Hazel Edwards



“Creativity is the fun of putting
together unexpected ideas”

There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake Series

40th Anniversary Hippo 

 
       

Our roof leaks. Drip! Drip! Drip! My Daddy says there's a hole on the roof. I know why there's is a hole. There's a hippopotamus on our roof eating cake. 

Illustrated by Deborah Niland, the original Hippopotamus book was awarded the Leipzig International Best Picture Book Bronze Medal in 1981 and this much loved imaginary friend has given reassurance to children all over the world. In 2020 celebrating its fortieth year, the original story, 'There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake' has expanded to a series of seven colourful picture books, a chapter book, classroom plays, music and film from Pocket Bonfire Productions and toured nationally as 'Hippo Hippo the Musical' with Garry Ginivan productions.

From starting school to visiting hospital or having a new baby in the family, each of the Hippopotamus books visits a first-time childhood challenge with the reassurance of a big imaginary friend.

Discover all the Hippopotamus books below!

 

The Hippopotamus Picture Book Series

 

Hooray! There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Having a Birthday Party

ISBN 9780670072637

Author: Hazel Edwards
Illustrator: Deborah Niland
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

Only three sleeps to go and then it's my birthday! There's a hippopotamus on our roof eating cake. It's his birthday, too.

Celebrate your birthday with the Hippo with a jungle-inspired party full of games and lots of wild treats!

Click here to Look Inside the Book

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There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake

ISBN 0-14-350137-2

Author: Hazel Edwards
Illustrator: Deborah Niland
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

Meet the Hippopotamus on the roof. This Hippo loves cake, having showers and watching people at the zoo. A big special friend, who is always there when you need him. 

 

 

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My Hippopotamus is on Our Caravan Roof Getting Sunburnt

ISBN 9780143501381

Author: Hazel Edwards
Illustrator: Deborah Niland
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

'There's something on the roof,' whispered Mummy in the middle of the night.Thump. Thump. Thump.

The hippo shares a seaside holiday with the family, surfing waves, collecting shells, playing beach cricket from the caravan rooftop. And what does our imaginary hippo pack in his overnight bag? Cake, of course!



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Hey Hippopotamus, Do Babies Eat Cake Too?

ISBN 9780143501398

Author: Hazel Edwards
Illustrator: Deborah Niland
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

'Mummy is having a baby . . .  I've got a daddy and a big brother, but we haven't had a baby before. So I told my hippopotamus who lives on the roof and eats cake. He knows everything about babies.'



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Look, There's a Hippopotamus in the Playground Eating Cake

ISBN 9780143501404

Author: Hazel Edwards
Illustrator: Deborah Niland
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

I've got a new school bag. I put my red drink bottle and my red lunch box in my school bag. My hippopotamus is packing his school bag too.

The first day of school can be be scary, unless you have a friend. The hippo helps face all the important first-day-at-school experiences – meeting the teacher, eating lunch in the playground and making new friends.

  • Perfect for kindergarten children preparing for the first day at school!



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Guess What? There's a Hippopotamus on the Hospital Roof Eating Cake!

ISBN 9780143501374

Author: Hazel Edwards
Illustrator: Deborah Niland
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

I didn't want to go to hospital. My big sister said, 'My hippo knows all about hospitals. He can go with you.'

The hippopotamus helps and reassures during hospital visits, demystifying procedures and comforting overnight.

  • Reassurance for hospital stays and medical visits.
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 Ho Ho Ho There's a Hippo on Our Roof Eating Christmas Cake Ho! Ho! Ho! There's a Hippopotamus on Our Hospital Roof Eating Christmas Cake!

ISBN 978014379067-9

Author: Hazel Edwards 
Illustrator: Deborah Niland
PublisherPenguin Books Australia

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The Hippopotamus Chapter Book

 

   

Hand-Me-Down Hippo

ISBN 9780143501374

Author: Hazel Edwards
Illustrator: Deborah Niland
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

I didn't want to go to hospital. My big sister said, 'My hippo knows all about hospitals. He can go with you.'

Three stories in a junior chapter book about the female, mini hippo cousin. This hippo co-exists with the big hippo on the roof and has been 'handed down', like kids pass on valued toys to younger children. There are three easy to read, highly illustrated stories: Sleep Over Hippo, Skyways Hippo and Sporty Hippo.

  • A great book for newly independent readers
  • Comprehensive Teacher Notes included

 

        

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The Hippopotamus Classroom Plays

                 

Our Cake-Eating Hippo Plays

ISBN 1-875191-75-5 

Author: Hazel Edwards  
Publisher: Bushfire Press

Classroom plays, easy to sing and perform music and activities based on the hippo picture books.
These plays have parts for thirty children, simple language and can be directed by teachers or the children themselves.
Schools can even put on their own "Hippo-Playfest" celebrating imagination and creativity across the whole school community.
  • Teachers' Notes are included within the book of plays, plus music and songs
  • The Hippo offers a range of curriculum themes that cover maths, science, art and more. Download the Curriculum Suggestions .

 

Click here to discover more  

      
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The Hippopotamus Movie

Pocket Bonfire Productions have interpreted the original Hippopotamus book for the silver screen! Preview the hippo movie below:

 

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Events & Appearances 2023

Private online mentoring 'Complete Your Book in a Year' 

View all Events & Appearances

2023

PROV 'Complete Your Book in a Year' starts on first Friday of each month from February, 10am-1pm. North Melb Archives.

Flexibility to go online.

2023

23rd - 28th   DARWIN

31st PROV ( substitute for April) 

APRIL
MAY

4th ACER Teachers' podcast 'Grief and Loss in  Schools'

5th PROV 

11th Thurs 5.30 pm OAM Association : Zoom 'Not Just a Piece of Cake: Being an Author' 

Free but   Book here. 

JUNE 

2nd  PROV

22nd  Author Lunch ( AMBA)

JULY

7th PROV

AUGUST

4th PROV

SEPTEMBER

1st PROV

OCTOBER

6th PROV

NOVEMBER

 3rd 

DECEMBER 

1st PROV Mini Launch


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