steve Bracks.
 |
 |
Hazel on Antarctica during National Science Week - Melbourne
lab.3000 is hosting a virtual conference on Antarctica during National Science Week, 15-19 August 2005. The conference is aimed at students from Year 5 to Year 10 and teachers are invited to register their schools online to participate in live web casts with our leading presenters.
Read the media release
View the lab.3000 page on Hazel Edwards
Watch the Quicktime presentation (download Quicktime here)
German Book Castle
In August Hazel was invited to visit the Schloss Blutenburg near Munich, which is a German Castle with more than 500,000 children's books, in many international languages, stored underground. All have the theme of tolerance and some of Hazel's titles such as 'There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake', 'Fake ID' and 'Antarctica's Frozen Chosen' are included.
France Moulin de Cabannes
Hazel also researched an historic 'Moulin' (water mill) at Dax, near the French Pyranees with the help of her hosts Madame & Monsieur Machat and will be using this setting in her next children's story. 
ABC Rough Travel
Check out Hazel's story 'Spirited Women in Nepal' about trekking in Nepal at the ABC online under Rough Travel at Dust on My Shoes http://www.abc.net.au/dustonmyshoes.
Canadian FAKE ID!
Hazel's popular teenage novel 'Fake ID' (Lothian) with a cyber family history mystery is now available in a Canadian edition by Vanwell Publishing who has the Canadian rights for publishing Fake ID.
The T.V. script is still in production with markwatersproductions in Sydney and this title has had thousands of hits on Hazel's web site, not all people seeking a Fake I.D. Many want to read the book, especially those with genealogists in their family!
KANGA AWARDS Hippo
Great fan mail comes from readers in diverse countries seeking copies of all five hippo books. Penguin will be releasing the second hippo book 'There's a Hippopotamus on the Caravan Roof Getting Sunburnt' over the Australian summer in January 2006. The others will follow soon. In the UK, Catnip Publishers distribute 'There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake' which was also in the 2004 TOP KANGA AWARDS OF CHILDREN'S FAVOURITE BOOKS.
Australian Country Style Magazine
Hazel, Krista Bell and Margaret Clark were featured as a trio of authors who visit country areas, in the September issue of Australian Country Style.
Hazel on Antarctica during National Science Week - Melbourne
lab.3000 is hosting a virtual conference on Antarctica during National Science Week, 15-19 August 2005. The conference is aimed at students from Year 5 to Year 10 and teachers are invited to register their schools online to participate in live web casts with our leading presenters.
Read the media release
View the lab.3000 page on Hazel Edwards
Watch the Quicktime presentation (download Quicktime here)
Glendal Hippo
'Hazel and Glendal Primary 'Hippo' after the highly enjoyable 650 student performance (with orchestra) of 'There's a Hippo on Our Caravan Roof Getting Sunburnt'. (Penguin to re-issue this title in early 2006).
Innovations Award for Visual Storytelling
At the Victorian Education Excellence Awards, against 56 entrants, the 2005 Curriculum Innovation was awarded to the Visual Storytelling Resources Project by the Victorian College for the Deaf College, which includes Auslan signed videos of Hazel Edwards' 'My Grandma's Going to Antarctica', ' Antarctic Lachieberg', 'Where Did My Birthday Leap To? (numeracy) and the 'There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake' series of picture books.
There's the possibility of these being used for mainstream and LOTE students as well as deaf students. Other Australian authors will be included in future productions.
Teachers, librarians, publishers and distributors can contact project director Kay Stevens: Mobile 0419 241 117 or email kaystevens@optusnet.com.au
Feymouse Rocks
'Feymouse' the rock pop musical was brilliantly performed by year 5 & 6 students and choreographed by year 8 students on May 25th & 26th to packed audiences at Bialik College. A DVD is available.
Nicole Bacic, Performing Arts Administrator
Bialik College
bacicn@bialik.vic.edu.au
The original picture book Feymouse' illustrated by Kilmeny Niland, is published by Penguin
National Back to School Day
Hazel was invited 'Back to Traralgon High' on May 17th and featured in Education Age, Traralgon Journal, Express, ABC regional Gippsland radio and also on WIN TV news as an example of a former state school female student in a non traditional occupation of self-employed author.
On-Line Book Launch
'Muscles' , one of the Lothian Start Up series is to be launched online (Sept 9th) as part of the Ipswitch Literary festival with illustrator Ann James in Ipswitch, Queensland and Hazel Edwards online in Melbourne. Contact Lothian georgina_way@lothian.com.au
Reprints & Releases
ABC has released the audio of 'There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake' and other stories.
