In this collection of delightful short stories with
exquisite, timeless and funny line drawings, we meet Hazel and her friends.
‘Hazel is nine years old, as long as her bunk bed and as
kind as a marshmallow.’
Hazel shares a treehouse in the bush with Pokey the
‘feelings’ echidna, Odette the pademelon, Walter the wombat and little Tiny,
the honey possum. Together the friends get up to all sorts of mischief and
adventure – in the very best of ways.
I personally don’t know of any 6-year-olds who wouldn’t want to live inside this beautifully rendered treehouse with a menagerie of Australian animals as their best friends.
This is the sort of book that both children and parents will adore. It is sublime. Snippets of life. Tiny moments which remind us of all the good things – kindness and fun and joy and somersaults. I read it over several days and wanted to begin again as soon as I’d finished it.
The easy pairing and flow of language and illustrations
are magical. Containing moments to make parents smile and children wonder,
along with indigenous landscapes, fauna and flowers, the story reminds us of
all that is good and wholesome.
Watson’s line drawings are timeless and utterly
delightful, evoking childhood and carefree lazy days in the bush - with the
wonderful inclusions of Australian native flower species labelled and
celebrated. The drawings are the perfect complement to Louise’s magical text –
layered and textured, solid and true, with moments of whimsy and awe.
Hailed as an ‘Australian Winnie The Pooh,’ this work gives a firm nod to that beloved bear whilst carving its own distinctive path. While the books do share a certain sensibility, Hazel’s Treehouse is very much a product of the 2020’s with its emotional intelligence, exuberance, gusto, and sheer joy.
I cannot recommend this book more highly. It is an
absolute gem.
Title: Hazel’s Treehouse
Author: Zanni Louise
Illustrator: Judy Watson
Publisher: Walker, $19.99
Publication Date: 1 Nov 2024
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760657222
For Ages: 6 - 9
Type: Junior Fiction