'Stickybeak (Penguin) has been reprinted for the 18th time. There is also a Korean edition.
'Excuse Me and other Outrageous Plays', co-scripted with Goldie Alexander has been reprinted (twice) by Pearson Education
'My Dad's Gone to Antarctica' becomes 'Antarctic Dad'
The picture book illustrated by Kevin Burgemeestre and due for release by Lothian Publishers in February 2006 is now entitled 'Antarctic Dad'. More relevant for any separated families or those interested in Antarctica and fits the great cover. Terrific 'vehicles' flaps on the pages for petrolheads.
Kanga Awards: Wildlife everywhere.
'There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake' was shortlisted for the South Australian Children's Choice Awards. A Hippo book, Penguin publisher and Kanga award. Wildlife everywhere.
Kingston Nestles Launch
The Mayor of Kingston launched the Nestles Write Around Australia at Parkdale Library and Hazel Edwards will be Nestles writer in residence in Kingston in July.
'Frozen Chosen' the penguin was also at the launch as 'Antarctica's Frozen Chosen will be the featured book during Hazel's workshops.
Glen Eira City Council Literary Awards
Hazel Edwards will be judging the Baha'i Junior Short story and poetry awards and the presentation night is on 12th October.
Check Bree Hadley at Glen Eira for details www.gleneira.vic.gov.au
'Simply Events' ($22) a manual for community groups running events and co-authored with event manager Jan Bottcher is now available.
Contact: Jan Bottcher.
Somerset Ambassador of Literature
Along with authors such as Margaret Clark, Andy Griffith and Michael Salmon, travel writer TonyWheeler, Sandy Mc Cutcheon, Morris Gleitzman, Nick Earls, Janette Turner Hospital, Geoffrey McSkimming, Robyn Williams and Karen Brooks, Hazel Edwards was made an inaugural Ambassador of Literature while speaking to hundreds of students and adults at the popular four day Somerset Literary Festival held in March on the Gold Coast. She was also invited to the Mudgeeraba Special School where the enthusiastic staff and children had spent a month preparing hippo musical activities to celebrate the re-release of 'There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake' (Penguin). Hippo went too.
As part of the Somerset Festival of Literature, Hazel visited the Mudgeeraba Special School and this was photographed and recorded in the local newspaper. View the pdf article.
Judging The Winnies
Krista Bell and Hazel Edwards will be judging 'The Winnies' as part of Daylesford Words in Winter Festival in August. Hazel will also be offering a mentorship to the winning children's writers as an additional prize since help with writing skills is highly prized by new authors. http://www.geocities.com/wordcomp.
Hippo is 25
'There's a Hippopotamus on or Roof Eating Cake' (Penguin) is 25 this year and there have been various celebrations with cake, children and books as well as a number of articles including the ABC Funtime With Friends magazine and being featured as Kids' Read of the Month in Collins Bookstores. The book has crossed generations and many who enjoyed it as children are now buying the 'new' version for their children. Some have also enjoyed reading the new mini female hippo 'cousin' from 'Hand Me Down Hippo' (Penguin). Read the Yarra Online review.
There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake
by Hazel Edwards and illustrated by Deborah Niland, Puffin $14.95
Melbourne Herald Sun review March 26th 2005
by Herald Sun literary editor Shaunagh O' Connor
For the kids. It has been 25 years since this lovely Australian picture book was first released. A gem for pre-schoolers, it tells the simple tale of a little girl's imaginary friend-a cake-eating hippo-who gets up to all sorts of things because, well, an imaginary hippo can do anything.Colourful, expressive illustrations in this book which has stood the test of time.
In a word: timeless.
Auslan signed Videos & CD-Rom for Deaf Children
The Victorian College of the Deaf has released a number of Hazel's stories in Auslan signed videos and CD-Rom. These include:
'Where Did My Birthday Leap To?' is about a real boy Liam and his family with a Leap Day birthday. Excellent for numeracy concepts.
'My Gran's Gone to Antarctica' and 'The Lachieberg' written after Hazel's Antarctic expediton in 2001, complete with stunning Antarctic photos technically produced by Raffi Ghazarian of ARGEE MEDIA.
And all of Hazel's cake-eating hippo (Penguin) books are also available on Auslan signed videos and CDs.
Contact kstevens@optusnet.com.au
Radio serials
Recently 'Antarctica's Frozen Chosen' was serialised on radio RPH Children's Hour and the audio is avilable form Louis Braille. 'Antarctic Writer on Ice' will be serialised on regional radio soon, and the audio is also available from Louis Braille.